Charles Inglis Thornton (20 March 1850 – 10 December 1929), nicknamed "Buns", was an English cricketer who played more than 200 first-class matches in the later 19th century, for no fewer than 22 different teams.[1] He was also the founder of the Scarborough Festival.[2][3]
Thornton was born in Llanwarne, Herefordshire, the son of the Rural Dean of Hereford. He was orphaned before the age of five. and adopted, along with his brother, by Archdeacon Harrison of Canterbury. This is where he began to play cricket playing with children in the neighbourhood in informal single wicket competitions.[4] He played his first organised game at Great Mongeham in 1861 making 22 not out.
He was educated at Eton and Trinity College, Cambridge.[5] His career at Eton was slow to win approval. The master in charge of cricket, Fred Bell, did not like his attacking play. Thornton remarked that it was because he hit all the best balls into the trees.[6] He had success in both Eton v Harrow and Oxford v Cambridge matches, then very much part of the London season. He must have had independent means because on graduation he was able to rent a hunting box in Oxford with his cousin, hunting three days a week and playing cricket the other four.[7]
He was considered one of the biggest hitters in cricket, with one shot at Hove in 1876 claimed to have exceeded 160 yards.[8] He hit the ball over the pavilion at Lord's in the 1868 Eton v Harrow match. This, however was over the old pavilion. The only person to have struck a ball over the current pavilion (built 1889–90) is AE Trott.[9] Other claims made by Thornton included a 156-yard hit at Ranelagh, a 152-yard hit at Canterbury and a 136-yard hit at Scarborough, the ball landing in Trafalgar Square (Scarborough).[10]
Thornton was a member of the Orleans Club, which was founded in 1878, and organised its cricket teams.[11] His own private team — C. I. Thornton's XI — played most of their early games at Fenner's, but after his retirement from playing in 1897 their home became Scarborough, where they continued to play first-class cricket until 1929, the year of Thornton's death. He died in 1929 aged 79 at Marylebone in London.
Thornton had some interesting ideas about cricket. He wanted bowlers' run ups limited to 10 yards, and the wearing of leg guards (pads) to be forbidden. The only protection he advocated was football style shin pads.[12]
Referencesedit
^ "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Charles Thornton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
^ Ambrose, Don (2004). "Brief profile of C.I.Thornton". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2007-09-19.
charles, thornton, cricketer, charles, inglis, thornton, march, 1850, december, 1929, nicknamed, buns, english, cricketer, played, more, than, first, class, matches, later, 19th, century, fewer, than, different, teams, also, founder, scarborough, festival, cha. Charles Inglis Thornton 20 March 1850 10 December 1929 nicknamed Buns was an English cricketer who played more than 200 first class matches in the later 19th century for no fewer than 22 different teams 1 He was also the founder of the Scarborough Festival 2 3 Charles ThorntonThornton pictured in a book published in 1893Personal informationFull nameCharles Inglis ThorntonBorn20 March 1850Llanwarne Herefordshire EnglandDied10 December 1929 1929 12 10 aged 79 Marylebone London EnglandNicknameBunsBattingRight handedBowlingRight arm fastRelationsPercy Thornton cousin Domestic team informationYearsTeam1867 1872Kent1869 1872Cambridge University1869 1895MCC1875 1885MiddlesexCareer statisticsCompetition First classMatches 217Runs scored 6 928Batting average 19 35100s 50s 5 20Top score 124Balls bowled 2 423Wickets 47Bowling average 20 105 wickets in innings 010 wickets in match 0Best bowling 4 19Catches stumpings 119 Source Cricinfo 24 January 2023 Thornton was born in Llanwarne Herefordshire the son of the Rural Dean of Hereford He was orphaned before the age of five and adopted along with his brother by Archdeacon Harrison of Canterbury This is where he began to play cricket playing with children in the neighbourhood in informal single wicket competitions 4 He played his first organised game at Great Mongeham in 1861 making 22 not out He was educated at Eton and Trinity College Cambridge 5 His career at Eton was slow to win approval The master in charge of cricket Fred Bell did not like his attacking play Thornton remarked that it was because he hit all the best balls into the trees 6 He had success in both Eton v Harrow and Oxford v Cambridge matches then very much part of the London season He must have had independent means because on graduation he was able to rent a hunting box in Oxford with his cousin hunting three days a week and playing cricket the other four 7 He was considered one of the biggest hitters in cricket with one shot at Hove in 1876 claimed to have exceeded 160 yards 8 He hit the ball over the pavilion at Lord s in the 1868 Eton v Harrow match This however was over the old pavilion The only person to have struck a ball over the current pavilion built 1889 90 is AE Trott 9 Other claims made by Thornton included a 156 yard hit at Ranelagh a 152 yard hit at Canterbury and a 136 yard hit at Scarborough the ball landing in Trafalgar Square Scarborough 10 Thornton was a member of the Orleans Club which was founded in 1878 and organised its cricket teams 11 His own private team C I Thornton s XI played most of their early games at Fenner s but after his retirement from playing in 1897 their home became Scarborough where they continued to play first class cricket until 1929 the year of Thornton s death He died in 1929 aged 79 at Marylebone in London Thornton had some interesting ideas about cricket He wanted bowlers run ups limited to 10 yards and the wearing of leg guards pads to be forbidden The only protection he advocated was football style shin pads 12 References edit First class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Charles Thornton CricketArchive Retrieved 2007 09 19 Ambrose Don 2004 Brief profile of C I Thornton CricketArchive Retrieved 2007 09 19 Carlaw D 2020 Kent County Cricketers A to Z Part One 1806 1914 revised edition pp 522 524 Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians Retrieved 2020 12 21 Thornton Charles 6 August 1921 50 Years in Cricket The Cricketer 1 15 3 via Cricket Archive Thornton Charles Inglis THNN868CI A Cambridge Alumni Database University of Cambridge Cricketer ibid Cricketer ibid Broadribb Gerald 1975 Thornton s great hit The Cricketer Cricinfo Retrieved 2007 09 19 Cricketer ibid Cricketer ibid A Guide to First Class Cricket Matches Played in the British Isles second edition 1982 p 26 Nottingham The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians Available online Retrieved 2024 02 29 Cricketer ibidExternal links editCharles Thornton at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Charles Thornton cricketer amp oldid 1211044266, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
