Born On This Day: 25th November

George Taylor, was born in Havant, Hants in 1909. George Taylor was a club cricketer who captained Hampshire in the last season before war not least because counties believed the captain must be an amateur.

He attended Lancing College, and played one match for Hampshire v Lancashire at Southampton in 1935, scoring 0 & 21, after which he continued to play for the 2nd XI and Club & Ground sides.

In 1939, he was asked to captain the side, Hampshire’s fourth captain in five years. His performances were modest, in 24 matches he scored 306 runs at 9.27, with a best of 41 v Lancashire at Southampton in a total of 434, despite which Lancashire won by six wickets. Hampshire finished in 15th place, winning three matches, including their traditional Bank Holiday game at Canterbury, which was Taylor’s last county game – Giles Baring led them for the last six matches.

He played in a services match at Lord’s in 1943. He died in Romsey in 1986.

Also today Joe Gatting (2013-2015), Charles Lucas (1863-1880)