Joe Murrell

Harry Robert Murrell (19 November 1879 – 15 August 1952), known as Joe Murrell, was an English cricketer who played over 350 matches, mainly for Middlesex County Cricket Club as a wicket-keeper.

Murrell was born at Hounslow in Middlesex.[1] He made his first-class cricket debut for Kent County Cricket Club in 1899 and played for the county until the end of the 1905 season. Kent's wicket-keeper at the time was Fred Huish and Murrell found it difficult to gain a place in the side, only keeping wicket in six of his 27 first-class matches for the county. In 1906 he joined Middlesex and was associated with the club for the next 46 years.[2][3]

Murrell played 342 times for Middlesex in first-class cricket and developed a reputation as "a first-class wicket-keeper" who, when Middlesex won the County Championship in 1920 and 1921, was considered by Wisden as "one of the best of wicket-keepers".[2] He was considered a loyal team-mate whose judgment and advice could be relied upon by Middlesex captain Pelham Warner and in his obituary Wisden considered him unfortunate to have not played for England.[2] As a batsman Murrell was considered "fast-footed" and "could hit extremely hard", although he never scored a century.[1][2]

Over the course of his career, Murrell took 835 dismissals, 564 caught and 271 stumped.[1] After retiring, he was the 1st XI scorer for Middlesex until his death at West Wickham in Kent in 1952 at the age of 72.[1]

He also played football for Woolwich Arsenal. After playing for local sides in Kent and Middlesex, he joined Arsenal in October 1898, making his first-team debut against Small Heath on 31 March 1900. He played mainly as a full back filling in for regulars Jimmy Jackson and David McNichol. He left Arsenal for Clapton Orient in the summer of 1900, having played 6 first-team games for them.