Johnny Tyldesley
Encyclopedia
Johnny Tyldesley was a Lancashire and England cricketer and for many years the finest professional batsman in county cricket
.
, which was to be the scene of many triumphs for him in later years. Though he did not live up at first to this astonishing beginning, Tyldesley came to the fore in 1898 when, despite poor form by Lancashire, he was the second highest run-scorer in the country and made a superb 200 against Derbyshire at Old Trafford. He debuted for the Players against the Gentlemen that year at Scarborough, and played for England for the first time against South Africa that winter. He hit a decisive 112 in one of the Tests
and the following year played his first Ashes Tests at Trent Bridge
and Lord's. He failed in these matches, but by this time was established as a top-class batsman with a superb range of strokes and wonderful footwork that made his effective even on pitches where the ball spun like a spinning top as it did after rain in those days.
1901 saw Johnny Tyldesley reach his greatest heights with 3041 runs including several remarkably courageous displays on extremely fiery wickets at Old Trafford
early in the year. On the strength of this performance he was nominated as a Cricketer of the Year by Wisden and was chosen to tour Australia, where he was again not at his best in the Tests. However, in 1902 his superb hundred at Edgbaston was critical in placing England in a winning position and for Lancashire his batting, regardless of the weather, was consistently brilliant. He toured Australia in 1903/1904 and, despite again not making a Test hundred, Tyldesley played a brilliant innings on a classic MCG
"sticky".
For the rest of the 1900s Tyldesley was, despite the emergence of Hobbs
always in the forefront of English professional batting and seldom failed to be near the top of the batting averages, which he headed in the wet summer of 1910 with an average of 46. Though the 1905 Ashes series was his most successful with two centuries, from the following year Tyldesley gradually dropped out of the representative scene, playing his last Test in 1909. However, in 1906 against that year County Champions, Kent, Tyldesley made his highest score of 295 not out and would certainly have made a triple hundred had he not ran out of partners. With Reggie Spooner
rarely available owing to business calls between 1907 and 1910, and Archie MacLaren declining, Lancashire were much too dependent upon Tyldesley to make a respectable score and he played superbly especially when one considers the fire in Old Trafford pitches in fine weather at that time. For Lancashire he remained a potent force right up to the outbreak of World War I
and, in 1919, he made 272 against Derbyshire.
At the end of that season Johnny Tyldesley retired to move into business and coaching. He played one match as Lancashire's first professional captain in 1923 but by then his health was declining. However, as cricket coach he played a major role in Lancashire's Championship successes in the late 1920s. Johnny Tyldesley died, shortly after collapsing whilst putting on his boots to go to work, in November 1930.
His younger brother Ernest Tyldesley
(1889–1962) was also a high-class batsman for Lancashire. Though never seen as having the same style as Johnny, he surpassed his younger brother for the county both in aggregate and average - though on generally easier pitches.
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:...
.
Life and career
After developing in the tough background of Lancashire club cricket, Tyldesley caused a sensation when he first played for Lancashire with an innings of 152 on a rain affected pitch at EdgbastonEdgbaston 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...
, which was to be the scene of many triumphs for him in later years. Though he did not live up at first to this astonishing beginning, Tyldesley came to the fore in 1898 when, despite poor form by Lancashire, he was the second highest run-scorer in the country and made a superb 200 against Derbyshire at Old Trafford. He debuted for the Players against the Gentlemen that year at Scarborough, and played for England for the first time against South Africa that winter. He hit a decisive 112 in one of the Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and the following year played his first Ashes Tests at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
and Lord's. He failed in these matches, but by this time was established as a top-class batsman with a superb range of strokes and wonderful footwork that made his effective even on pitches where the ball spun like a spinning top as it did after rain in those days.
1901 saw Johnny Tyldesley reach his greatest heights with 3041 runs including several remarkably courageous displays on extremely fiery wickets at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (cricket)
Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
early in the year. On the strength of this performance he was nominated as a Cricketer of the Year by Wisden and was chosen to tour Australia, where he was again not at his best in the Tests. However, in 1902 his superb hundred at Edgbaston was critical in placing England in a winning position and for Lancashire his batting, regardless of the weather, was consistently brilliant. He toured Australia in 1903/1904 and, despite again not making a Test hundred, Tyldesley played a brilliant innings on a classic MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
"sticky".
For the rest of the 1900s Tyldesley was, despite the emergence of Hobbs
Jack Hobbs
Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
always in the forefront of English professional batting and seldom failed to be near the top of the batting averages, which he headed in the wet summer of 1910 with an average of 46. Though the 1905 Ashes series was his most successful with two centuries, from the following year Tyldesley gradually dropped out of the representative scene, playing his last Test in 1909. However, in 1906 against that year County Champions, Kent, Tyldesley made his highest score of 295 not out and would certainly have made a triple hundred had he not ran out of partners. With Reggie Spooner
Reggie Spooner
Reginald Herbert Spooner was a cricketer who played for Lancashire and England. He also played Rugby Union for England.- Biography :...
rarely available owing to business calls between 1907 and 1910, and Archie MacLaren declining, Lancashire were much too dependent upon Tyldesley to make a respectable score and he played superbly especially when one considers the fire in Old Trafford pitches in fine weather at that time. For Lancashire he remained a potent force right up to the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and, in 1919, he made 272 against Derbyshire.
At the end of that season Johnny Tyldesley retired to move into business and coaching. He played one match as Lancashire's first professional captain in 1923 but by then his health was declining. However, as cricket coach he played a major role in Lancashire's Championship successes in the late 1920s. Johnny Tyldesley died, shortly after collapsing whilst putting on his boots to go to work, in November 1930.
His younger brother Ernest Tyldesley
Ernest Tyldesley
Ernest Tyldesley was an England cricketer. The younger brother of Johnny Tyldesley and the leading batsman for Lancashire. He remains Lancashire's most prolific run-getter of all time...
(1889–1962) was also a high-class batsman for Lancashire. Though never seen as having the same style as Johnny, he surpassed his younger brother for the county both in aggregate and average - though on generally easier pitches.