Michael James (cricketer, born 1934)

Michael James
Personal information
Full name
Robert Michael James
Born (1934-10-02) 2 October 1934
Wokingham, Berkshire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1954–1971Berkshire
1956–1958Cambridge University
1964/65Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 51
Runs scored 2,208
Batting average 27.60
100s/50s 4/5
Top score 168
Balls bowled 2,997
Wickets 38
Bowling average 35.68
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 4/5
Catches/stumpings 16/–
Source: CricketArchive, 6 February 2017

Robert Michael James (born 2 October 1934) is an English former cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1956 to 1965.

Cricket career

Michael James was educated at St John's School, Leatherhead, and Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He was a regular member of the Cambridge University team from 1956 to 1958, scoring 1969 runs in 45 first-class matches at an average of 27.34.[2] His highest score was 168 against Gloucestershire in 1957, when he "dominated the cricket, on-driving and pulling powerfully during a fine display lasting four hours and including six 6's and seventeen 4's". Cambridge won the match by an innings in two days.[3]

In his second first-class match, James scored 116 in 188 minutes against the 1956 Australian team, after Cambridge University had trailed by 259 on the first innings. It was the first time a freshman had scored a century for either Cambridge or Oxford against an Australian team.[4][5]

James played regularly for Berkshire in the Minor Counties Championship from 1954 to 1962, and a few matches from 1969 to 1971.[6]

In 1963 James was appointed to the position of Third Secretary in the British High Commission in Wellington, New Zealand.[7] He played three matches for Wellington in the Plunket Shield in 1964–65.[8] He and his wife returned to England in 1965, with their two sons, and a daughter who had been born during their stay in New Zealand.[9]

James' son Tim played for Berkshire in the 1980s.[10]

References

  1. ↑ Wisden 1958, p. 291.
  2. ↑ "First-class batting for each team by Michael James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  3. ↑ Wisden 1958, p. 370–71.
  4. ↑ Wisden 1957, pp. 236–37.
  5. ↑ "Cambridge University v Australians, 1956". Cricinfo. Retrieved 30 July 2026.
  6. ↑ "Minor Counties Championship matches played by Michael James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  7. ↑ "Versatile Player". Press: 9. 12 October 1963.
  8. ↑ "First-Class Matches played by Michael James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Secretary In British H.C. Leaving Soon". Evening Post: 19. 10 July 1965.
  10. ↑ "Tim James". CricketArchive. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
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