Jim Stewart (cricketer)

William James Perver Stewart (born 31 August 1934 in Llanelly) is a former first-class cricketer. He played for Warwickshire from 1955 to 1969, and for Northamptonshire in 1971 and 1972.[1]

Jim Stewart
Personal information
Full name
William James Perver Stewart
Born (1934-08-31) 31 August 1934 (age 90)
Llanelly, Monmouthshire, Wales
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-break
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1955 to 1969Warwickshire
1971 to 1972Northamptonshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 290 29
Runs scored 14826 413
Batting average 34.08 17.95
100s/50s 25/76 0/3
Top score 182* 59
Balls bowled 18 0
Wickets 2
Bowling average 7.50
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/4
Catches/stumpings 132/– 5/–
Source: Cricinfo

Life and career

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Jim Stewart was born in Wales and his family moved to Warwickshire when he was a boy.[2] He made his first-class debut for Warwickshire in 1955 and played frequently without establishing his place until 1959, when he scored 1799 runs at an average of 40.88 with five centuries.[3] He hit four of those centuries in five innings. Against Lancashire he set a world first-class record by hitting 17 sixes in the match.[2] A tall, powerfully built opening batsman, he was an especially strong driver.[2]

He had another successful season in 1960, with 1764 runs at an average of 42.00.[3] He was selected to tour New Zealand in 1960-61 with a team of young English players, making 354 runs in the first-class matches at 39.33 and playing in all three unofficial Tests against New Zealand.[4] His most successful season was 1962, when he scored 2318 runs, including 2100 runs at 42.85 in the County Championship.[5] His seven centuries that year included his highest score, when he made 182 not out and 79 not out in the victory over Leicestershire.[6]

A broken big toe on his left foot, which led to the toe's amputation, hampered his progress for the next few years, and he was also held back by an operation for arthritis in his right hand.[2] Nevertheless, he still exceeded 1000 runs in 1965 and 1968.[3] After leaving Warwickshire at the end of the 1969 season he played a few matches for Northamptonshire in the John Player League in 1971 and 1972, but with little success.[7]

He was also a rugby union player who played at full back in three of the Warwickshire teams that won the rugby union County Championship.[2]

He and his wife Frances were married in Coventry in November 1960.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Jim Stewart". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d e John Arlott, Arlott on Cricket, Willow Books, London, 1984, pp. 130–32.
  3. ^ a b c "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Jim Stewart". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  4. ^ "M.C.C. Tour of New Zealand", Wisden 1962, pp. 864–77.
  5. ^ Wisden 1963, p. 633.
  6. ^ "Leicestershire v Warwickshire 1962". Cricinfo. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  7. ^ "List A Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Jim Stewart". CricketArchive. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  8. ^ "The Marriage of Warwickshire Cricketer Jim Stewart". Getty Images. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
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