Gerald Smithson
Gerald Arthur Smithson (1 November 1926 – 6 September
1970) was an English cricketer who played in two Tests for Gerald Smithson
England in 1947–48.[1] He was born at Spofforth, North Personal information
Yorkshire and died at Abingdon, now in Oxfordshire but then in Full name Gerald Arthur Smithson
Berkshire.
Born 1 November 1926
Spofforth, North Yorkshire,
Life and career England
Died 6 September 1970
Smithson was a left-handed middle-order batsman, a medium
pace bowler and a highly agile and effective fielder of the ball. (aged 43)
He graduated from the Bradford Cricket League to play first- Abingdon, Oxfordshire,
class cricket for Yorkshire between 1946 and 1950, making his England
first-class debut on 10–11 July 1946 aged 19 in a match against Batting Left-hand bat
Essex at St George's Road, Harrogate, taking a catch and scoring
16 runs in Yorkshire's six-wicket victory. His highest innings for Bowling Right-arm medium
Yorkshire was his 169 runs playing at No. 3 against International information
Leicestershire at Grace Road, Leicester in August 1947. National English
Smithson played for Leicestershire between 1951 and 1956, and
side
then for Hertfordshire in Minor Counties cricket between 1957
and 1962.[2] Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Smithson's 98 for Yorkshire in the Roses Match of 1947 against
Lancashire when he was aged 20 has been described in the Matches 2 200
writings of broadcaster and journalist Michael Parkinson Runs scored 70 6,940
(Parkinson's Lore, London: Pavilion, 1981). According to the Batting average 23.33 22.67
then Yorkshire captain, Norman Yardley, his batting invited
100s/50s –/– 8/31
comparison with the young Australians of the time. Historian
Alan Hill wrote that this particular innings "aroused hopes of an Top score 35 169
exciting future", later likening Smithson's style to the England Balls bowled – 94
left-hander David Gower.
Wickets – 1
Conscripted into National Service as a Bevin Boy in the coal Bowling average – 117.00
mines during World War II, he worked for three years at Askern 5 wickets in innings – –
Main Colliery in South Yorkshire, before receiving special
permission (after his case had been debated in the House of 10 wickets in match – –
Commons) for temporary release so that he could join the tour to Best bowling – 1/26
the West Indies with the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) team Catches/stumpings –/– 131/–
of 1947–48.[3] Smithson took part in two Test matches in the
Source: [1] (http://content-aus.cricinfo.co
Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados and the Queen's Park
Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad – where the West Indies trio of m/ci/content/player/20221.html)
Frank Worrell, Clyde Walcott and Everton Weekes first
appeared together. He was not successful in the first game, but made 35 in each innings of the 2nd Test, and
his durability at the wicket helped to save the match for England. He was then injured on the tour, and did
not play for Yorkshire in 1948.
In 1949, Smithson was part of Norman Yardley's side that won the County Championship, sharing the title
with Middlesex. His last recorded appearance for Yorkshire was a match against Scotland at Edinburgh in
July 1950.
In 1951 he joined Leicestershire County Cricket Club, with whom he remained until the close of the 1956
season.[2] His best season there was in 1952, when he hit 1,264 runs, (including two centuries) averaging
28.08. His last first-class match was for Leicestershire against Northamptonshire at the County Ground,
Northampton, in August 1956.
After his full-time professional playing career ended, Smithson served as a professional cricket coach and
groundsman, first at Caterham School, Surrey, and then at Abingdon School, Oxfordshire,[2] and played
Minor Counties cricket for Hertfordshire County Cricket Club.
The Gerald Smithson Memorial Twenty20 Cricket Tournament was inaugurated at Abingdon School on 21
June 2009, with former England cricketer Devon Malcolm as the guest of honour.
A photograph of Smithson wearing his pit clothes appeared in Wisden in 1948 on page 38.[2]
He married Anne Salter at St Peter's Church, Earley, Berkshire, in 1954. Together they had four daughters;
Jacqueline (born 1956), Gillian (1958), Joanne (1964) and Justine (1966).[4]
Gerald Smithson died suddenly in Abingdon, Oxfordshire in September 1970, at the age of 43.[2]
References
1. "Gerald Smithson" (https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/809/809.html).
www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
2. "Gerald Smithson" (http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20221.html).
Espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 29 April 2011.
3. Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 154. ISBN 1-869833-
21-X.
4. Willis, Donald (1983). Song on a Bugle Blown. Cumnor, UK: Kenton. p. 232. ISBN 978-0-
9508503-0-6.
External links
Cricinfo.com (http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20221.html)
Cricket Archive (https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/809/809.html)
Old Abingdonians (http://www.abingdon.org.uk/oa/index.php/cricket/)
Cricket365.com (https://archive.is/20130419215327/http://www.cricket365.co.uk/player-stats/5
466/Gerald-Smithson)
Yorkshire County Cricket Club article (http://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/2668/gerald-smithson
-memorial-trophy)
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This page was last edited on 4 May 2020, at 09:06 (UTC).
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