Billy Gunn (cricketer)

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = Eng
name = Billy Gunn
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman
bowling style = Underarm Right-arm slow
tests = 11
test runs = 392
test bat avg = 21.77
test 100s/50s = 1/1
test top score = 102*
test balls = 0
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = n/a
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = n/a
test catches/stumpings = 5/0
FCs = 521
FC runs = 25,691
FC bat avg = 33.02
FC 100s/50s = 48/117
FC top score = 273
FC balls = 3,540
FC wickets = 76
FC bowl avg = 23.68
FC 5s = 2
FC 10s = 1
FC best bowling = 6/48
FC catches/stumpings = 333/1
debut date = 28 January
debut year = 1887
last date = 3 June
last year = 1899
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/95/95.html

William (Billy) Gunn (4 December 1858 in St Anne's, Nottingham, England – 29 January 1921 in Standard Hill, Nottingham, England) was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in a first-class career that lasted from 1880 to 1904. He also played eleven Test matches for England.

He was also a first class amateur football player for Notts County FC and played twice for England, scoring once in the inaugural British Home Championship.

He had a superb season in 1889, which earned him the accolade of Wisden Batsman of the Year. He first appeared for Nottinghamshire in 1880, and, though his efforts in a dozen matches for the county that season only resulted in an average of 10, it was yet evident from the outset that a batsman of more than ordinary promise had been discovered. Like all other cricketers he was far more successful in some seasons than others, and Wisden, when reporting on the accolade it had given Gunn in 1890 noted that the whole his career was one of steady progress, with the summer of 1889 finding him in a higher position than he had ever occupied before.

Gunn was approximately 6 ft 2 in tall, and we think we are correct in saying that no batsman of the same height has ever played in more elegant and perfect form. Even before he rose to his fame as a batsman, Gunn was one of the most brilliant fields in the country, and it was the general opinion of practical cricketers of his era that in the long field and at third man he had never had a superior. Gunn was a member of Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury's team in Australia during the season of 1886/7, and averaged 21.8 in eleven-a-side matches, and 20.7 in all matches.

For several years Gunn was one of the most brilliant forwards in the country at Association football, but latterly gave up the game, reserving himself entirely for cricket. He founded the sports equipment firm Gunn and Moore in 1885, and became the first former professional cricketer to serve on a County committee. His nephews, George and John both represented England.

References

* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/95/95.html CricketArchive page on Billy Gunn]
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/13492.html Cricinfo page on Billy Gunn]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Articles/0/729.html Brief profile of William Gunn by Don Ambrose]
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/154815.html Citation as Wisden Batsman of the Year in 1890] , this citation is now out of copyright and is used as the base of this article