Michael Ainsworth
Encyclopedia
Michael Lionel Yeoward Ainsworth (13 May 1922 – 28 August 1978) was an English
cricketer
: a right-handed batsman who played his county cricket
for Worcestershire
but also appeared on a number of occasions for Combined Services
and Free Foresters
.
Born in Hooton
, near Ellesmere Port
, Cheshire
, Ainsworth made his first-class
debut for Combined Services against Surrey
, in 1946
; he also played against Worcestershire a fortnight later and made 50 not out at number nine. His next first-class games were not until 1948
, when he joined Worcestershire and made 71 in his first innings, against Kent
.
In all he played eight times for the county in 1948, as well as making four more appearances for Combined Services. The highlight was his first century, a match-saving 100 against Warwickshire
at Dudley
in a game in which Worcestershire, having been set 269 to win, were in dire straits at 245/9 when stumps were drawn. In all he made 559 first-class runs at 26.61
, recording very similar figures in his 1949 season
in which he hit 96 against Kent
.
Although he won his county cap from Worcestershire in that 1949 season, in fact Ainsworth played only once more for the county thereafter, in May 1950
, making just 1 and 7 against Middlesex
. He did also appear several more times for Combined Services, but then played no first-class cricket for three years until playing for Combined Services twice and Free Foresters once in 1953
; he took the first of just two first-class wickets while playing for Free Foresters against Oxford University
that year.
For the next ten years Ainsworth continued to appear occasionally, at first for Combined Services but latterly exclusively for Free Foresters. In 1958
he made 76 and 106 for the Free Foresters against Cambridge University
, and also took his second and final wicket for Combined Services against Warwickshire. A year later
, he made his highest first-class score of 137 for Free Foresters against Cambridge University, eventually being caught by Henry Blofeld
off the bowling of Simon Douglas-Pennant.
Ainsworth played five more times in first-class cricket, all for Free Foresters against Cambridge, his last match coming in 1964
when he scored 53 and 34; this was in fact Free Foresters' penultimate first-class game of all, though they have played many subsequent games that did not qualify as first class. He died in Hillingdon
, London
, at the age of 56.
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 right-handed batsman who played his 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 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...
but also appeared on a number of occasions for Combined Services
Combined Services cricket team
The Combined Services cricket team represents the British armed forces. The team played at first-class level in England for more than forty years in the mid-twentieth century. Their first first-class match was against Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1920, while their last was against Oxford...
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....
.
Born in Hooton
Hooton, Cheshire
Hooton is a village in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England in the south of the Wirral Peninsula near Ellesmere Port.- History :...
, near Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port
Ellesmere Port is a large industrial town and port in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. It is situated on the south border of the Wirral Peninsula on the banks of the Manchester Ship Canal, which in turn gives access to the River...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, Ainsworth made his 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...
debut for Combined Services against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
, in 1946
1946 English cricket season
The 1946 English cricket season was the first full season of first-class cricket to be played in England after World War II. It featured a three-match Test series between England and India, which was arranged at short notice...
; he also played against Worcestershire a fortnight later and made 50 not out at number nine. His next first-class games were not until 1948
1948 English cricket season
The 1948 English cricket season marked the final appearance in England of Don Bradman, who was shortly to retire. Bradman's team, which included Arthur Morris, a very young Neil Harvey, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, went through the tour without being beaten and became known to cricket's folklore...
, when he joined Worcestershire and made 71 in his first innings, against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
.
In all he played eight times for the county in 1948, as well as making four more appearances for Combined Services. The highlight was his first century, a match-saving 100 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 Dudley
Dudley
Dudley is a large town in the West Midlands county of England. At the 2001 census , the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 194,919, making it the 26th largest settlement in England, the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading, and the largest settlement in the UK without...
in a game in which Worcestershire, having been set 269 to win, were in dire straits at 245/9 when stumps were drawn. In all he made 559 first-class runs at 26.61
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 :...
, recording very similar figures in his 1949 season
1949 English cricket season
The 1949 English cricket season saw the County Championship being shared for the first time since the official competition began in 1890.-Honours:*County Championship - Middlesex, Yorkshire...
in which he hit 96 against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
.
Although he won his county cap from Worcestershire in that 1949 season, in fact Ainsworth played only once more for the county thereafter, in May 1950
1950 English cricket season
-Honours:*County Championship - Lancashire and Surrey shared the title*Minor Counties Championship - Surrey II*Wisden Cricketers of the Year from 1951 edition of Wisden for deeds in the 1950 season – Godfrey Evans, Sonny Ramadhin, Alf Valentine, Everton Weekes, Frank Worrell-County...
, making just 1 and 7 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...
. He did also appear several more times for Combined Services, but then played no first-class cricket for three years until playing for Combined Services twice and Free Foresters once in 1953
1953 English cricket season
The 1953 English cricket season saw a tight Test series between England and Australia that was settled, after four drawn matches, in the final Test at The Oval, where England won to reclaim The Ashes for the first time since the Bodyline series of 1932/33....
; he took the first of just two first-class wickets while playing for Free Foresters against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
that year.
For the next ten years Ainsworth continued to appear occasionally, at first for Combined Services but latterly exclusively for Free Foresters. In 1958
1958 English cricket season
The 1958 English cricket season saw Surrey captain Peter May top the batting averages for the third time and his team win the County Championship for a record seventh successive title.-Honours:*County Championship – Surrey...
he made 76 and 106 for the Free Foresters against Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
, and also took his second and final wicket for Combined Services against Warwickshire. A year later
1959 English cricket season
The 1959 English cricket season saw the inauguration of the Second XI Championship which was to end the involvement of first-class counties in the Minor Counties Championship, though it took several years before all county second XIs switched to the new competition...
, he made his highest first-class score of 137 for Free Foresters against Cambridge University, eventually being caught by Henry Blofeld
Henry Blofeld
Henry Calthorpe Blofeld is a sports journalist. He is best known as a cricket commentator for Test Match Special on BBC Radio 4 and BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra.Blofeld had an exceptional career as a schoolboy cricketer, cut short by injury...
off the bowling of Simon Douglas-Pennant.
Ainsworth played five more times in first-class cricket, all for Free Foresters against Cambridge, his last match coming in 1964
1964 English cricket season
The 1964 English cricket season saw Australia retain The Ashes as Bob Simpson led them through a hard-fought series, with only one match coming to a definite result....
when he scored 53 and 34; this was in fact Free Foresters' penultimate first-class game of all, though they have played many subsequent games that did not qualify as first class. He died in Hillingdon
Hillingdon
Hillingdon is a suburban area within the London Borough of Hillingdon, situated 14.2 miles west of Charing Cross.Much of Hillingdon is represented as the Hillingdon East ward within the local authority, Hillingdon Council...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, at the age of 56.
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...