John Evans (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Alfred John Evans was a cricketer
who played for Oxford University
, Hampshire
, Kent
and England
. He was also an all-round sportsman who enjoyed success in golf and racquets.
Evans was born in Newtown, Hampshire
. In a spasmodic first-class cricket
career that lasted from 1908 to 1928, Evans, a hard-hitting right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, played regularly only when at university. By 1921, when he scored 69 not out for MCC
against the all-conquering Australians
under Warwick Armstrong
, he was a very occasional cricketer indeed. But the innings earned him a call to the second Test match
at Lord's, where he made just 4 and 14. He was never chosen again. He died in London.
Evans won perhaps greater distinction as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps
in the First World War, where his exploits in escaping from German prisoner of war
camps led to a book, The Escaping Club.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
, Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
. He was also an all-round sportsman who enjoyed success in golf and racquets.
Evans was born in Newtown, Hampshire
Newtown, Hampshire
Newtown is a village and civil parish in the English county of Hampshire, located just south of Newbury.-History:The mediaeval borough of Newtown was formed from part of the parish of Burghclere, and flourished in the 13th and 14th centuries. Sandleford Priory in Berkshire was founded between 1193...
. In a spasmodic first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
career that lasted from 1908 to 1928, Evans, a hard-hitting right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, played regularly only when at university. By 1921, when he scored 69 not out for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
against the all-conquering Australians
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
under Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Armstrong
Warwick Windridge Armstrong was an Australian cricketer who played 50 Test matches between 1902 and 1921. An all-rounder, he captained Australia in ten Test matches between 1920 and 1921 and was undefeated, winning eight Tests and drawing two...
, he was a very occasional cricketer indeed. But the innings earned him a call to the second Test match
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
at Lord's, where he made just 4 and 14. He was never chosen again. He died in London.
Evans won perhaps greater distinction as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps
Royal Flying Corps
The Royal Flying Corps was the over-land air arm of the British military during most of the First World War. During the early part of the war, the RFC's responsibilities were centred on support of the British Army, via artillery co-operation and photographic reconnaissance...
in the First World War, where his exploits in escaping from German prisoner of war
Prisoner of war
A prisoner of war or enemy prisoner of war is a person, whether civilian or combatant, who is held in custody by an enemy power during or immediately after an armed conflict...
camps led to a book, The Escaping Club.