John Willes
- Temba Bavuma
- Gerald Coetzee
- Quinton de Kock
- Marco Jansen
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- Keshav Maharaj
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Lungi Ngidi
- Rassie van der Dussen
Alphabetically sorted top ten of players who have played the most matches across formats in the last 12 months
Full Name
John Willes
Born
1778, Headcorn, Kent
Died
August 05, 1852, Staunton, near Gloucester
Bowling Style
Right arm Bowler
TEAMS
John Willes is credited with being the first man to bowl round-arm in a first-class match - it was referred to as "straight arm" in contemporary reports - and on July 15, 1822 he was no-balled playing for Kent against MCC at Lord's. he famously threw down the ball in disgust, mounted his horse, and rode out the game forever. But "Silver Billy" Beldham insisted that Willis had not invented the style, merely "revived what was forgotten or new to the young folk" and that "jerking" as it was previously known had plagued cricket in the 1780s until outlawed by the Hambledon club.
Legend has it that Willes was inspired to develop a round-arm style after his sister used it, being prevented from bowling underarm by the voluminous skirts of the time. That is probably myth, but what is certain is that Willes was a colourful character. He kept his own pack of dwarf hounds, and on one occasion barricaded himself in his house against creditors, surviving on food passed to him by friends by means of a basket lowered from a window each night.
Martin Williamson
John Willes Career Stats
Batting & Fielding
Format | Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100s | 50s | Ct | St |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FC | 5 | 7 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 1.28 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
Bowling
Format | Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 5w | 10w |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FC | 5 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3/? | 0.00 | - | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
Recent Matches of John Willes
Match | Bat | Bowl | Date | Ground | Format |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kent XI vs M.C.C. | -- | 0/0 | 15-Jul-1822 | Lord's | FC |
Kent XI vs England | 0 & 0 | 3/0 | 17-Jul-1815 | Wrotham | FC |
Kent XI vs England | 0 & 2 | -- | 05-Aug-1806 | Dartford | FC |
Gentlemen vs Players | 1 & 5 | 1/0 & 1/0 | 21-Jul-1806 | Lord's (Old) | FC |
Gentlemen vs Players | 1 | 1/0 | 07-Jul-1806 | Lord's (Old) | FC |