John Lillywhite was a leading roundarm bowler, able to bowl both fast and slow as the occasion demanded, whose career lasted from 1848 to 1873. H eplayed primarily for Sussex, although he doubled up in a number of seasons by also representing Middlesex (who did not become a first-class county until 1864). At the end of the 1859 season, Lillywhite was one of the 12 players who took part in cricket's first-ever overseas tour when a team led by George Parr visited North America.

Lillywhite was also an umpire, and on August 26, 1862, Surrey played All England at The Oval and Edgar Willsher deliberately bowled overarm and was no-balled six times in succession by him - the irony being that Lillywhite's father, William, was the man who almost four decades earlier had done so much to change the Laws. Willsher and the other eight professionals in the England team walked off and play ended for the day, but it did set in motion changes to the Laws.
Martin Williamson