Born On This Day: 9th November

James Evans was born in Shropshire in 1891, he was principally a batsman and occasional wicketkeeper whose best score for Hampshire of 41 came on his debut v MCC at Lord’s, his only appearance in 1913; he appeared again in the same fixture in 1914. 

After the war, he played as a batsman in 11 matches in 1920 and twice more in 1921, albeit with a modest record.

In those post-war years, his best score was 23*, and he managed double figures just four times in 22 innings – he also took his solitary wicket, albeit a notable one against Essex at Colchester when, in an innings victory he had the England captain JWHT Douglas caught by George Brown.

In that year he played in the famous innings victory at Headingley - Evans had started that season opening the batting, but by then was at number nine or ten, and in that game, was not required.

We know nothing of his cricket after the age of 30 but he settled in Hampshire and died at Upham, in the county on 26 August 1973 - the week that Hampshire last won the County Championship.

Also Sydney Beadle (1911), Albert Ward (1921)