John MacLean (English cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Francis MacLean was an English
cricketer
: a wicketkeeper-batsman who played county cricket
for Gloucestershire
and Worcestershire
between the wars
. He was selected for the Gentlemen against the Players
in 1923, and also appeared at first-class
level for MCC
, HK Foster's XI and Free Foresters
.
MacLean made his first-class debut for HK Foster's XI against Worcestershire at Hereford
in July 1919, making 12 and 18*. He made no dismissals in the match, nor in his appearance for the same side against the Australian Imperial Forces
just two days later. His third match, again for HK Foster's XI and once more against Worcestershire, produced an innings of 59 from number ten, but again no dismissals.
He did not play first-class cricket again until 1922, when he was a regular part of a very weak Worcestershire side (they finished bottom of the County Championship
with only one win from 26 matches). His county debut, against Warwickshire
at Edgbaston
, at last gave him his maiden dismissal when he stumped opener Leonard Bates
in the second innings. It was not a particularly successful season overall for McLean, however: he finished with only 459 runs from 41 innings (average
13.11, HS 46) and made 16 dismissals (6ct, 10st).
That winter McLean toured Australia
and New Zealand
with MCC, and though he did poorly against the Australian state sides, he performed rather better on the New Zealand section of the tour, making two half-centuries including 84 against New Zealand
at Wellington
. Returning to England, he enjoyed the best summer of his career with both bat and gloves. His 710 runs were easily his best, and included his only hundred: a rearguard, if ultimately unsuccessful, 121 against Nottinghamshire
after Worcestershire had fallen to 56/5 in their second innings. Behind the stumps McLean managed 46 dismissals: again, easily his best season's tally.
He played only half a dozen games in 1924, without conspicuous success, and was then absent from first-class cricket until 1930, by which time he had moved to Gloucestershire. He played three times for them that year, and thrice more in 1932 (not having turned out in 1931), making his very last first-class appearance against Middlesex
at Clifton College
in early August 1932. Gloucestershire won this game by an innings, but McLean did not claim any victims.
MacLean was born in Morwick Hill, Acklington
, Northumberland
; he died a few days after his 85th birthday in Ross-on-Wye
, Herefordshire
.
His father Montague MacLean played five first-class matches in the 1890s, for MCC and Lord Hawke
's XI.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
: a wicketkeeper-batsman who played county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
for Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
and Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
between the wars
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
. He was selected for the Gentlemen against the Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
in 1923, and also appeared at first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
level for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
, HK Foster's XI and Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
.
MacLean made his first-class debut for HK Foster's XI against Worcestershire at Hereford
Racecourse Ground, Hereford
The Racecourse Ground is a cricket ground in Hereford, England. The two ends are known as the Pavilion End and the Racecourse End.Worcestershire County Cricket Club played five first-class matches here between 1919 and 1983, and one other first-class game was also staged in 1919...
in July 1919, making 12 and 18*. He made no dismissals in the match, nor in his appearance for the same side against the Australian Imperial Forces
Australian Imperial Forces cricket team
The Australian Imperial Forces cricket team toured England between May and September 1919, playing 28 first-class matches after the First World War. Its overall record was 12 wins, 4 losses and 12 draws...
just two days later. His third match, again for HK Foster's XI and once more against Worcestershire, produced an innings of 59 from number ten, but again no dismissals.
He did not play first-class cricket again until 1922, when he was a regular part of a very weak Worcestershire side (they finished bottom of the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
with only one win from 26 matches). His county debut, against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
at Edgbaston
Edgbaston Cricket Ground
Edgbaston Cricket Ground, also known as the County Ground or Edgbaston Stadium, is a cricket ground in the Edgbaston area of Birmingham, England...
, at last gave him his maiden dismissal when he stumped opener Leonard Bates
Leonard Bates
Leonard Thomas Ashton Bates was an English cricketer. He was a right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler who played for Warwickshire....
in the second innings. It was not a particularly successful season overall for McLean, however: he finished with only 459 runs from 41 innings (average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
13.11, HS 46) and made 16 dismissals (6ct, 10st).
That winter McLean toured Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
with MCC, and though he did poorly against the Australian state sides, he performed rather better on the New Zealand section of the tour, making two half-centuries including 84 against New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
at Wellington
Basin Reserve
The Basin Reserve , is a cricket ground in Wellington, New Zealand, used for Test, first-class and one-day cricket. Some argue that its proximity to the city, its Historic Place status and its age make it the most famous cricket ground in New Zealand...
. Returning to England, he enjoyed the best summer of his career with both bat and gloves. His 710 runs were easily his best, and included his only hundred: a rearguard, if ultimately unsuccessful, 121 against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
after Worcestershire had fallen to 56/5 in their second innings. Behind the stumps McLean managed 46 dismissals: again, easily his best season's tally.
He played only half a dozen games in 1924, without conspicuous success, and was then absent from first-class cricket until 1930, by which time he had moved to Gloucestershire. He played three times for them that year, and thrice more in 1932 (not having turned out in 1931), making his very last first-class appearance against Middlesex
Middlesex County Cricket Club
Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Middlesex. It was announced in February 2009 that Middlesex changed their limited overs name from the Middlesex Crusaders, to the...
at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
in early August 1932. Gloucestershire won this game by an innings, but McLean did not claim any victims.
MacLean was born in Morwick Hill, Acklington
Acklington
Acklington is a small village in Northumberland, England. It is situated to the south-west of Amble, inland from the North Sea coast. It is served by Acklington railway station...
, Northumberland
Northumberland
Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...
; he died a few days after his 85th birthday in Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
His father Montague MacLean played five first-class matches in the 1890s, for MCC and Lord Hawke
Martin Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke
Martin Bladen Hawke, 7th Baron Hawke of Towton , generally known as Lord Hawke, was an English amateur cricketer who played major roles in the sport's administration....
's XI.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...