John Murray (cricketer)
John Thomas Murray MBE (1 April 1935 – 24 July 2018) was an English cricketer.[1] He played in 21 Tests for England between 1961 and 1967.[2]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | John Thomas Murray | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 1 April 1935 North Kensington, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 24 July 2018 (aged 83) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed batting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Wicketkeeper | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut | 8 June 1961 v Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 27 July 1967 v Pakistan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Life and career
Murray was educated at the St John's Church of England School in Notting Hill, London.[3] He played football as a wing half in his youth and was part of the Brentford youth team which reached the semi-finals of the inaugural FA Youth Cup in the 1952–53 season.[4][5]
Murray made his debut as a wicket-keeper for Middlesex in 1952, aged 17 years and 54 days. Most elegant behind the stumps, he is acknowledged as one of the most distinguished wicket-keepers in the history of the game.[2] His batting prowess was such that he scored 1,000 runs in a season six times with Middlesex, and scored a Test century in 1966 when he batted at number nine against the West Indies.[2] He played for Middlesex in 508 first-class matches between 1952 and 1975, and for England in 21 Tests. His tally of 1,527 first-class dismissals set a world record until it was broken by Bob Taylor in 1983.[2] Murray was selected as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1967.
He later served as an England selector and on the Middlesex General Committee.
His brother-in-law is the English footballer, Alan Mullery.
He died on 24 July 2018 at the age of 83, having been taken ill at Lord's while watching a Middlesex match.[6]
References
- "Middlesex and England keeper John Murray dies". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
- Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 125. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
- Mason, Peter (9 August 2018). "John Murray obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- Haynes, Graham (1998). A-Z Of Bees: Brentford Encyclopaedia. Yore Publications. pp. 37–38. ISBN 1 874427 57 7.
- White, Eric, ed. (1989). 100 Years Of Brentford. Brentford FC. p. 211. ISBN 0951526200.
- John Murray: Ex-England & Middlesex wicketkeeper dies aged 83