38 Facts About Johnny Tyldesley

John Thomas Tyldesley was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire and Test cricket for England.

Johnny Tyldesley was a specialist professional batsman, usually third in the batting order, who rarely bowled and generally fielded in outfield positions.

Johnny Tyldesley was part of the Lancashire side when they won their first County Championship title in 1897.

Johnny Tyldesley served in the British Army during the war, attaining the rank of corporal, and then recommenced his Lancashire career in 1919.

Johnny Tyldesley effectively retired from first-class cricket at the end of that season but did make one further appearance in 1923.

Johnny Tyldesley played for Lancashire Second XI for some years until the end of the 1926 season when he concentrated on coaching, remaining with Lancashire and running his business until he died, aged 57, at his home in Monton, Eccles, Lancashire.

Johnny Tyldesley was born at Roe Green, Worsley on 22 November 1873 and received his early training in Lancashire club cricket, described by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "a very stiff school".

Johnny Tyldesley played for the Worsley Cricket Club in 1892 and 1893 before joining the Lancashire Second XI in 1894.

Johnny Tyldesley made his first-class debut, his County Championship debut, on 22 July 1895, playing for Lancashire against Gloucestershire in a drawn match at Old Trafford.

Johnny Tyldesley played in ten first-class matches in 1895 and 17 in 1896.

Johnny Tyldesley followed up with three successive centuries, scoring 106 and 100 not out in the same match against Warwickshire at Edgbaston and then 174, his highest score to date, against Sussex at Old Trafford.

Johnny Tyldesley generally batted at number five for Lancashire in 1897.

Johnny Tyldesley scored three centuries, three half-centuries and held 13 catches.

Johnny Tyldesley surpassed 1,000 runs in a season for the first time, going on to achieve the feat in each of nineteen successive seasons.

Johnny Tyldesley scored 1,918 runs in 1898 including his first double-century.

Johnny Tyldesley was invited to join Lord Hawke's tour of South Africa the following winter.

Johnny Tyldesley hit a decisive 112 in one of the Tests.

In 1899, Johnny Tyldesley played his first Ashes Tests at Trent Bridge and Lord's.

Johnny Tyldesley failed in these matches, but by this time was established as a top-class batsman with a superb range of strokes and wonderful footwork that made him effective even on pitches where the ball had considerable spin it did after rain in those days.

Johnny Tyldesley was not at his Lancashire best but still had a highscore of 66 in the second Test.

Johnny Tyldesley scored 245 runs including a "superb" 138 in four and a half hours at Edgbaston was critical in placing England in a winning position.

Johnny Tyldesley was dismissed for 97 in England's first innings when they totalled 315 over the first two days of the match.

However, in 1906 against that year County Champions, Kent, Johnny Tyldesley made his highest score of 295 not out and would certainly have made a triple hundred had he not ran out of partners.

Johnny Tyldesley served in the British Army during the war and attained the rank of corporal.

Cardus agreed with Wisden that Johnny Tyldesley was exceptionally quick on his feet and therefore always seemed to have plenty of time in which to play his strokes.

Johnny Tyldesley was very strong, despite his small size, with quick reflexes and great flexibility in his wrists which assisted both his strokeplay and, when fielding, his throwing.

Johnny Tyldesley was especially noted as a batsman for his mastery of the square cut and his fighting qualities in difficult conditions; he played many noted innings on bad wickets.

Johnny Tyldesley was an outstanding fielder who specialised in deep positions, mostly at third man or deep long on, and was noted for his speed and ability to quickly gather and accurately return the ball.

The painting shows Colin Blythe, the pavilion behind him, bowling to Johnny Tyldesley who has his back to the artist.

Johnny Tyldesley is depicted as very still, even though delivery is imminent, with an orthodox stance.

Kent won the match by an innings and 195 runs, Johnny Tyldesley scoring 19 and 4.

Johnny Tyldesley played one match as Lancashire's first professional captain in 1923 but by then his health was declining.

Lancashire won the County Championship twice during Johnny Tyldesley's playing career, As cricket coach he played a major role in Lancashire's County Championship successes in the late 1920s.

On long journeys, while his colleagues played cards, Johnny Tyldesley would read a book.

Johnny Tyldesley was a family man with wife Rachel Jane, son Arnold Clifford and daughter Edith Eleanor.

Johnny Tyldesley died at his home in Monton on the morning of 27 November 1930 after he collapsed whilst putting on his boots before going to work at his shop on Deansgate.

Johnny Tyldesley was buried at Worsley Parish Church, his wife and children eventually being laid to rest in the same grave.

Johnny Tyldesley's great-great-nephew is the former Yorkshire and England captain turned Cricket Commentator Michael Vaughan.