George Parr (cricketer)

George Parr (22 May 1826 – 23 June 1891) was an English cricketer whose first-class career lasted from 1844 to 1870. Known popularly as the "Lion of the North", Parr was a right-handed batsman and bowled occasional right-handed underarm deliveries. Throughout his career he played mainly for Nottinghamshire, and was club captain from 1856 to 1870. He also made occasional appearances for other counties and for Marylebone Cricket Club. He was a stalwart of the All-England Eleven and was captain of the first England touring team, which went to North America in 1859. He also captained England's second tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1864, returning home unbeaten.[2] During this trip he travelled with the team from Liverpool to Melbourne on the SS Great Britain.[3]

George Parr

Personal information
Full name	George Parr
Born	(1826-05-22)22 May 1826 Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England
Died	23 June 1891(1891-06-23) (aged 65) Radcliffe-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England
Nickname	Lion of the North
Height	5 ft 9[1] in (1.75 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Role	Batsman
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1845–1870	Nottinghamshire
1853–1854	Surrey
1853–1854	Sussex
1854–1858	Kent
1863	MCC
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 207 Runs scored 6,626 Batting average 20.20 100s/50s 1/31 Top score 130 Balls bowled 694 Wickets 29 Bowling average 15.34 5 wickets in innings 1 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 6/42 Catches/stumpings 126/–
Source: CricInfo, 21 June 2014

Parr played in 207 first-class matches and had 358 innings, in 30 of which he was not out. Parr is widely considered as the best cricket player in the world in his time. He scored 6,626 runs (average 20.20) at a time when conditions greatly favoured bowlers. His highest score was 130 for Nottinghamshire, against Surrey at The Oval on 14 July 1859; his only century. He made 31 fifties and took 126 catches. He took 29 wickets in his career with a best analysis of 6/42. The Parr Stand which was replaced at Trent Bridge was named in his honour.[2][4]

References

Notes

1. George Parr, British Museum.
2. "Player Profile: George Parr". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
3. https://globalstories.ssgreatbritain.org/_/traveller/11677/
4. "Player Profile: George Parr". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 21 June 2014.

Sources

• H S Altham, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1926
• Derek Birley, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999
• Rowland Bowen, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970
• Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volumes 3–9 (1841–1866), Lillywhite, 1862–1867
• John Major, More Than A Game, HarperCollins, 2007 – includes the famous 1859 touring team photo taken on board ship at Liverpool
• Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993

External links

• Media related to George Parr (cricketer) at Wikimedia Commons
• George Parr at ESPNcricinfo

Sporting positions
Preceded by William Clarke	Nottinghamshire County cricket captain 1856–1870	Succeeded by Richard Daft