Harry Philip Hugh Sharp (6 October 1917 – 15 January 1995) was an English

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, cricket coach and

scorer In cricket, a scorer is someone appointed to record all runs scored, all wickets taken and, where appropriate, the number of overs bowled. In professional games, in compliance with Law 3 of the ''Laws of Cricket'', two scorers are appointed, ...

. Harry Sharp was born in

Kentish Town Kentish Town is an area of northwest London, England in the London Borough of Camden, immediately north of Camden Town. Less than four miles north of central London, Kentish Town has good transport connections and is situated close to the ope ...

and played for London Schools. He was spotted by

Jack Durston Frederick John Durston (11 July 1893 – 8 April 1965) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Middlesex and England. He is a member of the Middlesex Hall of Fame. Cricket career A tall fast bowler with the ability to make the bal ...

while practising at the Middlesex Indoor School at Acton. Seconded to

Marylebone Cricket Club Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) is a cricket club founded in 1787 and based since 1814 at Lord's Cricket Ground, which it owns, in St John's Wood, London. The club was formerly the governing body of cricket retaining considerable global influence ...

(MCC), his duties included rolling the wicket. He joined

Middlesex County Cricket Club Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Middlesex which has effectively been subsumed within the ceremonial ...

in 1934 and made his 1st XI debut in 1946. He played in 162 first-class matches as a right-handed batsman before his retirement in 1955. He scored 6,141 runs at an average of 25.80, with 9 hundreds and 30 fifties. He took 59 catches and 50 wickets with his off-spin at an average of 32.56, with a personal best of 5/52. He was awarded his county cap in 1948. His best season was in 1953, when he scored 1,564 runs. He was awarded a joint benefit with

Alec Thompson Alexander William Thompson (1916-2001) was an English cricketer active from 1939 to 1955 who played for Middlesex in 202 matches as a right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner. Notable Achievements * Thompson scored 7,915 runs in first- ...

by Middlesex in 1955 and a joint testimonial by MCC with

Len Muncer Bernard Leonard Muncer (23 October 1913 – 18 January 1982) was a cricketer who played for Middlesex and Glamorgan. Muncer was a useful middle or later order right-handed batsman and a spin bowler who began by bowling occasional leg breaks ...

in 1971. He served as an Able Seaman with the Eastern Front in the Indian Ocean, during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

, but saw little action. Despite this, he gained the nickname of 'Admiral', which remained with him for the rest of his life. He played in several matches, while docked at

Durban Durban ( ) ( zu, eThekwini, from meaning 'the port' also called zu, eZibubulungwini for the mountain range that terminates in the area), nicknamed ''Durbs'',Ishani ChettyCity nicknames in SA and across the worldArticle on ''news24.com'' from ...

. He joined the MCC coaching staff in 1956 and also umpired several first-class matches. He became MCC's Assistant Head Coach and he succeeded

Jim Sims James Morton Sims (13 May 1903 – 27 April 1973) was an English cricketer. Jim Sims represented Middlesex in 381 first-class matches between 1929 and 1952 as a right-handed batsman and off-break bowler who scored 7173 runs (highest score 1 ...

as the Middlesex scorer in 1973. He retired at the age of 75 and died suddenly in

Enfield, Middlesex Enfield is a large town in north London, England, north of Charing Cross. It had a population of 156,858 in 2018. It includes the areas of Botany Bay, Brimsdown, Bulls Cross, Bullsmoor, Bush Hill Park, Clay Hill, Crews Hill, Enfield Highw ...

in 1995.

External links

Harry Sharp
at Cricinfo

at Cricket Archive {{DEFAULTSORT:Sharp, Harry 1917 births 1995 deaths Cricket scorers English cricket umpires English cricketers Middlesex cricketers People from Kentish Town Cricketers from the London Borough of Camden Royal Navy personnel of World War II Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers