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Les Ames
File:Les Ames (1932).jpg
Personal information
Full name
Leslie Ethelbert George Ames
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight arm leg break
RoleWicket-keeper
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 244)17 August 1929 v South Africa
Last Test3 March 1939 v South Africa
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1926–1951Kent
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class
Matches 47 593
Runs scored 2,434 37,248
Batting average 40.56 43.51
100s/50s 8/7 102/176
Top score 149 295
Balls bowled – 1,383
Wickets – 24
Bowling average – 33.37
5 wickets in innings – 0
10 wickets in match – 0
Best bowling – 3/23
Catches/stumpings 74/23 704/417
Source: Cricinfo, 1 January 1952

Leslie Ethelbert George Ames CBE[1] (3 December 1905 – 27 February 1990) was an English cricketer who played 47 Test matches as a wicket-keeper between 1929 and 1939. Upon his death he was described by the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman the game has so far produced"[2]

Youth and early career

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Ames was born in Elham, Kent into a cricketing family: his father Harold played for the local side as a "much feared" left arm spin bowler, whilst his grandfather was an umpire.[3] Ames was encouraged to take up cricket from an early age, with the former Test cricketer Francis MacKinnon; a friend of the family, offering further encouragement.[3] Between 1916 and 1922, Ames was a student at the Harvey Grammar School in Folkestone,[4] where he scored his first century against the Dover County School.

Upon leaving education, Ames became an apprentice at his cousin's grocery business in Brabourne, where he joined the Smeeth Cricket Club. He gained his first experience of wicket-keeping here "when the regular wicket-keeper persisted in missing chances from his skipper's leg-spin".[3] However, it was his batting that was beginning to get him noticed, and in April 1924 he was invited to trial with Kent. Ames failed to gain a place on the staff for the 1924 season, however, an unbeaten innings of 185 brought him an invitation to play for Ashford against Kent Club and Ground. After scoring 46, Ames was invited to play for the Club and Ground side, under the coaching of captain Gerry Weigall.

Weigall was a coach of the opinion that "a professional needed to excel in more than one department",[3] and Ames found himself a reluctant wicket-keeper. Using kit borrowed from the Kent second team wicket-keeper Arthur Povey, Ames kept wicket cleanly, and by the end of the season had made four appearances for the county second eleven.[5] Ames' performances in those four matches persuaded the county to add him to their staff; and with Povey not re-engaged for the 1925 season Ames became the regular second-team wicket-keeper.[6]

First-class emergence

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Ames made his first-class debut for Kent in July 1926, playing in both matches of the Tunbridge Wells festival against Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire. Owing to the presence of Jack Hubble in the Kent side, Ames played both matches as a specialist batsman, scoring 65 runs across three innings, while also taking four catches in the field.[7][8] His first match as wicket-keeper for the county was the opening game of the 1927 season, where in an innings victory against Worcestershire he scored his first half century and shared a partnership of 155 with Percy Chapman.[6] His maiden first-class century came in a losing cause against Hampshire in June,[9] while he completed one thousand runs for the season at the beginning of August.[6]

The 1928 season proved very successful for Ames, with his performances that year culminating in his citation as one of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack's five Cricketers of the Year.[10] He finished fourth in the county's Championship run-scoring charts, with a total of 1,666 runs in 48 innings.[11] He also improved as a wicket-keeper, finishing the season with 100 Championship dismissals and inclusion in the MCC's touring party to Australia that winter, as understudy to George Duckworth.[10][11][12] With Duckworth at his best on that tour, Ames did not play in any of the Test matches; however it was widely believed he would have made his debut in the final match as a specialist batsman, had he not broken a finger in the match against Victoria a week before.[12] Nevertheless, he finished the tour with a batting average of exactly 59 from his eight appearances, completed ten stumpings and scored an unbeaten century against the Tasmanians between the third and fourth Tests.[13][14]

