Tom Box

Thomas Box, was born at Ardingly, Sussex, on February 7, 1808. He made his first appearance for Sussex in 1828 and continued to play for the side for 30 years. Between the years of 1832 and 1856 he assisted Sussex in all their engagements, a remarkable achievement that can be equalled by no other player. He gained his place in the Sussex Eleven as a wicketkeeper and proved himself to be the finest 'keeper in the county for many years. He had, however, the good fortune to keep, in most contests for Sussex, to the bowling of William Lillywhite which was of slow pace, thus not suffering the injuries other wicketkeepers sustained. At the beginning of his career Box was a poor batsman but later on developed into one of the finest in England, having an erect and commanding style. He was also a fine judge of the game and his opinions on the game were held in high esteem. He played regularly in the Gentlemen v Players matches and appeared in 20 matches between between 1834 and 1853. In 1843 he was granted a benefit match, the proceeds from which enabled him to lease the Hanover Arms, in Lewes Road, which had a cricket ground attached. Later he was lessee of the old Brunswick Cricket Ground at Hove which he relinquished to the Sussex Club in 1863. On these grounds he managed many of the famous games of the period. In 1864, on the death of his wife, Box moved to London where he became a publican again but without success and his final employment was as an attendant at the Prince's Ground, Chelsea. On July 12, 1876, when at the Middlesex v Nottinghamshire match he collapsed, dying three hours later.
RJ Brown, The Cricketer