James "Bonnor" Middleton (30 September 1865 – 23 December 1913) was a South African
cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of eleven players on a field at the centre of which is a pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two bails balanced on three stumps. The batting side scores runs by striki ...
er who played in six
Tests
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film), ...
from 1896 to 1902. On his debut, he took five wickets in the first innings against England in Port Elizabeth in 1896.
Middleton served in the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
until Cape Town Cricket Club bought his release so he could become their professional. A left-arm slow-medium opening bowler, Middleton played for
Western Province from 1890–91 to 1903–04. His best first-class figures were 7 for 64 in the
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition, played each winter and spring (June to October), featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Although it is the premier ...
final against
Transvaal Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name Transvaal.
* South African Republic (1856–1902; af, ...
in 1897–98. He took 12 for 100 in the match, which Western Province won.
Middleton was one of the leading players on
South Africa's tour of England in 1894 when no Tests were played; in the South Africans' narrow victory over
MCC at
Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground, commonly known as Lord's, is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and ...
he bowled unchanged through both innings to take 6 for 48 and 6 for 35.
His nickname was given because of his resemblance, as a hard-hitting batsman, to the Australian Test cricketer
George Bonnor
George John Bonnor (25 February 1855 – 27 June 1912) was an Australian cricketer, known for his big hitting, who played Test cricket between 1880 and 1888.
Career
Bonnor was born in Bathurst, New South Wales, and made his international debut ...
.
He died in
Cape Town
Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...
of heart failure after severe attacks of
asthma
Asthma is a long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wheezing, cou ...
and
bronchitis.
"Obituary"
''Cricket'', 9 May 1914, p. 136.
See also
*
References
External links
Bonnor Middleton at CricketArchive
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, Bonnor
1865 births
1913 deaths
South Africa Test cricketers
South African cricketers
Western Province cricketers
Sportspeople from Chester-le-Street
Cricketers from County Durham
Cricketers who have taken five wickets on Test debut
Cape Colony people