Joseph Lister (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Joseph Lister
Joseph Lister (14 May 1930 – 28 January 1991} was an English
first-class cricket
er, who played one first-class match for the Combined Services
in 1951, two matches as an amateur
for Yorkshire
in 1954, plus twenty one games for Worcestershire
between 1954 and 1959. He was later well-known as a cricket administrator, serving as secretary of Yorkshire for twenty turbulent years from 1971, until his death at the age of 60 in 1991.
, Yorkshire
, England
, Lister represented the Rest against Southern Public Schools at Lord's
in 1948 scoring 75 in eighty minutes. He also appeared for the Yorkshire Second XI (1953-1954), Worcestershire Second XI (1959-1971) and the Free Foresters (1957). He reappeared in a non first-class game for Worcestershire against Jamaica in 1970, captaining
the side. Lawrence Rowe
scored a hundred in his first innings and fifty in his second, both unbeaten, but the game ended in a draw.
In twenty four first-class matches overall, Lister as a right-handed batsman scored 796 runs at 20.41, and took 14 catches. He scored four 50s and came agonisingly close to what would have been a maiden century for Worcestershire against Kent
at New Road, Worcester
in 1955, the season he played twelve County Championship
matches. Opening the batting he had reached 99, but was bowled by Colin Page. He did score 143 for Worcestershire Second X1. His uncle was the Yorkshire bowler George Macaulay
.
– combined administration duties with playing. He was a successful captain of Worcestershire's Second XI, leading the team to the Second XI Championship
in 1962 and 1963, and being credited with bringing forward some of the young cricketers who helped Worcestershire to the county's first-ever County Championship successes in 1964 and 1965.
Lister's years as secretary of Yorkshire were beset by controversy as the county side, accustomed to regular success throughout its history, went through its leanest years, with the captaincy and the committees frequently riven by faction and intrigue. Lister's diplomatic skills meant that the feuding remained in the committee rooms rather than spilling out on to the field of play, and he was also successful in deflecting continued criticism of the pitches and the crowds at Headingley
which threatened, at times, its place as a regular Test
venue.
He died in January 1991 in Granby, Harrogate
, Yorkshire.
Joseph Lister (14 May 1930 – 28 January 1991} was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
first-class cricket
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...
er, who played one first-class match for the Combined Services
Combined Services cricket team
The Combined Services cricket team represents the British armed forces. The team played at first-class level in England for more than forty years in the mid-twentieth century. Their first first-class match was against Gentlemen of England at Lord's in 1920, while their last was against Oxford...
in 1951, two matches as an amateur
Amateur status in first-class cricket
Amateur status in first-class cricket had a special meaning, especially in England, in that the amateur in this context was not merely someone who played cricket in his spare time but a particular type of first-class cricketer who existed officially until 1962, when the distinction between amateurs...
for 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....
in 1954, plus twenty one games for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire...
between 1954 and 1959. He was later well-known as a cricket administrator, serving as secretary of Yorkshire for twenty turbulent years from 1971, until his death at the age of 60 in 1991.
Playing career
Born in ThirskThirsk
Thirsk is a small market town and civil parish in the Hambleton district of North Yorkshire, England. The local travel links are located a mile from the town centre to Thirsk railway station and to Durham Tees Valley Airport...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, Lister represented the Rest against Southern Public Schools at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
in 1948 scoring 75 in eighty minutes. He also appeared for the Yorkshire Second XI (1953-1954), Worcestershire Second XI (1959-1971) and the Free Foresters (1957). He reappeared in a non first-class game for Worcestershire against Jamaica in 1970, captaining
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
the side. Lawrence Rowe
Lawrence Rowe
Lawrence George Rowe is a former West Indian cricketer.Lawrence, also known as "Yagga", was an elegant right-handed batsman described by Michael Holding, his team mate, as "the best batsman I ever saw". It was felt that his ability was so extraordinary that Sobers believed he could have been the...
scored a hundred in his first innings and fifty in his second, both unbeaten, but the game ended in a draw.
In twenty four first-class matches overall, Lister as a right-handed batsman scored 796 runs at 20.41, and took 14 catches. He scored four 50s and came agonisingly close to what would have been a maiden century for Worcestershire 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 New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
in 1955, the season he played twelve County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
matches. Opening the batting he had reached 99, but was bowled by Colin Page. He did score 143 for Worcestershire Second X1. His uncle was the Yorkshire bowler George Macaulay
George Macaulay
George Gibson Macaulay , was a professional English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1920 and 1935. He played in eight Test matches for England from 1923 to 1933, achieving the rare feat of taking a wicket with his first ball in Test cricket...
.
Cricket administration
Lister moved into cricket administration early in his career. From 1956, he was assistant secretary of Worcestershire, and, like other prominent amateurs of the period – including the then Worcestershire captain Peter RichardsonPeter Richardson (cricketer)
Peter Edward Richardson is an English former cricketer, who played for Worcestershire, Kent and, in thirty four Tests, for England....
– combined administration duties with playing. He was a successful captain of Worcestershire's Second XI, leading the team to the Second XI Championship
Second XI Championship
The Second XI Championship is a season-long cricket competition in England that is competed for by the reserve teams of those county cricket clubs that have first-class status...
in 1962 and 1963, and being credited with bringing forward some of the young cricketers who helped Worcestershire to the county's first-ever County Championship successes in 1964 and 1965.
Lister's years as secretary of Yorkshire were beset by controversy as the county side, accustomed to regular success throughout its history, went through its leanest years, with the captaincy and the committees frequently riven by faction and intrigue. Lister's diplomatic skills meant that the feuding remained in the committee rooms rather than spilling out on to the field of play, and he was also successful in deflecting continued criticism of the pitches and the crowds at Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
which threatened, at times, its place as a regular Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
venue.
He died in January 1991 in Granby, Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
, Yorkshire.