Jack Crapp

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = Eng
name = Jack Crapp
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-handed batsman
bowling style =
tests = 7
test runs = 319
test bat avg = 29.00
test 100s/50s = 0/3
test top score = 56
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 = 7/0
FCs = 452
FC runs = 23,615
FC bat avg = 35.03
FC 100s/50s = 38/136
FC top score = 175
FC balls = 460
FC wickets = 6
FC bowl avg = 51.00
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 3/24
FC catches/stumpings = 386/0
debut date = 8 July
debut year = 1948
last date = 9 March
last year = 1949
http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/828/828.html

John ("Jack") Frederick Crapp (14 October 1912 - 13 February 1981) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club between 1936 and 1956, and played in the English cricket team on tour in the winter of 1948-49. He was born in St Columb Major, Cornwall, and died in Knowle in Somerset. He began his career with Stapleton Cricket Club in Bristol, scoring a 'duck' for the third team on his debut. However, he soon moved up to the first XI following some spectacular performances and was spotted by Gloucestershire legend Wally Hammond who invited him for trials. In 1936 he made his debut for Gloucestershire and was a fixture in their team for the next twenty seasons, eventually becoming their Captain.

Crapp was a dependable left-hand batsman and a fine slip fielder, who early in his career was thought of as a potential Test batsman. However, world war intervened and it wasn't until 1948 that he became the first-ever Cornishman to play for England. Unfortunately for him, he came up against the mighty Australians known as "The Invincibles", although he was chosen on the strength of the Gloucestershire match against Australia when Crapp scored 100, one of the few players to register a century against the Australians in 1948. Like many of the England players that summer, his performances did not do his talent justice. However, he was selected for the 1948/49 tour to South Africa.

He toured South Africa in the winter of 1948/9, but did not play spectacularly well in the Tests, although in the final Test he guided England home to victory with Allan Watkins with only three balls to spare.

Crapp was dropped from the Test side in 1949. He continued to perform well for Gloucestershire, becoming their first professional captain in 1953. In 1955 he handed over the role to George Emmett. Sadly, in his later years, a debilitating skin condition affected his hands and this eventually led to his retirement.

After retiring Crapp became a first-class umpire and stood in four Tests, most notably the match in which Fred Trueman took his 300th Test wicket. For many years Trueman would show people the ball he used to take the wicket. But shortly before his death, Crapp revealed to journalist Frank Keating that he had in fact swapped balls preventing Trueman from keeping the historic one.

There is a story about a time he was sharing a room on tour with one of the Bedser twins. Returning to the hotel late one night, probably slightly worse for wear he approached reception to ask for his key. Now the touring England team were reported widely in the newspapers, and were recognisable to many people, and so he wasn't entirely surprised that before he could say anything the receptionist, asked "Bed, sir?" Jack replied, "No, Crapp", only for the receptionist to point him to the gents.

His England jacket is in the possession of St Columb Old Cornwall Society . There is also a plaque in the garden of house at Bridge, St Columb Major where he was born.

References

* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/10864.html Cricinfo article on Jack Crapp]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/828/828.html CricketArchive page on Jack Crapp]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/828/828.html Wisden obituary]