James Southerton (16 November 1827 – 16 June 1880) was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1854 and 1879. After a slow start, he became, along with Alfred Shaw, the greatest slow bowler of the 1870s. He played in the first Test match and remains the oldest player to make their debut in Test cricket.
Southerton began his cricketing life during the 1850s as a batsman for Sussex. In 1861, Southerton was engaged at Southampton and resided at the Antelope Ground until 1867.[1] During this period Southerton, operating in a period before regulations prevented anyone playing for more than one county in the same season, played for both Sussex and Hampshire.
It was not until 1865 that Southerton developed the slow bowling for which he was to gain belated fame and set many records. At a time when bowling was mainly fast round-arm, Southerton's slower speed with its deceptive flight and sharp break was a challenge for batsmen that they did not adapt to easily. Southerton had much more than spin and flight, however. He was able to vary his pace and pitch very well, often deceiving batsmen by bowling a ball outside the off stump[2] which turned on the under-prepared pitches of his time viciously into the right-handed batsmen. Southerton typically would then bowl a faster, straighter ball as a contrast, and was exceptionally strong at knowing which ball would be most difficult for each individual batsman.[2] Like Lancashire's Alec Watson, who was often called "the Southerton of the North", the fairness of Southerton's delivery was sometimes called into question.[2]
Upon leaving Southampton, Southerton played for Surrey as well as Sussex and Hampshire, and with more cricket to play because of Surrey's longer programme,[3] became the most successful bowler in England. Playing only for Surrey and Sussex in 1868, Southerton was the leading wicket-taker in England with 151 wickets,[4] aided by an exceptionally hot summer and very bad pitches even for the era. Two years later Southerton became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in a first-class season, and played in as many as twenty-seven of only forty-nine first-class matches played during the year.[5] During this period it was said that Southerton was the one bowler able to defeat or even contain the brilliant batting of W. G. Grace.[6] He continued as a leading bowler between 1871 and 1875,[5] including taking 16 wickets for 52 runs in a day for the South against the North on a sticky wicket on 17 May 1875.[7]
Test debut and later careeredit
The English touring team in 1876. Southerton is seated second from left.
Although Southerton declined somewhat in the 1876 season with 28 fewer wickets than the previous year, he toured Australia as part of James Lillywhite's side the following winter. This led to him playing in the first-ever Test matches. Southerton was 49 years 119 days old when he made his Test debut, making him the oldest ever Test debutant.[8] Southerton made his Test debut on 15 March 1877, breaking the dominant partnership of Charles Bannerman and Bransby Cooper.
Age was clearly catching up with Southerton, and the following season saw him fail to reach 100 first-class wickets for the first time since 1866.[5] He played his final matches in 1879 and became the first Test cricketer to die when he succumbed after a short attack of pleurisy just ten months after he had retired from cricket.[9]
james, southerton, november, 1827, june, 1880, professional, cricketer, played, first, class, cricket, between, 1854, 1879, after, slow, start, became, along, with, alfred, shaw, greatest, slow, bowler, 1870s, played, first, test, match, remains, oldest, playe. James Southerton 16 November 1827 16 June 1880 was a professional cricketer who played first class cricket between 1854 and 1879 After a slow start he became along with Alfred Shaw the greatest slow bowler of the 1870s He played in the first Test match and remains the oldest player to make their debut in Test cricket James SouthertonPersonal informationBorn 1827 11 16 16 November 1827Petworth SussexDied16 June 1880 1880 06 16 aged 52 Mitcham SurreyBattingRight handedBowlingRight arm slowRoleBowlerInternational informationNational sideEnglandTest debut cap 10 15 March 1877 v AustraliaLast Test4 April 1877 v AustraliaCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 2 286Runs scored 7 3 159Batting average 3 50 9 02100s 50s 0 0 0 3Top score 6 82Balls bowled 