FAMOUS CRICKETER’S DEATH

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 9

FAMOUS CRICKETER’S DEATH

THE LATE JOHNNY TYLDESLEY (From a London Correspondent) LONDON, 4th December. i Another great cricketer, Johnny Tyl- X desley. has died tragically. Ho was about to sit down to breakfast with his h family when he suddenly collapsed and ■;* passed instantly avvay. Vi A true mail of Lancashire, Tyldesley : was, of course, a world figure in cricket. \ He retired 11 years ago at tho age of 45, (i and there are many enthusiasts who V never saw him at the crease, but to all . he is something more than a happy mem- j); ory. What George Hirst was to York- ;, shire cricket, Tyldesley was to the game’ in Lancashire. lie played in the county side for 24 years, including the period of the war, and scored 38,000 runs. Those are prodigious figures, but they do not) represent his full worth, for out in the field ho must have saved almost as many..

There have been few better fieldsmen at third man, and, out on the edge of the boundary, Tyldesley was, of course, ah England plavor of the highest class. : He had a total of nearly 1,400 runs' against the Australians, and in all his Test matches he claimed an average of over thirty. His average was forty-two-for Lancashire. Illness induced him to retire when was still a great batsman.’

In the last season he played an inning 3 of 272 against Warwickshire, which was only 23 behind his record, which he had set up 13 years before. Brilliant under all conditions, Tyldes-/ ley excelled on a bad pitch. He could score freely when other batsmen were helpless in dealing with a fast turning ball. Success at these times was due to ; his wonderful perfection of foot work.’!. He was a short, sparely-built, man, bub" he_ overcame his lack of reach by his), quickness of movement. On his retire--' ment Tyldesley became coach to the county side, and there is little doubt that his work greatly contributed to the - success which has been aihieved in re- . V cent years. -