John Nicolson (South African cricketer)

John Fairless William Nicolson (born 19 July 1899 in Durban, Natal, died 18 December 1935 in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland) was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1927–28.[1]

For other people named John Nicolson, see John Nicolson.
John Nicolson
Cricket information
BattingLeft-hand bat
BowlingRight-arm bowler
International information
National side
  • South African
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 3 28
Runs scored 179 1543
Batting average 35.79 37.63
100s/50s 0/1 3/7
Top score 78 252*
Balls bowled 24 312
Wickets - 3
Bowling average - 68.33
5 wickets in innings - 0
10 wickets in match - 0
Best bowling - 2/36
Catches/stumpings 0/- 8/-

Nicolson was educated at Oxford University, where he played a lot of club cricket, but made only one first-class cricket appearance, for the University against the West Indies in 1923.[2] But in South Africa, he became a fairly regular player for Natal for five years from 1923–24 as a left-hand opening batsman. His obituary in The Times stated that he was "skilful and untiring in defence and could hit hard on the leg side".[2] His best season was 1926–27, when he scored the only three centuries of his career. They included an unbeaten 252 against Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in which he shared a first-wicket stand of 424 with Jack Siedle. Nicolson's score was, at that time, the highest ever made in South Africa and the stand remained the South African record for the first wicket until January 2020.[3][4]

Nicolson was picked for the third Test against Captain Stanyforth's 1927–28 England touring team. He made 78 in the second innings, which was his highest Test score. He retained his place in the two remaining matches of the series, but was less successful in domestic South African cricket in the following season, and was not picked for the tour of England in 1929.

Nicolson retired after a couple of matches in 1929–30. At the time of his death, he had been on the staff of Mourne Grange School at Kilkeel in County Down for three years.[2]

References
  1. "John Nicolson". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 12 January 2012.
  2. "Death of J. F. W. Nicolson". The Times (47252). London. 20 December 1935. p. 5.
  3. "Scorecard: Orange Free State v Natal". www.cricketarchive.com. 30 December 1926. Retrieved 2 February 2012.
  4. "Easterns pair go big, break record". SA Cricket Mag. Retrieved 17 January 2020.
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