John Dewes

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = John Dewes
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm medium
tests = 5
test runs = 121
test bat avg = 12.09
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 67
test balls = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = -/-
FCs = 137
FC runs = 8564
FC bat avg = 41.77
FC 100s/50s = 18/45
FC top score = 212
FC balls = 114
FC wickets = 2
FC bowl avg = 35.50
FC 5s = -
FC 10s = -
FC best bowling = 1/0
FC catches/stumpings = 48/-
debut date = 14 August
debut year = 1948
last date = 22 December
last year = 1950
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11883.html

John Gordon Dewes (born October 11, 1926, at Latchford, Cheshire) is a former English cricketer who played for Cambridge University and Middlesex and was chosen for five Tests between 1948 and 1951.

In 1945 he was one of three relative unknowns from public schools included in the England side for the third 'Victory' Test against Australia at Lord's (it was his first-class debut). The others were Donald Carr from Repton School and the Etonian Luke White. Dewes, who had left Aldenham School the previous year, owed his call-up to his form for Cambridge University earlier that summer, including scoring 1000 runs in May. In the event, the three contributed little and did not figure again in the other Victory matches.

His full Test debut came against Donald Bradman's formidable Australian side in 1948, though he struggled to make runs against the opening attack of Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller. The next season, he shared a record unbeaten stand of 429 with Hubert Doggart for Cambridge against Essex and, in 1950, added 343 for the first wicket with David Sheppard in the Cambridge total of 594-4 declared against the touring West Indians. The 1950 season was Dewes' peak, and he scored 2432 runs in the full season at an average of 59.31, with nine centuries.

He played two Test matches against the West Indies that summer and in the first of them made 67 in an unsuccessful rearguard action against the spin of Sonny Ramadhin and Alf Valentine. He was also picked for the tour to Australia of 1950-51 and played two Tests there. But in all Tests he only reached double figures on three occasions, and passed 50 just the once. After this tour, he became a teacher and was never able to play more than a few matches each season, though as late as 1955 he made 644 runs in seven matches. He was a master at Tonbridge School, Rugby School and Dulwich College and he subsequently became a headmaster in Australia. His final first-class match was in 1957.

His son, Anthony, played first-class cricket for Cambridge University in 1978 and 1979.