Back in England, Ames continued his fine form into the 1929 season. In completing 102 County Championship dismissals, and 127 in all first-class matches, Ames set new records for wicket-keeping which have not been passed to this day.[15][16] With the bat, he accumulated 1,795 runs, average 35.90, with five centuries.[17] His best match of the season undoubtedly came against Surrey, where he came within one run of scoring a century in both innings of a match for the first time.[18]

Test beginnings

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Ames made his Test match debut in the fifth Test of South Africa's 1929 tour of England, replacing George Duckworth behind the stumps.[19][20] Batting at number eight, he was dismissed for a duck in England's only innings, caught off the bowling of leg-spinner Quintin McMillan; while with the gloves he took two catches off the bowling of fellow debutant Nobby Clark.[19] However, he blotted his copybook somewhat by dropping Herbie Taylor on seven, off the bowling of his Kent teammate Frank Woolley; Taylor went on to make 121.[6]

Despite his duck on debut, he was included in England's party of fourteen for the tour of the West Indies that winter.[21] Despite initially struggling with the bat, failing to pass twenty in the first two tour matches,[22][23] he was named in the side for the First Test at the Kensington Oval. By the end of that match, he had finally gained some match practice, scoring an unbeaten 44 in the second innings as the match drifted to a draw.[24] The Second Test, played at the Queen's Park Oval, saw Ames complete his first Test match century. Coming to the crease with England 52/3 in their second innings; only six runs ahead overall, Ames and Patsy Hendren added 237 for the fourth wicket, having both survived early chances.[25] Ames was eventually caught by a substitute fielder for 105, having hit seventeen fours.[26] He followed up with a second consecutive century in his next innings, this time against British Guiana, as MCC won comfortably by an innings.[27]

The final Test of the tour was a timeless match...

Bodyline tour and "annus mirabilis"

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Administrative career

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Outside cricket

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Other sports and war service

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Ames also played association football briefly; making appearances for Gillingham F.C. and Clapton Orient F.C. in the early 1930's as a forward.[28] He was also registered as a player with Charlton Athletic F.C. in January 1925, but did not make a first-team appearance.[29]

Following the outbreak of the Second World War, Ames served in the Royal Air Force.[2][30] Working mainly in an administrative role, he rose to the rank of Squadron Leader.[30]

Despite his war duties, Ames was able to play a degree of cricket: he made 20 appearances for the Royal Air Force's cricket team between 1941 and 1945,[31] scoring an unbeaten century at Lord's Cricket Ground on his debut against the British Army's cricket team.[32] He also took several wickets for various teams with his occasional leg break bowling, including two in an innings for Coventry against London Counties[33] and a hat-trick in a club match against Epsom.[30]

Later life

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Ames died suddenly at home at the age of 84 on 26 February 1990, despite having been an enthusiastic golfer and walker until the day of his death.[34] A memorial service was held for him in Canterbury Cathedral, which was attended by over a thousand people.[2] He left a widow, Bunty, and two children from his previous marriage.[35]

Style

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At the time of his death in 1990, Ames was described as "without a doubt the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman the game has so far produced".[2] When standing up to the stumps, he crouched very low; a technique which enabled him to stand up to all except the fastest bowlers.[10][36] In his citation as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1929, his wicket-keeping was described as "without fuss or attempt at spectacular effort".[10]

During his playing days, however, it was generally believed that there were better wicket-keepers in England than Ames, with George Duckworth regularly cited as an example. The media regularly played up a rivalry between Ames and Duckworth through the 1930's, but in reality the two were close friends.[30] It was at Duckworth's suggestion that Ames took to placing a raw steak inside his gloves, to protect his hands while keeping wicket on hard Australian pitches.[30]

As a batsman, Ames was a technically correct, yet aggressive, batsman who was particularly proficient at driving and cutting. His aggressive batting style meant that he was one of the few batsman to hook Harold Larwood for six,[37] while his quick footwork meant he was also one of the best players of spin bowling of the day.[3] He was regarded as a good runner between the wickets, with some considering him to be one of the fastest runners of his era.[3]

