20 Facts About Jim Kilburn

James Maurice Kilburn was a British sports journalist who wrote for the Yorkshire Post between 1934 and 1976.

Jim Kilburn was born in Sheffield in 1909, and attended Holgate Grammar School in Barnsley, before completing a degree in economics at the university there.

Bowling fast-paced off spin, Jim Kilburn was successful enough with bat and ball to win medals for Bradford and have his achievements reported in the press.

Jim Kilburn worked briefly as a teacher in a Harrogate preparatory school.

Jim Kilburn continued in the position until 1976, when he retired.

Jim Kilburn's cricketing judgments were assured and rigorous, his style exact but sometimes elegant: Leyland's bowling is a joke but it is an extremely practical joke.

Jim Kilburn never wrote an unpolished piece or an unidentifiable one, although he was only occasionally analytical.

Jim Kilburn's writing was printed exactly as he wrote it; sub-editors did not touch anything, even if he had made a mistake, as his employers valued his style so greatly.

Jim Kilburn refused to write about off-field events which caused consternation for his editors as Yorkshire cricket was turbulent behind the scenes at the time he wrote.

Jim Kilburn was often compared to his contemporary from Lancashire, Neville Cardus, but his style was dissimilar.

Cardus wrote in a romantic style whereas Jim Kilburn preferred factual accuracy; according to Wisden, Jim Kilburn was "harder, less flashy, more punctilious".

Jim Kilburn had a deep love of cricket, and worried it was losing its way in embracing one-day matches and sponsorship, although he did not believe that progress was necessarily bad.

Jim Kilburn believed that cricketers should be chivalrous, and greatly admired stylish play.

Jim Kilburn severely criticised anything on the field which he believed fell short of acceptable standards, including the occasion in 1967 when Yorkshire won the County Championship after engaging in time-wasting tactics to avoid losing a game.

Jim Kilburn retired in 1976, but continued to follow the sport very closely.

Jim Kilburn served as its secretary, chairman and later became an Honorary Life Member.

Jim Kilburn became the only journalist elected as a life member at Yorkshire, and opened the newly built press box at Headingley Cricket Ground in 1988.

Outside of his work, Jim Kilburn played golf to a reasonable standard, and was married with three children.

Jim Kilburn intended always to write about cricket but in fact he told us all so much more.

Jim Kilburn contributed to the following books :.