Full Name

James Chrysostom Boucher

Born

December 22, 1910, Phoenix Park, Dublin

Died

December 25, 1995, Fuengizola, Spain, (aged 85y 3d)

Batting Style

Right hand Bat

Bowling Style

Right arm Offbreak

Education

Belvedere College, Dublin

TEAMS

James Chrysostom Boucher died peacefully on Christmas Day in Spain where he had wintered for the last 20 years after his retirement from Ireland's electricity service. He was three days past his 85th birthday. His service to Irish cricket was unrivalled in its quality and its span of 48 successive years. He was 18 years old when he first played for Ireland in 1929. In mid-season of 1954 Jimmy retired from international cricket. In 60 matches, mostly of two innings, he took 307 wickets at 15.25, 10 or more in a match seven times and five or more in an innings 31 times. His first-class match figures were 168 wickets in 28 matches at 14.04, an average better even than Hedley Verity. Seventeen matches against Scotland brought 108 wickets at 14.15, and he is the only bowler in this annual match to go over the 100-wicket mark. His best analysis was 7 for 13, in a three-day match which finished in one, against New Zealand at Rathmines, Dublin in 1937. An offspinner, he ran in from 15 yards with a high knee action and elbows pointed outwards. For a finger spinner it was an extraordinary approach. His pace was not much below medium with remarkable powers of spin and flight. He learned his cricket at Belvedere College in Dublin, coached by Albert Knight of Leicestershire. His early club cricket (starting aged 14) was with the Civil Service CC but the bulk of his career was with the famous Phoenix club, for whom he played until he was 53. In 405 league and cup matches he took 1,303 wickets at 11.48, and five or more wickets in an innings 124 times. His batting should not be forgotten: 1,161 runs for Ireland and 7,545 in domestic cricket. As a slip fielder he was supreme. From 1954, for 20 years, he was Hon. Secretary of the Irish Cricket Union. Because he was so well known and had such an aura about him the Union made great progress in his era. He was an Irish selector from 1963 to 1976. Jimmy did not suffer fools gladly if, indeed, at all. His views on most matters were unshakeable and trenchantly expressed, in particular when it came to his abhorrence of limited-overs cricket. His friends could, and often did, `wind him up'. For all that, he was a splendid companion and he devoted his life to the game. Irish cricket has lost a great player, administrator and character. We will not look upon his like again.
Derek Scott, The Cricketer

Jimmy Boucher Career Stats

Batting & Fielding

FormatMatInnsNORunsHSAve100s50sCtSt
FC285156258513.5802230

Bowling

FormatMatRunsWktsBBIAve5w10w
FC2823591687/1314.04185

Debut/Last Matches of Jimmy Boucher

FC Matches

Span
1930 - 1954

Recent Matches of Jimmy Boucher

MatchBatBowlDateGroundFormat
Ireland vs Sth Africans1 & 01/9916-Jul-1951DublinOTHER
Ireland vs Sth Africans14 & 34/43 & 1/1913-Jul-1951BelfastOTHER
Ireland vs M.C.C.0 & 147/87 & 1/2904-Aug-1934DublinFC