263 68 668Wickets 7 1 682Bowling average 15 28 14 435 wickets in innings 0 19210 wickets in match 0 59Best bowling 4 46 9 30Catches stumpings 2 215 3Source CricInfo 13 April 2020 Contents 1 Early career 2 Test debut and later career 3 Bibliography 4 References 5 External linksEarly career editSoutherton began his cricketing life during the 1850s as a batsman for Sussex In 1861 Southerton was engaged at Southampton and resided at the Antelope Ground until 1867 1 During this period Southerton operating in a period before regulations prevented anyone playing for more than one county in the same season played for both Sussex and Hampshire It was not until 1865 that Southerton developed the slow bowling for which he was to gain belated fame and set many records At a time when bowling was mainly fast round arm Southerton s slower speed with its deceptive flight and sharp break was a challenge for batsmen that they did not adapt to easily Southerton had much more than spin and flight however He was able to vary his pace and pitch very well often deceiving batsmen by bowling a ball outside the off stump 2 which turned on the under prepared pitches of his time viciously into the right handed batsmen Southerton typically would then bowl a faster straighter ball as a contrast and was exceptionally strong at knowing which ball would be most difficult for each individual batsman 2 Like Lancashire s Alec Watson who was often called the Southerton of the North the fairness of Southerton s delivery was sometimes called into question 2 Upon leaving Southampton Southerton played for Surrey as well as Sussex and Hampshire and with more cricket to play because of Surrey s longer programme 3 became the most successful bowler in England Playing only for Surrey and Sussex in 1868 Southerton was the leading wicket taker in England with 151 wickets 4 aided by an exceptionally hot summer and very bad pitches even for the era Two years later Southerton became the first bowler to reach 200 wickets in a first class season and played in as many as twenty seven of only forty nine first class matches played during the year 5 During this period it was said that Southerton was the one bowler able to defeat or even contain the brilliant batting of W G Grace 6 He continued as a leading bowler between 1871 and 1875 5 including taking 16 wickets for 52 runs in a day for the South against the North on a sticky wicket on 17 May 1875 7 Test debut and later career edit nbsp The English touring team in 1876 Southerton is seated second from left Although Southerton declined somewhat in the 1876 season with 28 fewer wickets than the previous year he toured Australia as part of James Lillywhite s side the following winter This led to him playing in the first ever Test matches Southerton was 49 years 119 days old when he made his Test debut making him the oldest ever Test debutant 8 Southerton made his Test debut on 15 March 1877 breaking the dominant partnership of Charles Bannerman and Bransby Cooper Age was clearly catching up with Southerton and the following season saw him fail to reach 100 first class wickets for the first time since 1866 5 He played his final matches in 1879 and became the first Test cricketer to die when he succumbed after a short attack of pleurisy just ten months after he had retired from cricket 9 Outside of cricket Southerton was the landlord of the Cricketers Hotel at Mitcham Cricket Green southwest London 10 Bibliography editGault Adrian James Southerton The Man of Many Counties London Mitcham Cricket Club 2020 References edit Antelope Ground Southampton England CricInfo Retrieved 9 March 2009 a b c Grace William Gilbert 21 June 1890 Forty Years of Cricket The Sydney Mail Wynne Thomas Peter 1983 The Rigby A Z of Cricket Records p 53 Rigby Adelaide ISBN 072701868X First Class Bowling in England in 1868 by Wickets a b c First Class Bowling in Each Season Rae Simon 1998 W G Grace A Life pp 94 106 ISBN 0571178553 South v North in 1875 James Southerton CricInfo Retrieved 13 April 2020 Obituary James Southerton Lazenby John 2015 The strangers who came home Bloomsbury London ISBN 978 1 4088 4466 3 External links editJames Southerton at ESPNcricinfoPreceded bynone Oldest Living Test Cricketer15 March 1877 16 June 1880 Succeeded byNed GregoryNat Thomson Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title James Southerton amp oldid 1156847761, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
