Trevor Molony
Encyclopedia
Trevor James Molony
Trevor James Molony (born on 6 July 1897 in London
- died 3 September, 1962 in Cannes
, France
) was a cricket
er who played for Surrey
. He is considered as the last lob bowler
to play first class cricket purely as a bowler.
Trevor Molony studied at Repton and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He appeared in but did not take any wickets in the Freshers match but another fine performance for his college won the attention of Digby Jephson
. Jephson, himself a former first-class cricketer who bowled underarm, who was then involved in Cambridge cricket recommended him for Surrey's pre-season trial match at the Oval in April 1921. He took the wicket of Jack Hobbs
(who apparently gave away his wicket) in the first innings and three more in the second.
This led to him being selected for the Surrey's match against Nottinghamshire
at Trent Bridge
in May at the recommendation of the Surrey captain Percy Fender
. Surrey was dismissed for 76 and Notts reached 170 for 5 when Molony was introduced into bowling. The Cricketer
reported that Molony "is a lob bowler who bowls leg theory and bowls it accurately, too. He varies the flight of the ball excellently and bowls an exceedingly good full-toss at awkward height". Bowling with eight men on the leg side, Molony went on to take three wickets for 11 runs in seven overs, Notts being all-out for 201. Cricketer recorded that "the attempts of the last few batsmen were ludicrous, which evinced much laughter from the crowd, which showed their unmistakable delight in seeing a lob bowler go on".
Molony took one wicket in his next match against Leicestershire
, Albert Lord being caught by the Surrey wicket-keeper Herbert Strudwick
who "had to catch it or be almost decapitated". Possibly on the protest from Strudwick, he was then dropped from the side. Molony was given one more match against Warwickshire
in June, but he took no more wickets. He was never again selected for Surrey or their Second XI.
He continued in Club cricket for many more years playing for Repton Pilgrims.
During the war he was a Station Commander in the RAF.
Trevor James Molony (born on 6 July 1897 in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
- died 3 September, 1962 in Cannes
Cannes
Cannes is one of the best-known cities of the French Riviera, a busy tourist destination and host of the annual Cannes Film Festival. It is a Commune of France in the Alpes-Maritimes department....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
) was a cricket
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 for 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 is considered as the last lob bowler
Underarm bowling
In cricket, underarm bowling is as old as the sport itself. Until the introduction of the roundarm style in the first half of the 19th century, bowling was performed in the same way as in bowls, the ball being delivered with the hand below the waist...
to play first class cricket purely as a bowler.
Trevor Molony studied at Repton and Pembroke College, Cambridge. He appeared in but did not take any wickets in the Freshers match but another fine performance for his college won the attention of Digby Jephson
Digby Jephson
Digby Loder Armeroid Jephson was a cricketer who played for Cambridge University and Surrey. Jephson was a right-handed middle order batsman. But his enduring fame rests on his reputation as one of the last lob bowlers, bowling slow right-arm underarm lobs...
. Jephson, himself a former first-class cricketer who bowled underarm, who was then involved in Cambridge cricket recommended him for Surrey's pre-season trial match at the Oval in April 1921. He took the wicket of Jack Hobbs
Jack Hobbs
Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
(who apparently gave away his wicket) in the first innings and three more in the second.
This led to him being selected for the Surrey's match against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire 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 Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
in May at the recommendation of the Surrey captain Percy Fender
Percy Fender
Percy George Herbert Fender was an English all-round cricketer who played 13 Tests for England. He was a middle order batsman and bowled mainly leg spin.-Biography:...
. Surrey was dismissed for 76 and Notts reached 170 for 5 when Molony was introduced into bowling. The Cricketer
The Cricketer
The Cricketer was an English cricket magazine published between 1921 and 2003 when it was merged with Wisden Cricket Monthly and relaunched as The Wisden Cricketer....
reported that Molony "is a lob bowler who bowls leg theory and bowls it accurately, too. He varies the flight of the ball excellently and bowls an exceedingly good full-toss at awkward height". Bowling with eight men on the leg side, Molony went on to take three wickets for 11 runs in seven overs, Notts being all-out for 201. Cricketer recorded that "the attempts of the last few batsmen were ludicrous, which evinced much laughter from the crowd, which showed their unmistakable delight in seeing a lob bowler go on".
Molony took one wicket in his next match against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire 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 Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
, Albert Lord being caught by the Surrey wicket-keeper Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick was an English wicket-keeper...
who "had to catch it or be almost decapitated". Possibly on the protest from Strudwick, he was then dropped from the side. Molony was given one more match 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...
in June, but he took no more wickets. He was never again selected for Surrey or their Second XI.
He continued in Club cricket for many more years playing for Repton Pilgrims.
During the war he was a Station Commander in the RAF.