George Duckworth

Summary

George Duckworth (9 May 1901 – 5 January 1966) was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire and England.

George Duckworth
Personal information
Full name
George Duckworth
Born(1901-05-09)9 May 1901
Warrington, Lancashire, England
Died5 January 1966(1966-01-05) (aged 64)
Warrington, Lancashire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingOccasional right arm medium
RoleWicket-keeper
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 219)26 July 1924 v South Africa
Last Test18 August 1936 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1923–1938Lancashire
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 24 504
Runs scored 234 4,947
Batting average 14.62 14.59
100s/50s 0/0 0/6
Top score 39 not out 75
Balls bowled 0 68
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 45/15 755/343
Source: CricketArchive, 28 February 2009

Duckworth, who won his cricketing fame as a wicket-keeper, was born and died in Warrington, Lancashire, and joined Lancashire in 1922. He played his first game for the county in 1923 and his last in 1938 and went on to become a member of the Lancashire committee. 1928 was his best season, with him taking 77 catches and 30 stumpings, and this earned him the accolade of being one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1929. He played 24 Test matches for England, but as a wicket-keeper he was in direct competition in his later years with Les Ames, who was a much better batsman. He was awarded a benefit in 1934, which raised £1,257. He was reputed to have the loudest shout of appeal of any cricketer of his time.

Duckworth's total of 925 dismissals for Lancashire is a record for the county.

After retirement, Duckworth was a journalist and a broadcaster on both cricket and rugby league. He also acted as a cricket tour organiser and as baggage master and scorer on Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) tours. Frank Worrell, recognising the high esteem that Len Hutton had held Duckworth's role in 1953/54 took him to Australia as West Indies' baggageman/scorer/guru on their ground-breaking tour.[1]

A peanut shaped roundabout in his home town Warrington has been named after him. Duckworth's Roundabout is at Birchwood Way (A574) and Oakwood Gate.

Duckworth was the nephew of the rugby league footballer for Warrington, Jack Duckworth.

References edit

  1. ^ Woodhouse, David (2021). Who Only Cricket Know: Hutton's Men in the West Indies 1953/54. London: Fairfield Books. pp. 363–4. ISBN 9781909811591.
  • Cricinfo page on George Duckworth
  • CricketArchive page on George Duckworth

External links edit

  •   Media related to George Duckworth at Wikimedia Commons
  • Citation as Wisden Cricketer of the Year