John Blake (cricketer)

John Philip Blake (17 November 1917 – 3 June 1944) was an English cricketer. Blake was a right-handed batsman.

Blake made his first-class debut for Hampshire against local rivals Sussex in the 1937 County Championship. Blake made just a single appearance for the county in 1937.

In 1938 Blake made his debut for Cambridge University against the Army, where Blake scored his maiden half century, making 70 runs in Cambridges' first innings, before following that up with a score of 45* in the second innings as the match was drawn.

From 1937 to 1939 Blake represented Hampshire in fourteen first-class matches, scoring 328 runs at an average of 13.66, with a high score of 48.

From 1938 to 1939 Blake represented Cambridge University in fifteen first-class matches, where he had considerable more success with the bat. Blake scored 767 runs at an average of 31.95, scoring all seven of his first-class half centuries for the club, including his highest score of 88. In 1939 Blake received his Cambridge Blue.

Blake played his final first-class match for Hampshire in 1939 against Kent and his final first-class match for Cambridge University against Oxford University. Blake's first-class career came to an end with the onset of the Second World War.

Blake fought in the war, becoming a Royal Marine Commando, where he reached the rank of Captain. On 3 June 1944 Blake was killed in a German attack on the island of Brač in German occupied Yugoslavia after leading his men through a minefield.[1][2]