Jim Love (cricketer)

Infobox Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Jim Love
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm medium
balls = true
tests = -
test runs = -
test bat avg = -
test 100s/50s = -
test top score = -
test overs = -
test wickets = -
test bowl avg = -
test 5s = -
test 10s = -
test best bowling = -
test catches/stumpings = -/-
ODIs = 3
ODI runs = 61
ODI bat avg = 20.33
ODI 100s/50s = -/-
ODI top score = 43
ODI overs = -
ODI wickets = -
ODI bowl avg = -
ODI 5s = -
ODI 10s = -
ODI best bowling = -
ODI catches/stumpings = 1/-
date = 12 February
year = 2006
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/16352.html

James Derek Love (born April 22, 1955, Headingley, Yorkshire) is a former English cricketer who played in 3 ODIs in 1981.

Jim Love was tipped for stardom but like the player he most resembled, John Hampshire, he never quite fulfilled his potential on the national stage. A tall, fair haired middle order batsman he was particularly strong on the front foot and a powerful driver of the ball. He twice passed a thousand runs for a first class season but always flattered to deceive in the longer form of the game, averaging just 31.09 over the course of 250 matches in which he scored 10355 runs with a best of 170*. He scored 13 first class centuries. He developed a reputation in the one day arena but overall averaged only 26.67 with 4962 runs in 238 games with a best of 118 not out.

He played three ODIs for England against Australia in 1981 without doing enough to secure a permanent spot and his brightest hour was winning the Gold Award in the 1987 B&H final for an unbeaten 75 amid a clatter of wickets at the other end. The game proved to be a nail biter and Love, an uncomplicated biffer of the ball at his best, kept his head to block out the last ball and so win a tied game for his team on the basis of wickets in hand. Love was unfortunate that his career spanned the worst years of Yorkshire's in-fighting, and he suffered from playing in a largely unhappy side. He left at the end of 1989, playing Minor Counties cricket before joining the fast developing Scotland team as a player and administrator. He eventually became Scotland's director of cricket, but resigned in 2001 to run a pub in Yorkshire. He now has a "Chance to Shine".