George Harrison (cricketer, born 1860)

George Crawford Harrison (27 June 1860 – 16 March 1900) was an English first-class cricketer and educator.

The son of William Harrison, he was born at Maida Hill in June 1860. He was educated firstly at Malvern College,[1] leaving in 1874 for Clifton College.[2] From Clifton he went up to Oriel College, Oxford in 1879.[3] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University, making his debut against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Oxford in 1880. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1883, making a total of eighteen appearances.[4] Primarily a slow bowler who was described by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as “a good slow bowler, twisting the ball both ways”,[5] he took a total of 64 wickets for Oxford at an average of 19.21. Harrison took a five wicket haul on four occasions, with best figures of 7 for 69.[6] Wisden commented that in later matches he “developed an extraordinary twist from leg”, alluding to him becoming a leg spin bowler.[5] He was less successful with the bat, scoring 237 runs with a high score of 28.[7]

After graduating from Oxford, he became an assistant master at Clifton in 1883,[2] before holding the same position at Fettes College in Edinburgh from 1890 until his death there in March 1900 from pleuropneumonia following influenza.[1][8]