Nigel Howard
Encyclopedia
Nigel David Howard was an English
cricketer
, who played for Lancashire
and England. Born in Gee Cross
, Hyde
, Cheshire
, he captained
England for the tour to India
in the only four Test match
es he played in, winning one and drawing three, although the series was drawn after the fifth Test match was lost (Howard was injured and Donald Carr
captained England in his absence). Howard was chosen to lead England's second-string side to the sub-continent in 1951-52, largely because he was an amateur, (Len Hutton
became the first professional England captain of the 20th century a few months later) and a successful leader of Lancashire (1949–53).
and played for Rossall Cricket Club. Howard showed early promise, leading his club's averages
for the 1941 and 1942 seasons while still in his teens. As well as performing well at cricket, Howard was also a capable golfer and hockey player, representing Cheshire in both sports.
He made his debut for Lancashire on 25 May 1946; playing against Middlesex
, Howard batting at number four
and making scores of 4 and 3 as Lancashire won by seven wickets. It was the only first-class
match he played in the year. In the 1946 and 1947 seasons, he scored 131 runs in 7 matches at an average of 14.56. He established himself as a regular player in the 1948 season, in which he scored 944 runs in 23 matches at an average of 36.30. This included his only century
of the year; he made 145 against Derbyshire
, the highest score of his career, and was awarded his county cap
in 1948.
title in 1950, and Lancashire have not won it since. He remained Lancashire's captain until he retired from first-class cricket
at the end of 1953.
He led the MCC
most capably on, and equally importantly in view of the considerable diplomatic demands of those times, off the field. He soldiered on despite developing pleurisy
during the second half of the tour. At county level (1946-54) he was a stylish batsman and excellent fielder.
where he died on 31 May 1979, aged 54.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
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"....
, who played for Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
and England. Born in Gee Cross
Gee Cross
Gee Cross is a suburban village within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester, England. It lies at the edge of the town of Hyde and borders onto Woodley in the Metropolitan Borough of Stockport...
, Hyde
Hyde, Greater Manchester
Hyde is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, Greater Manchester, England. As of the 2001 census, the town had a population of 31,253. Historically part of Cheshire, it is northeast of Stockport, west of Glossop and east of Manchester....
, 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...
, he captained
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
England for the tour to India
Indian cricket team
The Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
in the only four Test match
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...
es he played in, winning one and drawing three, although the series was drawn after the fifth Test match was lost (Howard was injured and Donald Carr
Donald Carr
Donald Bryce Carr is a former English cricketer who played for Derbyshire from 1946 to 1967, for Oxford University from 1948 to 1951, and twice for England in 1951/52. He captained Derbyshire between 1955 and 1962, and scored over 10,000 runs for the county...
captained England in his absence). Howard was chosen to lead England's second-string side to the sub-continent in 1951-52, largely because he was an amateur, (Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
became the first professional England captain of the 20th century a few months later) and a successful leader of Lancashire (1949–53).
Youth and early career
Howard's younger brother, Barry Howard, also played for Lancashire, and their father was secretary of Lancashire County Cricket Club for several years. Howard went to Rossall SchoolRossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
and played for Rossall Cricket Club. Howard showed early promise, leading his club's averages
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 :...
for the 1941 and 1942 seasons while still in his teens. As well as performing well at cricket, Howard was also a capable golfer and hockey player, representing Cheshire in both sports.
He made his debut for Lancashire on 25 May 1946; playing 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...
, Howard batting at number four
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
and making scores of 4 and 3 as Lancashire won by seven wickets. It was the only 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...
match he played in the year. In the 1946 and 1947 seasons, he scored 131 runs in 7 matches at an average of 14.56. He established himself as a regular player in the 1948 season, in which he scored 944 runs in 23 matches at an average of 36.30. This included his only century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
of the year; he made 145 against Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, the highest score of his career, and was awarded his county cap
Cap (sport)
In sports, a cap is a metaphorical term for a player's appearance on a select team, such as a national team. The term dates from the practice in the United Kingdom of awarding a cap to every player in an international match of association football...
in 1948.
Captaincy
Howard was officially given the Lancashire captaincy in 1949 at the age of 23, becoming the youngest player to captain Lancashire. He guided the team to a share of the County ChampionshipCounty Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
title in 1950, and Lancashire have not won it since. He remained Lancashire's captain until he retired from first-class cricket
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...
at the end of 1953.
He led the 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...
most capably on, and equally importantly in view of the considerable diplomatic demands of those times, off the field. He soldiered on despite developing pleurisy
Pleurisy
Pleurisy is an inflammation of the pleura, the lining of the pleural cavity surrounding the lungs. Among other things, infections are the most common cause of pleurisy....
during the second half of the tour. At county level (1946-54) he was a stylish batsman and excellent fielder.
Post-cricket
After his cricketing career ended, Howard entered the family textile business. He retired in 1976 and moved to the Isle of ManIsle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
where he died on 31 May 1979, aged 54.