John Blake (cricketer)

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

John Blake
Personal information
Full nameJohn Philip Blake
Born(1917-11-17)17 November 1917
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Died3 June 1944(1944-06-03) (aged 26)
Brač Island, German-occupied Yugoslavia
BattingRight-handed
RelationsDavid Blake (Brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1938–1939Cambridge University
1937–1939Hampshire
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 21
Runs scored 1,095
Batting average 22.81
100s/50s –/7
Top score 88
Balls bowled
Wickets
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 18/–
Source: Cricinfo, 10 January 2010

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]

Family

Blake's brother David Blake represented Hampshire and the Marylebone Cricket Club in first-class cricket.

References

  1. CWGC entry
  2. Newsroom, The. "Courageous cricketer's story is not yet over". portsmouth.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2020.
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