Tony Nicholson

Tony Nicholson
Personal information
Full name
Anthony George Nicholson
Born(1938-06-25)25 June 1938
Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England
Died4 November 1985(1985-11-04) (aged 47)
Harrogate, Yorkshire, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1962–1975Yorkshire
FC debut7 July 1962 Yorkshire v Essex
Last FC16 September 1975 Yorkshire v Essex
LA debut12 June 1963 Yorkshire v Sussex
Last LA31 August 1975 Yorkshire v Nottinghamshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 283 120
Runs scored 1,669 155
Batting average 11.75 6.45
100s/50s 0/1 0/0
Top score 50 15*
Balls bowled 47,406 0
Wickets 879 5,862
Bowling average 19.76 17.05
5 wickets in innings 40 4
10 wickets in match 3 0
Best bowling 9/62 6/27
Catches/stumpings 85/– 16/–
Source: CricketArchive, 27 September 2007

Anthony George Nicholson (25 June 1938 – 4 November 1985) was an English first-class cricketer, active 1962 to 1975, who played for Yorkshire as a right arm medium pace bowler and was a member of the club's five County Championship-winning teams between 1962 and 1968. He was born in Dewsbury and died in Harrogate. Nicholson was awarded his county cap after the 1963 season and a benefit for him in 1973 raised £13,214. He made 283 first-class appearances and 120 in limited overs cricket, taking 879 and 173 wickets respectively.[1] Prior to joining Yorkshire, Nicholson was a policeman in Southern Rhodesia.[2]

Nicholson's best seasons were 1966 and 1967 when, usually opening the bowling with Fred Trueman, he took over 100 wickets and played a key role in Yorkshire's title wins. Despite his successful county career, he never played Test cricket. He was selected for the England tour of South Africa in 1964–65 but was forced to withdraw because of an injury.[3] His later career was dogged by ill health, caused by blood clots in his leg, which contributed to his early death.[4]

Although he never managed international recognition, Nicholson was highly rated by the Yorkshire public.[5] The county's Players Association holds a Tony Nicholson Memorial Trophy in his honour.[6] At a time when retirement tended to be greeted with muted thanks by the Yorkshire committee, Nicholson was paid the warmest possible tribute.[7]

  1. ^ Tony Nicholson at CricketArchive
  2. ^ Playfair Cricket Annual, 1966.
  3. ^ Obituary in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1986.
  4. ^ A. Woodhouse, History of Yorkshire Cricket
  5. ^ Corbett, Ted (4 June 2004). "Wet start to second Test". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 5 September 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  6. ^ "Players set sights on their first 100". Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Archived from the original on 4 May 2007. Retrieved 27 September 2007.
  7. ^ YCCC Yearbook 1976