John Ernest Mills (3 September 1905 – 11 December 1972), known as Jackie Mills, was a New Zealand cricketer who played in seven Test matches between 1930 and 1933.
Jackie Mills
Personal information
Born
(1905-09-03)3 September 1905 Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
Died
11 December 1972(1972-12-11) (aged 67) Hamilton, Waikato, New Zealand
Jackie Mills's father George was an all-rounder who played for Auckland in the 1890s and 1900s and was the groundsman at Eden Park in Auckland.[1]
A left-handed opening batsman, Mills played for Auckland from 1924–25 to 1937–38, and toured England with the New Zealand teams of 1927 and 1931, scoring over 1000 runs on each tour. In an Auckland senior club match for Eden against University in 1924–25, Mills and Hector Gillespie shared an opening stand of 441.[2] In the first match of the 1929-30 Plunket Shield season he scored 185, his highest score, in an innings victory for Auckland over Otago. He scored more than half of Auckland's total of 356, and more than Otago's two innings combined.[3]
He was the first New Zealander to make a Test century on debut. He scored 117 for New Zealand against England at Basin Reserve, Wellington, New Zealand, in 1929–30,[4] and he and Stewie Dempster put on 276 for the first wicket. However, Mills's next nine Test innings produced only 124 runs.
Dick Brittenden said: "Mills, lean and graceful, never seemed sufficiently robust for the demands of test cricket; he could probably claim to be the only test batsman who habitually wore wool, from neck to ankle, next to the skin. But if his batting looked effete, it was effective. A most graceful driver and cutter, he had the left-hander's penchant for the hook. Spare and frail he was, but there was tremendous power which came from some hidden source; he was New Zealand's nearest approach to Woolley."[5]
Short film of Mills batting in England in 1927 from British Pathé
April 12, 2024
john, mills, zealand, cricketer, john, ernest, mills, september, 1905, december, 1972, known, jackie, mills, zealand, cricketer, played, seven, test, matches, between, 1930, 1933, jackie, millspersonal, informationborn, 1905, september, 1905dunedin, otago, zea. John Ernest Mills 3 September 1905 11 December 1972 known as Jackie Mills was a New Zealand cricketer who played in seven Test matches between 1930 and 1933 Jackie MillsPersonal informationBorn 1905 09 03 3 September 1905Dunedin Otago New ZealandDied11 December 1972 1972 12 11 aged 67 Hamilton Waikato New ZealandBattingLeft handedRelationsGeorge Mills father International informationNational sideNew Zealand 1930 1933 Test debut cap 13 24 January 1930 v EnglandLast Test31 March 1933 v EnglandCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 7 97Runs scored 241 5 025Batting average 26 77 32 84100s 50s 1 0 11 25Top score 117 185Balls bowled 0 183Wickets 4Bowling average 30 755 wickets in innings 010 wickets in match 0Best bowling 2 57Catches stumpings 1 30 Source Cricinfo 1 April 2017Cricket career editJackie Mills s father George was an all rounder who played for Auckland in the 1890s and 1900s and was the groundsman at Eden Park in Auckland 1 A left handed opening batsman Mills played for Auckland from 1924 25 to 1937 38 and toured England with the New Zealand teams of 1927 and 1931 scoring over 1000 runs on each tour In an Auckland senior club match for Eden against University in 1924 25 Mills and Hector Gillespie shared an opening stand of 441 2 In the first match of the 1929 30 Plunket Shield season he scored 185 his highest score in an innings victory for Auckland over Otago He scored more than half of Auckland s total of 356 and more than Otago s two innings combined 3 He was the first New Zealander to make a Test century on debut He scored 117 for New Zealand against England at Basin Reserve Wellington New Zealand in 1929 30 4 and he and Stewie Dempster put on 276 for the first wicket However Mills s next nine Test innings produced only 124 runs Dick Brittenden said Mills lean and graceful never seemed sufficiently robust for the demands of test cricket he could probably claim to be the only test batsman who habitually wore wool from neck to ankle next to the skin But if his batting looked effete it was effective A most graceful driver and cutter he had the left hander s penchant for the hook Spare and frail he was but there was tremendous power which came from some hidden source he was New Zealand s nearest approach to Woolley 5 References edit Cricketer obituary Retrieved 14 February 2013 Wisden 1955 p 930 Auckland v Otago 1929 30 CricketArchive Retrieved 6 April 2019 Dawson M 1995 Quick Singles ABC Books Sydney ISBN 0 7333 0492 3 R T Brittenden Great Days in New Zealand Cricket A H amp A W Reed Wellington 1958 p 61 External links editJohn Mills at ESPNcricinfo Short film of Mills batting in England in 1927 from British Pathe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Mills New Zealand cricketer amp oldid 1198714085, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
