John Murdin
Encyclopedia
John Vernon Murdin was a professional Cricket
er who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
. Although he was predominantly a Bowler, the highlight of his 14-year playing career was his County record last wicket partnership with fellow Wollaston-born player Ben Bellamy
of 148. John Murdin died in 1971 in Stonehouse
, Gloucestershire
.
, taking over 450 wickets for his home county including the 28 occasions he took 5 wickets in an innings. Murdin - often referred to by his middle name, Vernon - made his debut in 1913, taking David Denton
of Yorkshire
as his first victim. In 1920, Murdin achieved Northamptonshires first post-war Hat-trick against Kent
at the County Ground
. Despite it being Northamptonshires heaviest First-class
defeat, in 1921 when Australia visited Northamptonshire, Murdin bowled Edgar Mayne
on the first ball of the match and finished with figures of 5-157, with the dismissals of Nip Pellew
, Johnny Taylor
, Jack Gregory and Arthur Mailey
on top of the Mayne wicket. The next summer was the best of his career; throughout the course of the 1922 season he took 91 wickets including his career best of 8-81 against Glamorgan
at Swansea and 7-44 in a home fixture with Kent, both of which were match-wining efforts. In the record breaking last wicket partnership in 1925, Murdin himself scored 90*
- not only his career best batting score, but also his only innings in which he achieved a half-century. Although he never recaptured his form from 1922, Murdin was granted a testimonial
in 1928 against possibly his favourite opponents, Kent. By this point his First-class playing career was over, having accepted a coaching role at Wycliffe College
in Gloucestershire, the county where he saw out the remainder of his life.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
. Although he was predominantly a Bowler, the highlight of his 14-year playing career was his County record last wicket partnership with fellow Wollaston-born player Ben Bellamy
Benjamin Bellamy
Benjamin Walter Bellamy was a professional cricketer who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire. His career spanned 16 years, retiring in 1935 by which time he had played 351 first-class matches, but returning in a crisis for two games two seasons later...
of 148. John Murdin died in 1971 in Stonehouse
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire
Stonehouse, Gloucestershire is an urban area within the Stroud District, in the UK. It is home to a number of factories, such as Dairy Crest and Schlumberger. The town is close to the M5 motorway. Stonehouse railway station has a regular train service to London...
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
.
Career
John Murdin was a regular bowler for Northamptonshire either side of World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, taking over 450 wickets for his home county including the 28 occasions he took 5 wickets in an innings. Murdin - often referred to by his middle name, Vernon - made his debut in 1913, taking David Denton
David Denton
David Denton was an English first-class cricketer. An attacking batsman, he had a long career with Yorkshire and played eleven Tests for England. His nickname of 'Lucky' came from his habit of surviving the numerous chances, that his attacking batting style naturally created for the opposition...
of Yorkshire
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
as his first victim. In 1920, Murdin achieved Northamptonshires first post-war Hat-trick against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
at the County Ground
County Cricket Ground, Northampton
The County Ground, is a cricket venue on Wantage Road in the Abington area of Northampton, UK. It is home to Northamptonshire County Cricket Club....
. Despite it being Northamptonshires heaviest First-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
defeat, in 1921 when Australia visited Northamptonshire, Murdin bowled Edgar Mayne
Edgar Mayne
Edgar Richard Mayne was an Australian cricketer who played as a right-handed batsman and bowler....
on the first ball of the match and finished with figures of 5-157, with the dismissals of Nip Pellew
Nip Pellew
Clarence Everard 'Nip' Pellew was an Australian cricketer who played in 10 Tests from 1920 to 1921.-References:*...
, Johnny Taylor
Johnny Taylor (cricketer)
John Morris "Johnny" Taylor was an Australian dual international in cricket and rugby union.He attended Newington College and St Andrew's College within the University of Sydney....
, Jack Gregory and Arthur Mailey
Arthur Mailey
Arthur Alfred Mailey was an Australian cricketer who played in 21 Test matches between 1920 and 1926....
on top of the Mayne wicket. The next summer was the best of his career; throughout the course of the 1922 season he took 91 wickets including his career best of 8-81 against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
at Swansea and 7-44 in a home fixture with Kent, both of which were match-wining efforts. In the record breaking last wicket partnership in 1925, Murdin himself scored 90*
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
- not only his career best batting score, but also his only innings in which he achieved a half-century. Although he never recaptured his form from 1922, Murdin was granted a testimonial
Testimonial match
A testimonial match or testimonial game, often referred to simply as a testimonial, is a practice in some sports, notably football and especially in the United Kingdom, where a club puts on a match in honour of a player for service to the club....
in 1928 against possibly his favourite opponents, Kent. By this point his First-class playing career was over, having accepted a coaching role at Wycliffe College
Wycliffe College (Gloucestershire)
Wycliffe College is a co-educational independent school located in the town of Stonehouse in Gloucestershire, in the West of England. The school was founded in 1882 by GW Sibly, and comprises a Nursery School for ages 2 – 4, a Preparatory School for ages 4 – 13, and a Senior School catering for...
in Gloucestershire, the county where he saw out the remainder of his life.