Arthur Litteljohn

Arthur Litteljohn died in a nursing home in London on December 8. His connection with first-class cricket did not last long, his medical work leaving him little time for three-day matches, but he made a very distinct mark. Indeed, when he played for Middlesex in the early part of the season in 1911, his bowling (right hand slow to medium pace) caused something approaching a sensation. In five matches he took 37 wickets: his greatest success was against Lancashire, fifteen wickets falling to him, and Middlesex winning the game in a single innings. Helped by no peculiarity of delivery, and breaking to a very small extent from leg, he did not look to be at all a difficult bowler, but he had one sovereign merit. His command of pitch was so great that one could have counted quite easily the number of bad length balls he sent down in an innings of normal duration. The result was that even the most adventurous batsman treated him with considerable request. His skill had been acquired by long and assiduous practice. He had to give up playing as soon as he had established a reputation, and when he reappeared for Middlesex in 1912 he did not repeat his success, proving ineffective and very expensive. Probably he was not in the same form as before, but he had to bowl a good deal on slow wickets and they did not suit him. He was always at his best on a lively pitch. In Metropolitan Club Cricket he obtained many large scores, and in making 160 for Ealing v. Pallingswick on the Ealing ground on July 8, 1905, he and his brother, Dr. ES Littlejohn (191 not out), added 322 together for the second wicket.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

A notable county athlete and schoolboy boxer, Litteljohn was sent to the USA on the outbreak of war to supervise food supplies for troops and it was while there that he contracted tuberculosis.