John Childs (cricketer)

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = John Childs
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-hand bat
bowling style = Slow left-arm orthodox
tests = 2
test runs = 2
test bat avg = -
test 100s/50s = -/-
test top score = 2*
test balls = 516
test wickets = 3
test bowl avg = 61.00
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 1/13
test catches/stumpings = 1/-
FCs = 381
FC runs = 1690
FC bat avg = 9.08
FC 100s/50s = -/-
FC top score = 43
FC balls = 70667
FC wickets = 1028
FC bowl avg = 29.76
FC 5s = 52
FC 10s = 8
FC best bowling = 9/56
FC catches/stumpings = 116/-
debut date = 30 June
debut year = 1988
last date = 4 August
last year = 1988
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/10721.html

John Henry Childs (born August 15, 1951, Lipson, Devon) is a former English cricketer who played in 2 Tests in 1988. He was a left-arm spin bowler and played his domestic cricket for Gloucestershire and Essex.

Childs began his professional cricket career with Gloucestershire, staying there for ten seasons. He was released at the end of the 1984 season and was taken on by Essex for the following season.

He was named Wisden's cricketer of the year in 1987, having helped Essex to the County Championship.

Childs was England's oldest debutant for 41 years when he was selected to play against the West Indies at Old Trafford in 1988. He took 1 wicket for 91 runs, dismissing Carl Hooper lbw and scored 2 runs without being out in either innings as England fell to an innings defeat. He played one further test in that series, at The Oval, taking the wickets of Malcolm Marshall and Gordon Greenidge and being left not out without scoring in both innings as the West Indies won by 8 wickets. He was selected to tour India the following winter. However, that trip was cancelled on political grounds.

In July 1992, Childs, by now aged 40, was selected for the England squad again for the game at Headingley against Pakistan, but failed to make the final test team. He eventually retired from professional cricket having played 381 first class games and taken over 1000 first class wickets.

He currently runs the Essex Youth Academy in Chelmsford.