John James Lyons (21 May 1863 – 21 July 1927) was an Australian
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 14
Test matches Test match in some sports refers to a sporting contest between national representative teams and may refer to:
* Test cricket
* Test match (indoor cricket)
* Test match (rugby union)
* Test match (rugby league)
* Test match (association football)
...
between 1887 and 1897.
Life and career
Born in the
South Australia
South Australia (commonly abbreviated as SA) is a state in the southern central part of Australia. It covers some of the most arid parts of the country. With a total land area of , it is the fourth-largest of Australia's states and territories ...
n town of
Gawler
Gawler is the oldest country town on the Australian mainland in the state of South Australia. It was named after the second Governor (British Vice-Regal representative) of the colony of South Australia, George Gawler. It is about north of the ...
, Lyons was a hard-hitting right-handed batsman whose "quick eye and strong forearms enabled him to hit all around the wicket with a minimum of footwork". He usually opened the innings.
[''The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket'', Oxford, Melbourne, 1996, p. 319.] He toured England with the Australian teams of
1888
In Germany, 1888 is known as the Year of the Three Emperors. Currently, it is the year that, when written in Roman numerals, has the most digits (13). The next year that also has 13 digits is the year 2388. The record will be surpassed as late ...
,
1890
Events
January–March
* January 1
** The Kingdom of Italy establishes Eritrea as its colony, in the Horn of Africa.
** In Michigan, the wooden steamer ''Mackinaw'' burns in a fire on the Black River.
* January 2
** The steamship ...
and
1893
Events
January–March
* January 2 – Webb C. Ball introduces railroad chronometers, which become the general railroad timepiece standards in North America.
* Mark Twain started writing Puddn'head Wilson.
* January 6 – Th ...
.
Lyons was an all-rounder early in his career, and took 5 for 30 in the
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 ...
Test of 1890 after scoring 55 in the first 45 minutes of the match. In 1893, when the Australians followed on 181 runs behind the
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 ...
at Lord's, he scored 149 in 95 minutes in an opening partnership of 181.
[
Lyons was the highest scorer on either side in the three-match Ashes series of 1891–92, when Australia won the series 2–1. He made 287 runs at an average of 47.83, and scored his only Test century, 134 in 185 minutes, in the second innings of the Second Test after Australia had trailed by 163 runs; Australia went on to win by 72 runs.
In December 1892, in the inaugural match of the ]Sheffield Shield
The Sheffield Shield (currently known for sponsorship reasons as the Marsh Sheffield Shield) is the domestic first-class cricket competition of Australia. The tournament is contested between teams from the six states of Australia. Sheffield Shi ...
, Lyons scored 124 in 117 minutes after South Australia had followed on 125 runs behind New South Wales
)
, nickname =
, image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg
, map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates:
, subdivision_type = Country
, subdivision_name = Australia
, established_title = Before federation
, es ...
; South Australia went on to win.stockbroker
A stockbroker is a regulated broker, broker-dealer, or registered investment adviser (in the United States) who may provide financial advisory and investment management services and execute transactions such as the purchase or sale of stocks an ...
in Adelaide before joining the South Australian public service where he worked in the Land and Titles Office and the Government Statist's Office.[ He was awarded a ]benefit match
A benefit is a match or season of activities granted by a sporting body to a loyal sportsman to boost their income before retirement. Often this is in the form of a match for which all the ticket proceeds are given to the player in question. Howeve ...
, the 1925–26 Sheffield Shield match between South Australia and New South Wales at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide. The venue is predominantly used for cricket and Australian rules football, but has also played host to rugby ...
, which brought him £1,252.[
Lyons married Annie Morris in April 1897.][ He left a widow and five children.][
]
References
External links
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lyons, John
Australia Test cricketers
South Australia cricketers
1863 births
1927 deaths
Australian cricketers
Cricketers from South Australia
People from Gawler, South Australia