406:, one in 1949 and a second in 1961. Jackson's absence from Test cricket was largely because his batting was so underdeveloped: his highest first-class score was 39 not out, and he reached 30 on only two other occasions. Between July 1949 and August 1950, Jackson indeed played fifty-one innings without reaching double figures, a number known to be exceeded only by
485:
Jackson was genuinely quick from a slingy action, and remarkably accurate and economical. He was able to swing the ball both ways and move off the seam, and his six-foot height enabled him to make the ball lift awkwardly from just short of a length. He bowled from a short run-up, which enabled him to
441:
Cricket writer, Colin
Bateman, noted, "it is one of cricket’s great crimes that Les Jackson, a most respected fast bowler on the circuit throughout the 1950s, played only twice for England. It is said that his slingy, hostile action and his blunt opinions did not please the
549:
whose sole Test wicket came at a cost of 284 runs, but toured to India instead with a
Commonwealth side, only to return home early with an elbow injury. Jackson played in another Test trial in 1950, but was unable to make much of an impression: on a soft wicket
545:, was rested. Jackson met with some success, taking 2 for 47 and 1 for 25, but the match was drawn and he was replaced by Bedser for the fourth and deciding Test. He was not chosen to tour Australia in 1950–51, losing out to
481:
at the age of 16. His father was a cricketer, and
Jackson began his cricket career at Whitwell Cricket Club, where, until his demise, he could still be found on the occasional Saturday watching them play.
622:, who had a side strain, and again he provided able support, this time to Trueman, taking 2 for 57 and 2 for 26, as England won by eight wickets. Statham came back for the final two Tests, and
577:, he took 143 wickets at an average of 10.99 runs per wicket, an average not equalled by any regular first-class bowler since and not previously seen since the days of
626:
was picked ahead of
Jackson. He never played Test cricket again. The 12-year gap between his appearances is the longest of any England Test player with only two caps.
450:
carried
England‘s attack on his own, Jackson’s omission was a scandalous loss". Bateman added that Jackson, "...was as feared as Trueman and Tyson in county cricket".
581:. This feat was all the more extraordinary because owing to a serious groin strain Jackson bowled at only medium pace for most of the season. Jackson was one of the
1002:
633:, having taken more wickets for Derbyshire than any other bowler, a record that still stands (1,733 first-class wickets at 17.36 apiece). He then played for
674:
on 25 April 2007, less than three weeks after his 86th birthday. He married his wife, