John Jackson (cricketer)

John "Foghorn" Jackson (21 May, 1833 – 4 November, 1901) was a Nottinghamshire and All-England Eleven cricketer who was generally reckoned to be the outstanding fast bowler of the 1850s.

Born in Bungay in Suffolk, Jackson was affectionately known as "Foghorn" for his habit of blowing his nose loudly. He was a right-handed batsman who could hit the ball with some power when he connected and an occasional wicketkeeper, but he was best known as a rightarm fast bowler of fearsome pace and ability.

He played for Nottinghamshire from 1855 to 1866 and also represented Kent in 1858. In 1859, he took part in the first ever overseas cricket tour when he was a member of the England team visiting North America.

His overall first-class career record covered 115 matches. He scored 1993 runs at an average of 12.61 with a highest score of 100. He took 106 catches.

His impressive bowling figures were 655 wickets for 7491 runs at the outstanding average of 11.52. His best innings analysis was 9-27. He took 5wI on 59 occasions and 10wM in 20 matches.

Jackson lived his later life in extreme poverty and died at Brownlow Hill in Liverpool in much reduced circumstances.

References

External sources

* [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/30/30562/30562.html CricketArchive]

Further reading

* H S Altham, "A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914)", George Allen & Unwin, 1926
* Derek Birley, "A Social History of English Cricket", Aurum, 1999
* Rowland Bowen, "Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development", Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970
* Arthur Haygarth, "Scores & Biographies, Volumes 3-9 (1841-1866)", Lillywhite, 1862-1867
* John Major, "More Than A Game", HarperCollins, 2007 – includes the famous 1859 touring team photo taken on board ship at Liverpool