Thomas Higson (cricketer, born 1873)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Atkinson Higson was an English cricket
er who played first class cricket for Oxford University
in 1892, for Derbyshire
in 1899, 1909 and 1910 and for Lancashire
between 1905 and 1923.
Higson was born at Stockport
, Cheshire
, the son of Jacob Higson, a civil mining engineer, and his wife Eliza Alice Smith He was educated at Rossall School
where he was in the cricket XI for three years and captained it in his last year, also being fives champion. He played casual games for an assortment of teams from his late teens. In 1889 he played a match for Lancashire against Cheshire. He was then at New College, Oxford
and 1892 he played one match for the university against Lancashire, missing his first innings through injury. Also in 1892 he played for Cheshire
against MCC. In 1893 he played for Blackpool against the Australians. By profession, he became a solicitor and played a couple of games for Incogniti
in 1896.
Higson played a full season for Derbyshire in 1899
, making his debut against Surrey
. He achieved his best bowling performance of 4 for 74 against Warwickshire
and his top score of 46 against Hampshire
. From 1901 he was playing for Lancashire in the first and second XIs. He next played first class in 1904 for MCC
against South Africans, and in 1905, 1906 and 1907 also played occasional first class games for Lancashire . In the 1909 season
he was back with Derbyshire for one game and then played three matches for the club in the 1910 season
. After the war in 1921 he was again with Lancashire playing mainly in the second team, apart from one game in 1923 against West Indies.
Higson was a right-arm off-break bowler and took 41 first class wickets at an average of 28.41 and a best performance of 4 for 74. He was a right-hand batsman and played 50 innings in 29 first class matches at an average of 12.69 and a top score of 46.
From 1931 to 1934, Higson was a member of the Selection Committee, with Sir Pelham Warner
and P. A. Perrin
. He helped to choose the M.C.C. side which visited Australia in 1932–33 for the controversial bodyline
tour. On this, his view was that such bowling was detrimental to cricket.. He had strong views on many aspects of the game and in 1934 argued for two-day single innings county matches in order to brighten the game.
Higson was chairman of Lancashire County Cricket Club from 1932 to 1949, in succession to Sir Edwin Stockton.
Higson died at Grange-over-Sands
, Lancashire, at the age of 75. His sons Thomas Higson
and Peter Higson also played first class cricket for Lancashire, and his brother Peter Higson played for Cheshire.
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 played first class cricket for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
in 1892, for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
in 1899, 1909 and 1910 and 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...
between 1905 and 1923.
Higson was born at Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
, Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
, the son of Jacob Higson, a civil mining engineer, and his wife Eliza Alice Smith He was educated at Rossall School
Rossall School
Rossall School is a British, co-educational, independent school, between Cleveleys and Fleetwood, Lancashire. Rossall was founded in 1844 by St. Vincent Beechey as a sister school to Marlborough College which had been founded the previous year...
where he was in the cricket XI for three years and captained it in his last year, also being fives champion. He played casual games for an assortment of teams from his late teens. In 1889 he played a match for Lancashire against Cheshire. He was then at New College, Oxford
New College, Oxford
New College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.- Overview :The College's official name, College of St Mary, is the same as that of the older Oriel College; hence, it has been referred to as the "New College of St Mary", and is now almost always...
and 1892 he played one match for the university against Lancashire, missing his first innings through injury. Also in 1892 he played for Cheshire
Cheshire County Cricket Club
Cheshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cheshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
against MCC. In 1893 he played for Blackpool against the Australians. By profession, he became a solicitor and played a couple of games for Incogniti
Incogniti
The Incogniti cricket club was founded in 1861, claims to be the third oldest "wandering" cricket club – a nomadic cricket club without its own home ground – after I Zingari and Free Foresters ....
in 1896.
Higson played a full season for Derbyshire in 1899
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1899
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1899 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for twenty-eight years. It was their fifth season in the County Championship and they won three matches to finish fifteenth in the Championship table.-1899 season:Derbyshire played...
, making his debut 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...
. He achieved his best bowling performance of 4 for 74 against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
and his top score of 46 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...
. From 1901 he was playing for Lancashire in the first and second XIs. He next played first class in 1904 for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
against South Africans, and in 1905, 1906 and 1907 also played occasional first class games for Lancashire . In the 1909 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1909
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1909 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for thirty eight years. It was their fifteenth season in the County Championship and they won two matches to finish fifteenth in the Championship table.-1909 season:Derbyshire played...
he was back with Derbyshire for one game and then played three matches for the club in the 1910 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1910
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1910 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for thirty nine years. It was their sixteenth season in the County Championship and they won two matches to finish fifteenth in the Championship table.-1910 season:Derbyshire played...
. After the war in 1921 he was again with Lancashire playing mainly in the second team, apart from one game in 1923 against West Indies.
Higson was a right-arm off-break bowler and took 41 first class wickets at an average of 28.41 and a best performance of 4 for 74. He was a right-hand batsman and played 50 innings in 29 first class matches at an average of 12.69 and a top score of 46.
From 1931 to 1934, Higson was a member of the Selection Committee, with Sir Pelham Warner
Plum Warner
Sir Pelham Francis Warner MBE , affectionately and better known as Plum Warner, or even "the Grand Old Man" of English cricket was a Test cricketer....
and P. A. Perrin
Percy Perrin
Percival Albert Perrin , known as either "Percy" or "Peter", was an English cricketer, who played for Essex as a right-handed, middle-order batsman for more than thirty years from 1896.Perrin was a Tottenham publican and a property developer who organised his considerable business...
. He helped to choose the M.C.C. side which visited Australia in 1932–33 for the controversial bodyline
Bodyline
Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman...
tour. On this, his view was that such bowling was detrimental to cricket.. He had strong views on many aspects of the game and in 1934 argued for two-day single innings county matches in order to brighten the game.
Higson was chairman of Lancashire County Cricket Club from 1932 to 1949, in succession to Sir Edwin Stockton.
Higson died at Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish by the sea – with a wide tidal range, hence the "sands" name – in Cumbria, England. Historically, Grange-over-Sands was part of the County of Lancashire until 1974, when Cumbria was created under Local Government re-organisation which absorbed the area...
, Lancashire, at the age of 75. His sons Thomas Higson
Thomas Higson (cricketer, born 1911)
Thomas Atkinson Higson was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire from 1932 to 1935 and for Lancashire from 1936 to 1946.Higson was born at Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, the son of Thomas Higson...
and Peter Higson also played first class cricket for Lancashire, and his brother Peter Higson played for Cheshire.