James "Bonnor" Middleton (30 September 1865 – 23 December 1913) was a South African cricketer who played in six Tests from 1896 to 1902. On his debut, he took five wickets in the first innings against England in Port Elizabeth in 1896.[1]
![]() Middleton in 1894 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | James Middleton | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Chester-le-Street, England | 13 September 1865|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 23 December 1913 Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa | (aged 48)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Nickname | Bonnor | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Left-arm slow-medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo |
Middleton served in the British Army until Cape Town Cricket Club bought his release so he could become their professional.[2] A left-arm slow-medium opening bowler, Middleton played for Western Province from 1890–91 to 1903–04. His best first-class figures were 7 for 64 in the Currie Cup final against Transvaal in 1897–98. He took 12 for 100 in the match, which Western Province won.[3]
Middleton was one of the leading players on South Africa's tour of England in 1894 when no Tests were played; in the South Africans' narrow victory over MCC at Lord's he bowled unchanged through both innings to take 6 for 48 and 6 for 35.[4]
His nickname was given because of his resemblance, as a hard-hitting batsman, to the Australian Test cricketer George Bonnor.[1] He died in Cape Town of heart failure after severe attacks of asthma and bronchitis.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "1st Test: South Africa v England at Port Elizabeth, Feb 13–14, 1896". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 December 2011.
- ^ "Wisden Obituaries in 1914". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ Western Province v Transvaal 1897–98
- ^ "MCC v South Africans 1894". CricketArchive. Retrieved 11 November 2018.
- ^ "Obituary", Cricket, 9 May 1914, p. 136.