Laurie Fishlock

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Laurie Fishlock
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-hand bat
bowling style = Slow left-arm orthodox
tests = 4
test runs = 47
test bat avg = 11.75
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 19*
test balls = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 1/-
FCs = 417
FC runs = 25376
FC bat avg = 39.34
FC 100s/50s = 56/135
FC top score = 253
FC balls = 859
FC wickets = 11
FC bowl avg = 45.81
FC 5s = -
FC 10s = -
FC best bowling = 4/62
FC catches/stumpings = 216/-
debut date = 25 July
debut year = 1936
last date = 28 February
last year = 1947
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/12845.html

Laurence Barnard (Laurie) Fishlock (born January 2, 1907, Battersea, London, died June 25, 1986, Sutton, London) was an English cricketer who played in four Tests from 1936 to 1947. A specialist batsman, he achieved little in those four matches, but might have had a much more substantial Test career had he not lost six of what should have been his best years to World War Two.

The cricketer

He joined the staff of Surrey in 1930, and made his first-class debut the following season. However he did not play in a substantial mumber of matches until 1934, when he made 598 runs with an average of 31.47. In 1935 he was a regular member of the side and passed 1,000 runs for the first time, and scored his first three hundreds. The following year he came right to the fore. He made 2,129 runs at an average of 53.22. He was selected for the Players at Lord's, played in two Test trials and was selected for two Tests against India. He was selected for the following winter's tour of Australia, but missed six weeks through a broken bone in his right hand and thus missed his chance to press for a Test place. During the 1937 season, he switched to opening the batting for Surrey, and occupied that batting position for most of the remainder of his career. He continued to score heavily, and was selected for a Test trial in 1938, in which he made a hundred, but even so could not force his way into the Test team.

He had trained as an engineer, and during World War Two he made aircraft parts for the RAF. After the war, he had a fine season in 1946, with 2,241 runs at an average of 50.47. As a result, he played in one Test against India and was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in the 1947 edition. He went on the 1946-7 tour of Australia and played in his fourth and final Test. In 1948 he made his highest score, 253 against Leicestershire at Leicester. In his final seaon of 1952 he still made his 1,000 runs and helped Surrey to win the Championship, the first of their record sequence of seven victories. Later he was a coach at St Dunstan's College.

The footballer

Fishlock also played professional football as a winger, including three seasons (1929-1932) with Crystal Palace and two with Southampton (1934-1936). Prior to turning professional, he had played in amateur international fixtures for England.

References

* [http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/12845.html Cricinfo profile including the obituary from "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" 1987 edition]