Career records and statistics

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Test matches

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Records:

  • Most runs in a pre-lunch session: 123 v South Africa at The Oval, 1935[38]

Partnership records:

Test centuries:

No. Score Against Pos. Inn. Test Venue H/A Date Result Ref
1 105  West Indies 5 3 2 Queen's Park Oval, Port of Spain Away 4 February 1930 Won [46]
2 149  West Indies 5 1 4 Sabina Park, Kingston Away 4 April 1930 Drawn [47]
3 137  New Zealand 7 2 1 Lord's Cricket Ground, London Home 27 June 1931 Drawn [48]
4 103  New Zealand 6 1 1 Lancaster Park, Christchurch Away 24 March 1933 Drawn [49]
5 120  Australia 7 1 2 Lord's Cricket Ground, London Home 22 June 1934 Won [50]
6 126  West Indies 6 2 4 Sabina Park, Kingston Away 15 March 1935 Lost [51]
7 148*  South Africa 6 2 5 The Oval, London Home 19 August 1935 Drawn [52]
8 115  South Africa 5 1 2 Newlands, Cape Town Away 2 January 1939 Drawn [53]

Career performances:

  Batting[54] Wicket-keeping[55]
Opposition Matches Runs Average High Score 100 / 50 Catches Stumpings Dismissals per innings Most dismissals (Inns)
Australia 17 675 27.00 120 1/4 33 4 1.16 3
India 1 71 35.50 65 0/1 0 0 0.00 0
New Zealand 8 410 58.57 137 2/0 9 3 0.88 3
South Africa 10 530 48.18 148* 2/1 15 5 1.11 3
West Indies 11 748 49.86 149 3/1 17 11 1.33 4
Overall 47 2,434 40.56 149 8/7 74 23 1.11 4

First-class matches

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Records:

  • Most dismissals in an English county cricket season: 102 in the 1929 season[15]
  • Most stumpings in an English season: 62 in the 1932 season[36]
  • 1000 runs and 100 dismissals in each of three seasons (1928, 1929, 1932), a feat that has only been achieved once again in county cricket[56]
  • The only wicket-keeper to score 100 first-class centuries[57]
  • Scored a century against every English first-class county of the time, apart from his own county, Kent[34]
  • Most stumpings in a first-class career: 417[58]

