23 Facts About Leo Harrison

Leo Harrison was an English first-class cricketer who played for Hampshire from 1939 to 1966.

Leo Harrison played 387 first-class appearances for Hampshire, out of a total of 396 career first-class matches, and was a member of Hampshire's 1961 County Championship winning team.

The son of a builder, Leo Harrison was born in Mudeford in June 1922.

Leo Harrison was educated at Twynham School, and joined the Hampshire ground staff straight after completing his education in 1937.

Leo Harrison served in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War, but failed the eyesight test to become a pilot, and instead spent the war making flying instruments for Bomber Command in Slough, as well as serving on airfields in Yorkshire and East Anglia.

Leo Harrison played seven times for Hampshire in the 1946 County Championship, and while still serving in the RAF, he played for the Royal Air Force cricket team against Worcestershire, in addition to making four appearances for the Combined Services; for both teams, he would play alongside his Hampshire teammate Alan Shirreff.

Leo Harrison established himself in the Hampshire eleven in 1947, making 22 appearances in which he scored 567 runs at an average of 20.25.

Leo Harrison made the same number of appearances in 1922, but generally struggled with the bat, scoring 256 runs at an average of 8.82; he did however find increased wicket-keeping opportunities when deputising for Harrison.

When McCorkell broke a finger in May 1949, Leo Harrison deputised as wicket-keeper for two months.

Leo Harrison stood as an umpire in a first-class match between the Combined Services and Hampshire in 1949.

Leo Harrison featured just ten times in 1950, and struggled with the bat in scoring 152 runs at an average of 9.50.

Leo Harrison alternated the wicket-keeping duties with Prouton in 1953, and became first-choice wicket-keeper from 1954.

Leo Harrison remained Hampshire's first-choice wicket-keeper throughout the 1950s, with his diminished returns with the bat being complimented by his good work behind the stumps.

Leo Harrison was afforded a benefit match ahead of the 1957 season, which was chosen to be played against Northamptonshire at Bournemouth in August.

Leo Harrison was a member of Hampshire's 1961 County Championship winning team, scoring 652 runs from 27 matches and 62 dismissals behind the stumps.

Leo Harrison continued as Hampshire's wicket-keeper the following season, making 27 appearances and scoring 509 runs at an average of 18.85, which included two final half centuries.

Leo Harrison retired at the end of the 1962 season, and was succeeded as Hampshire's first-choice wicket-keeper by Timms.

Leo Harrison was known to stand up the stumps to the pace bowler Derek Shackleton, with Harrison taking many slick leg side catches off of his bowling.

Amongst the players Leo Harrison would help develop whilst coach at Hampshire was the South African Barry Richards.

Leo Harrison remained as Hampshire coach until 1970, when he left citing the "dreadful pay", and instead joined a local building firm as its director, where he would remain until his retirement in 1987.

Leo Harrison formed a close friendship with John Arlott, who he had first met as a teenager when Arlott was a police officer in Southampton.

Leo Harrison was the guest of honour at the unveiling of The Cricket Society's plaque commemorating Arlott's residency at the Old Sun in New Alresford in 2009.

Leo Harrison was survived by two daughters and a son.