John Nicolson (cricketer)

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = South African
country = South Africa
country abbrev = RSA
name = John Nicolson
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Left-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm bowler
tests = 3
test runs = 179
test bat avg = 35.79
test 100s/50s = 0/1
test top score = 78
test balls = 24
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = 0/-
FCs = 28
FC runs = 1543
FC bat avg = 37.63
FC 100s/50s = 3/7
FC top score = 252*
FC balls = 312
FC wickets = 3
FC bowl avg = 68.33
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 2/36
FC catches/stumpings = 8/-
debut date = 21 January
debut year = 1928
last date = 4 February
last year = 1928
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/468/468.html CricketArchive

John Fairless William Nicolson (born 19 July 1899 in Durban, Natal, died 18 December 1935 in Kilkeel, Northern Ireland) was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1928.

Nicolson was educated at Oxford University, where he played a lot of club cricket, but made only one first-class cricket appearance, for the University against the West Indies in 1923. But in South Africa, he became a fairly regular player for Natal for five years from 1923-24 as a left-hand opening batsman. His best season was 1926-27, when he scored the only three centuries of his career. They included an unbeaten 252 against Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in which he shared a first-wicket stand of 424 with Jack Siedle. Nicolson's score was, at that time, the highest ever made in South Africa and the stand remains the South African record for the first wicket.

Nicolson was picked for the third Test against Captain Stanyforth's 1927-28 England touring team. He made 78 in the second innings, which was his highest Test score. He retained his place in the two remaining matches of the series, but was less successful in domestic South African cricket in the following season, and was not picked for the tour of England in 1929.

Nicolson retired after a couple of matches in 1929-30. At the time of his death, he was on the staff of Mourne Grange School at Kilkeel in County Down.