Notes

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  1. ^ "No. 45984". The London Gazette (invalid |supp= (help)). 22 May 1973.
  2. ^ a b c d "Les Ames obituary". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1991. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Carlaw (2005), p. 73
  4. ^ Times, Father (9 July 1997). "Ames memorial". The Times. Retrieved 4 April 2009.
  5. ^ "Player Oracle Results – LEG Ames – 1924". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  6. ^ a b c d Carlaw, p. 74.
  7. ^ "Kent v Warwickshire in 1926". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  8. ^ "Kent v Nottinghamshire in 1926". CricketArchive. Retrieved 13 January 2010.
  9. ^ "Hampshire v Kent in 1927". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  10. ^ a b c d "Les Ames – Cricketer of the Year 1929". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1929. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  11. ^ a b "Batting and Fielding for Kent in County Championship 1928". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  12. ^ a b Southerton, S. J. (1930). "M.C.C. team in Australia in 1928–29". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  13. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding for Marylebone Cricket Club in Australia 1928/29". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  14. ^ "Tasmania v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1928/29". CricketArchive. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  15. ^ a b "Most Victims in a Season in the County Championship". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 July 2008.
  16. ^ Ryder, Rowland (1972). "The great wicket-keepers". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  17. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Les Ames". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  18. ^ "Surrey v Kent in 1929". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 March 2010.
  19. ^ a b "5th Test: England v South Africa at The Oval, Aug 17–20, 1929". Cricinfo. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  20. ^ "Fifth Test Match England v South Africa 1929". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1929. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  21. ^ "M. C. C. team in the West Indies 1929-30". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1931. Retrieved 14 January 2010.
  22. ^ "Barbados v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1929/30". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  23. ^ "Barbados v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1929/30". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  24. ^ "1st Test: West Indies v England at Bridgetown, Jan 11-16, 1930". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  25. ^ "Second Test Match West Indies v England 1929-30". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. John Wisden & Co. 1931. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  26. ^ "2nd Test: West Indies v England at Port of Spain, Feb 1-6, 1930". Cricinfo. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  27. ^ "British Guiana v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1929/30". CricketArchive. Retrieved 26 March 2010.
  28. ^ Triggs, Roger (2001). The Men Who Made Gillingham Football Club. Tempus Publishing Ltd. p. 10. ISBN 0-7524-2243-X.
  29. ^ Cameron, Colin (2005): "Kent and Charlton Athletic"; from Kent County Cricket Club Annual, Kent County Cricket Club. pp. 46. ISBN 0952 792613.
  30. ^ a b c d e Carlaw, p. 75
  31. ^ "Player Oracle Results – LEG Ames – 1939/40 to 1945". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  32. ^ "Army v Royal Air Force in 1941". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  33. ^ "Coventry v London Counties in 1942". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  34. ^ a b Carlaw (2005), p. 76
  35. ^ "Leslie Ames - Obituary". The Times. 28 February 1990. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  36. ^ a b Carlaw (2005), p. 72
  37. ^ Woodcock, John (3 February 1990). "Firebrand's passion all spent". The Times. Retrieved 12 January 2010.
  38. ^ Cricinfo. "Records – Test matches – Hundred runs before lunch". Retrieved 17 July 2008.
  39. ^ "AMI Stadium ground partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  40. ^ "Lord's ground partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 24 June 2008.
  41. ^ "England partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  42. ^ "Newlands ground partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  43. ^ "Queen's Park Oval ground partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  44. ^ The Queen's Park Oval record was equalled in 1982–83, by Clive Lloyd and Larry Gomes.
  45. ^ "Sabina Park ground partnership records". Howstat. Retrieved 16 July 2008.
  46. ^ "2nd Test: West Indies v England at Port of Spain, Feb 1-6, 1930". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  47. ^ "4th Test: West Indies v England at Kingston, Apr 3-12, 1930". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  48. ^ "1st Test: England v New Zealand at Lord's, Jun 27-30, 1931". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  49. ^ "1st Test: New Zealand v England at Christchurch, Mar 24-27, 1933". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  50. ^ "2nd Test: England v Australia at Lord's, Jun 22-25, 1934". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  51. ^ "4th Test: West Indies v England at Kingston, Mar 14-18, 1935". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  52. ^ "5th Test: England v South Africa at The Oval, Aug 17-20, 1935". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  53. ^ "2nd Test: South Africa v England at Kingston, Dec 31, 1938 - Jan 4, 1939". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  54. ^ "Statsguru - LEG Ames - Test matches - Batting analysis". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  55. ^ "Statsguru - LEG Ames - Test Bowling - Fielding analysis". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 January 2010.
  56. ^ "First-Class Records – All-Round Records – Wicketkeeper's Double". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (145th ed.). John Wisden & Co. Ltd. 2008. p. 303. The only other wicket-keeper to achieve the feat was John Murray in 1957.
  57. ^ Kidd, Patrick (2 August 2008). "From Grace to Hick". The Wisden Cricketer. Retrieved 14 March 2010.
  58. ^ "Records – First-class matches – Most stumpings in career". Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 July 2008.

References

[edit]
  • Carlaw, Derek (2005). "Leslie Ames: The Centenary of the birth of the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman of them all". Kent County Cricket Club Annual. Kent County Cricket Club. ISBN 0952-792613.
  • Frith, David (2002). Bodyline Autopsy. London: Aurum Press Ltd. ISBN 1-85410-931-6.
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