James "Bonnor" Middleton (30 September 1865 – 23 December 1913) was a South African
cricket
Cricket is a Bat-and-ball games, bat-and-ball game played between two Sports team, teams of eleven players on a cricket field, field, at the centre of which is a cricket pitch, pitch with a wicket at each end, each comprising two Bail (cr ...
er who played in six
Tests
Test(s), testing, or TEST may refer to:
* Test (assessment), an educational assessment intended to measure the respondents' knowledge or other abilities
Arts and entertainment
* ''Test'' (2013 film), an American film
* ''Test'' (2014 film) ...
from 1896 to 1902. On his debut, he took five wickets in the first innings against England in Port Elizabeth in 1896.
Middleton served in the
British Army
The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...
until Cape Town Cricket Club bought his release so he could become their professional. A left-arm slow-medium opening bowler, Middleton played for
Western Province
Western Province or West Province may refer to:
*Western Province, Cameroon
*Western Province, Rwanda
*Western Province (Kenya)
*Western Province (Papua New Guinea)
*Western Province (Solomon Islands)
*Western Province, Sri Lanka
*Western Provinc ...
from 1890–91 to 1903–04. His best first-class figures were 7 for 64 in the
Currie Cup
The Currie Cup () is South Africa's premier domestic rugby union competition featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces. Although it is the premier domestic competition, four South African franc ...
final against
Transvaal
Transvaal is a historical geographic term associated with land north of (''i.e.'', beyond) the Vaal River in South Africa. A number of states and administrative divisions have carried the name ''Transvaal''.
* South African Republic (1856–1902; ...
in 1897–98. He took 12 for 100 in the match, which Western Province won.
Middleton was one of the leading players on
South Africa's tour of England in 1894 when no Tests were played; in the South Africans' narrow victory over
MCC at
Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground, commonly known as Lord's, is a cricket List of Test cricket grounds, venue in St John's Wood, Westminster. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and is the home of Middlesex C ...
he bowled unchanged through both innings to take 6 for 48 and 6 for 35.
His nickname was given because of his resemblance, as a hard-hitting batsman, to the Australian Test cricketer
George Bonnor.
He died in
Cape Town
Cape Town is the legislature, legislative capital city, capital of South Africa. It is the country's oldest city and the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. Cape Town is the country's List of municipalities in South Africa, second-largest ...
of heart failure after severe attacks of
asthma
Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...
and
bronchitis
Bronchitis is inflammation of the bronchi (large and medium-sized airways) in the lungs that causes coughing. Bronchitis usually begins as an infection in the nose, ears, throat, or sinuses. The infection then makes its way down to the bronchi. ...
.
"Obituary"
''Cricket'', 9 May 1914, p. 136.
See also
*
References
External links
Bonnor Middleton at CricketArchive
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Middleton, Bonnor
1865 births
1913 deaths
South Africa Test cricketers
South African cricketers
Western Province cricketers
Sportspeople from Chester-le-Street
Cricketers from County Durham
Cricketers who have taken five wickets on Test debut
Cape Colony cricketers