Vic Wilson (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Victor "Vic" Wilson (17 January 1921 – 5 June 2008) was an English
first-class cricket
er, who played for and captained
Yorkshire
. He was born in Scampston
, Malton
, Yorkshire
, England
.
Wilson made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 1946, as a left-handed batsman, and a very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. He was also an occasional wicket-keeper
and a talented fielder close to the bat. In 1954-55, he was a surprise selection for the MCC
tour to Australia and New Zealand
under Leonard Hutton, but he never adjusted to the fast pace of Australian pitches, and was not picked for any of the Test matches
. He also represented MCC at home in 1962 and 1963.
Though he was by then far from guaranteed a place in the first team, Wilson survived the purge of Yorkshire's playing staff in 1958 which saw Johnny Wardle
, Bob Appleyard
and Frank Lowson
leave the staff and a new young team take shape under the captaincy of Ronnie Burnet
. After Burnet retired, Wilson was appointed as the first professional county captain of Yorkshire in 1960. He had a successful tenure, leading the club to the County Championship
title in 1960 and 1962. He retired in 1962, and was succeeded by Brian Close
for the 1963 season.
Wilson was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1961.
Wilson died in his home in Yedingham
, Malton, on 5 June 2008, aged 87.
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...
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...
er, who played for and 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...
Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
. He was born in Scampston
Scampston
Scampston is a village and civil parish in the Ryedale district of North Yorkshire, England. It lies close to the A64 road, on the outskirts of Rillington and approximately 3 miles east of Malton....
, Malton
Malton, North Yorkshire
Malton is a market town and civil parish in North Yorkshire, England. The town is the location of the offices of Ryedale District Council and has a population of around 4,000 people....
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
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...
.
Wilson made his first-class debut for Yorkshire in 1946, as a left-handed batsman, and a very occasional right-arm medium pace bowler. He was also an occasional wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
and a talented fielder close to the bat. In 1954-55, he was a surprise selection for 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...
tour to Australia 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...
under Leonard Hutton, but he never adjusted to the fast pace of Australian pitches, and was not picked for any of the Test matches
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...
. He also represented MCC at home in 1962 and 1963.
Though he was by then far from guaranteed a place in the first team, Wilson survived the purge of Yorkshire's playing staff in 1958 which saw Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle
Johnny Wardle was an English spin bowler of post-war cricket. His Test bowling average of 20.39, is the lowest in Test cricket by any recognised spin bowler, since World War I....
, Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard
Bob Appleyard is a former Yorkshire and England cricketer.He was one of the best English bowlers of the 1950s, a decade which saw England develop its strongest bowling attack of the twentieth century...
and Frank Lowson
Frank Lowson
Frank Anderson Lowson was an English cricketer, who played in seven Tests for England from 1951 to 1955. In first-class cricket, Lowson amassed 15,321 runs at an average of over 37, but had drifted away from the county game by his early thrties.-Life and career:Lowson was born in Bradford,...
leave the staff and a new young team take shape under the captaincy of Ronnie Burnet
Ronnie Burnet
Ronnie Burnet was an English cricketer and the last amateur captain of Yorkshire County Cricket Club...
. After Burnet retired, Wilson was appointed as the first professional county captain of Yorkshire in 1960. He had a successful tenure, leading the club to the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
title in 1960 and 1962. He retired in 1962, and was succeeded by Brian Close
Brian Close
Dennis Brian Close , usually known as Brian Close, is a former cricketer who is the youngest man ever to play Test cricket for England. He was picked for the Test team to play against New Zealand, in July 1949, when he was 18 years old. Close went on to play 22 Test matches for England,...
for the 1963 season.
Wilson was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1961.
Wilson died in his home in Yedingham
Yedingham
Yedingham is a village halfway between West Knapton and Allerston, 9 miles north east of Malton.The village name is thought to mean 'Homestead of Eada and his people'...
, Malton, on 5 June 2008, aged 87.