George Summers (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = George Summers
country = England
fullname = George Summers
dayofbirth = 21
monthofbirth = 6
yearofbirth = 1844
placeofbirth = Nottingham
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 19
monthofdeath = 6
yearofdeath = 1870
placeofdeath = Nottingham
countryofdeath = England
batting = Right-handed
role = Batsman
club1 = Nottinghamshire
year1 = 1867–1870
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = FC
matches1 = 32
runs1 = 922
bat avg1 = 15.89
100s/50s1 = –/15
top score1 = 57
deliveries1 = 0
wickets1 = –
bowl avg1 = –
fivefor1 = –
tenfor1 = –
best bowling1 = –
catches/stumpings1 = 15/–
date = 19 June
year = 1870
source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/21121.html Cricinfo

George Summers (June 21, 1844 – June 19, 1870) was an English cricketer. He played all his first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire.

Summers is the only cricketer known to have died as a result of being hit on the head during a match. In the match against MCC at Lord's in 1870, Summers was hit by a short delivery from John Platts, at the time a fast bowler. He was carried off the field. He seemed to recover, and was not taken to hospital, but went by train back to Nottingham. He died from his injury four days later. Lord's at the time was renowned for being a poor pitch. After Summers' death, efforts were made to improve it, and MCC paid for his gravestone. The death of Summers ensured that the bowler never bowled fast again.

As a protest against what he saw as dangerous bowling, the next batsman - Richard Daft - came out to the wicket with his head wrapped in a towel.

References

*Simon Rae, "W.G.Grace: A Life", 1998, ISBN 978-0571178551, p92
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/21121.html Cricinfo player profile]
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/245921.html Dangerous Games]