Chick Cray

Stanley James Cray (29 May 1921 – 10 October 2008) was an English cricketer. Cray was a right-handed batsman and known to fellow players as Chick. He was born in Stratford, Essex.

Chick Cray
Personal information
Full nameStanley James Cray
Born(1921-05-29)29 May 1921
Stratford, Essex, England
Died10 October 2008(2008-10-10) (aged 87)
Torquay, Devon, England
NicknameChick
BattingRight-handed
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1954 & 1957Devon
1938–1950Essex
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 102
Runs scored 4,218
Batting average 24.66
100s/50s 7/17
Top score 163
Balls bowled 32
Wickets 1
Bowling average 40.00
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling 1/0
Catches/stumpings 24/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 April 2011

Cray made his first-class debut for Essex against Worcestershire in the 1938 County Championship. He became a regular in the Essex team in 1939, but the start of the Second World War abruptly ended his first-class career with Essex in its tracks.[1] Serving in the war, Cray served in the British Raj, while stationed there he played two first-class matches for a Services XI against an Indian XI and a Bengal Governor's XI, both in 1944.[1] Following the war, Cray returned to Essex, where he played first-class cricket once more from 1946 to 1950.[1] As well as his appearances for Essex and a Services XI, he also played a single first-class match for a combined Essex and Middlesex team against a combined Surrey and Kent team in 1947.[2] Cray was a member of the Essex team which tied with Northamptonshire in 1947, a match in which he scored a century in the Essex first-innings.[3]

In total he made 99 first-class appearances for the county, scoring 4,062 runs at a batting average of 24.46, with sixteen half centuries, seven centuries and a high score of 163.[4] His highest first-class score came against Nottinghamshire in 1950.[5] Cray passed 1,000 runs for a season twice, in 1947 and 1949.[6] Following the 1950 season, Cray coached in South Africa when out of the blue he received a phonecall informing him his services were no longer required by Essex.[7]

Following his release he played Minor Counties Championship cricket for Devon on two occasions, firstly in 1954 against the Surrey Second XI and secondly against Oxfordshire in 1957.[8] While in Devon he was the professional at Paignton Cricket Club. He retired fully from playing and coaching in 1961, following problems with a hand injury he had sustained in a car accident.[7] He had a number of jobs outside of cricket, including as a postman and a kitchen assistant.[7]

One of the few cricketers to have played first-class cricket before the war, Cray died in Torquay, Devon on 10 October 2008.[7]

References
  1. "First-Class Matches played by Chick Cray". CricketArchive. Retrieved 20 April 2011.
  2. "Surrey and Kent v Middlesex and Essex, 1947". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  3. "Essex v Northamptonshire, 1947 County Championship". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  4. "First-class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Chick Cray". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  5. "Essex v Nottinghamshire, 1950 County Championship". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  6. "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Chick Cray". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  7. Williamson, Martin (10 November 2008). "Essex veteran Cray dies". Retrieved 21 April 2011.
  8. "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Chick Cray". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 April 2011.
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