Phil King (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Benjamin Philip King, known as Phil King (22 April 1915–31 March 1970) was an English
cricketer
who played 117 first-class
matches either side of the Second World War, first for Worcestershire
, and then — despite his Yorkshire
birthplace — for Lancashire
. He was capped by Worcestershire in 1938, and by Lancashire in 1946.
King made a quiet first-class debut for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire
in August 1935, scoring just 3 in his only innings.
He appeared twice more that season, though did nothing of note, and although he played 20 games in 1936 and 1937 he made only two half-centuries: 51 not out
against Surrey
in July 1936
and 50*
versus Essex the following month.
1938 was a considerably more successful summer for King. He passed a thousand runs for the first time, hitting 1,178 at an average
of 22.65, and scoring his maiden century, 104 against Kent
at Tonbridge
in June.
He also made 124 against Hampshire
at Worcester
later in the season.
On this occasion, he reached his hundred before lunch.
Although King just failed to repeat the thousand in 1939, hitting 974 runs, he scored another two hundreds that summer.
In early July he took over the gloves from George Abell
during the match against Surrey, and effected five dismissals.
King was named as wicket-keeper
in four other matches that year.
When first-class cricket resumed after the war, King offered to return to Worcestershire on condition he was paid one pound for every run over a thousand he scored, but the county refused to accept.
Instead, he moved to Lancashire, for whom he had a successful 1946. He scored 1,145 runs at almost 31, and again struck two centuries. The higher of these was the career-best 145 he made versus Gloucestershire
in May; he scored a hundred runs before lunch on the third day, having begun the morning on 34*.
King's final season of 1947 was not particularly successful: he made only 360 runs in 17 innings and passed 50 just twice. After that he retired from playing and took a position as a cricket and rugby league
columnist
with the People
newspaper. In this role he twice accompanied the Great Britain
team to Australia
, and he was preparing for a third such tour when his life was claimed by a heart attack at the early age of 54.
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...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played 117 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...
matches either side of the Second World War, first 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...
, and then — despite his 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...
birthplace — for Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
. He was capped by Worcestershire in 1938, and by Lancashire in 1946.
King made a quiet first-class debut for Worcestershire against 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...
in August 1935, scoring just 3 in his only innings.
He appeared twice more that season, though did nothing of note, and although he played 20 games in 1936 and 1937 he made only two half-centuries: 51 not out
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...
against Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
in July 1936
and 50*
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...
versus Essex the following month.
1938 was a considerably more successful summer for King. He passed a thousand runs for the first time, hitting 1,178 at an average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of 22.65, and scoring his maiden century, 104 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 Tonbridge
Angel Ground
The Angel Ground was a cricket and later association football venue in Tonbridge, Kent. It was used by Kent County Cricket Club and Tonbridge Angels F.C., before being redeveloped by Tonbridge and Malling District Council in 1980.-Cricket venue:...
in June.
He also made 124 against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
at 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 :...
later in the season.
On this occasion, he reached his hundred before lunch.
Although King just failed to repeat the thousand in 1939, hitting 974 runs, he scored another two hundreds that summer.
In early July he took over the gloves from George Abell
George Abell (civil servant and cricketer)
Sir George Edmond Brackenbury Abell, KCIE, OBE was an English civil servant and cricketer. Although his civil service career was the more significant, he was an excellent all-round sportsman, who won Blues for Oxford at cricket, rugby union and hockey as well as playing county cricket for...
during the match against Surrey, and effected five dismissals.
King was named as wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
in four other matches that year.
When first-class cricket resumed after the war, King offered to return to Worcestershire on condition he was paid one pound for every run over a thousand he scored, but the county refused to accept.
Instead, he moved to Lancashire, for whom he had a successful 1946. He scored 1,145 runs at almost 31, and again struck two centuries. The higher of these was the career-best 145 he made versus Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
in May; he scored a hundred runs before lunch on the third day, having begun the morning on 34*.
King's final season of 1947 was not particularly successful: he made only 360 runs in 17 innings and passed 50 just twice. After that he retired from playing and took a position as a cricket and rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
with the People
The People
The People, previously known as the Sunday People, is a British tabloid Sunday-only newspaper. The paper was founded on 16 October 1881.It is published by the Trinity Mirror Group.In July 2011 it had an average daily circulation of 806,544....
newspaper. In this role he twice accompanied the Great Britain
Great Britain national rugby league team
The Great Britain national rugby league team represents the United Kingdom in rugby league football. Administered by the Rugby Football League , the team is nicknamed "The Lions" or "Great Britain Lions"....
team to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, and he was preparing for a third such tour when his life was claimed by a heart attack at the early age of 54.