Born On This Day: 13th November

John Francis, was a promising batsman, who was born in Bromley in 1980, two years after his brother pace-bowler Simon. Both boys joined the Hampshire staff, having developed through the county’s age group sides.

John played for Loughborough University and British Universities, then in 17 first-class matches from 2001-2003, scoring five half-centuries with a best of 82 at Leicester in 2002. While his Hampshire career coincided with the difficulties experienced by many young batsman on the new Rose Bowl pitches, he was particularly successful in limited-overs matches, scoring 818 runs at 40.90, including 103* from 87 balls v Northamptonshire in late September 2002 as Hampshire won with three balls to spare.

He and Simon both moved to Somerset where John played regularly from 2004-2006 but after just three first-class matches in 2007 and April 2008, his career ended. In 2013, back in Hampshire, he played in the Southern League for St Cross.