Norman Partridge (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Norman Ernest Partridge, born at Great Barr
, Birmingham
, on 10 August 1900 and died at Aberystwyth
on 10 March 1982, was an English cricketer
who played for Cambridge University
and Warwickshire
. But his wider claim to notability is that he was selected by Wisden
in 1919, while a schoolboy at Malvern College
, as one its five Cricketers of the Year
, there being few outstanding first-class cricket
ers shortly after the First World War.
Partridge's record at Malvern as a right-hand batsman and, particularly, as a fast-medium in-swing bowler also led him, in 1919, to be chosen to play for the Gentlemen in the annual Gentlemen v Players
match between the amateurs and the professionals at Lord's, then one of the highlights of the cricket season, but his school refused to allow him to take part.
Partridge was one of several schoolboys chosen in 1918 and 1919 as Wisden Cricketers of the Year. After Malvern
, he was briefly with Worcestershire
and in 1919 he played Marylebone Cricket Club
being the dominant bowler with six wickets. He was at Cambridge for only one year, 1920, but won a Blue in the Varsity match
. In 1921, he was briefly with Wolverhampton and played in the match in 1921 against his old school
, achieving a respectable 44 runs and 5 wickets. From 1921 to 1937, a total of sixteen years, he played for Warwickshire, fairly regularly at first, latterly more seldom. He usually batted low in the batting order, but managed a career average of 18.6 and he frequently opened the bowling. In all first-class cricket, he scored more than 2,700 runs and took 393 wickets.
Partridge's obituary in Wisden 1983 recounts that there was some doubt about the legality of his bowling action, though he was never called for throwing
. It says: "A batsman whom he had comprehensively bowled said indignantly to Tiger Smith
behind the wicket, 'He threw that'. 'Yes,' said Tiger, 'and bloody well too'."
Great Barr
Great Barr is a large and loosely-defined area which straddles the boundaries of Birmingham, West Bromwich and Walsall , West Midlands, England...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, on 10 August 1900 and died at Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth is a historic market town, administrative centre and holiday resort within Ceredigion, Wales. Often colloquially known as Aber, it is located at the confluence of the rivers Ystwyth and Rheidol....
on 10 March 1982, was an English 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 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 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...
. But his wider claim to notability is that he was selected by Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
in 1919, while a schoolboy at Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
, as one its five Cricketers of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
, there being few outstanding 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...
ers shortly after the First World War.
Partridge's record at Malvern as a right-hand batsman and, particularly, as a fast-medium in-swing bowler also led him, in 1919, to be chosen to play for the Gentlemen in the annual Gentlemen v 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...
match between the amateurs and the professionals at Lord's, then one of the highlights of the cricket season, but his school refused to allow him to take part.
Partridge was one of several schoolboys chosen in 1918 and 1919 as Wisden Cricketers of the Year. After Malvern
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
, he was briefly with 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...
and in 1919 he played Marylebone Cricket Club
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...
being the dominant bowler with six wickets. He was at Cambridge for only one year, 1920, but won a Blue in the Varsity match
Varsity match
A varsity match is a sporting fixture between two university rivals; in its original and most common form, it is used to describe meetings between Oxford University and Cambridge University.-Popular British and Irish Varsity matches:*University of Oxford v...
. In 1921, he was briefly with Wolverhampton and played in the match in 1921 against his old school
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
, achieving a respectable 44 runs and 5 wickets. From 1921 to 1937, a total of sixteen years, he played for Warwickshire, fairly regularly at first, latterly more seldom. He usually batted low in the batting order, but managed a career average of 18.6 and he frequently opened the bowling. In all first-class cricket, he scored more than 2,700 runs and took 393 wickets.
Partridge's obituary in Wisden 1983 recounts that there was some doubt about the legality of his bowling action, though he was never called for throwing
Throwing
Throwing may refer to:*launching a projectile, especially by hand*Throw , a martial arts and grappling technique that involves off-balancing or lifting an opponent...
. It says: "A batsman whom he had comprehensively bowled said indignantly to Tiger Smith
Tiger Smith
Ernest James "Tiger" Smith was an English wicket-keeper who played in 11 Tests from 1911/1912 to 1914. In county cricket, he had a much longer career as the successor to Dick Lilley: he played for Warwickshire on a regular basis until 1930...
behind the wicket, 'He threw that'. 'Yes,' said Tiger, 'and bloody well too'."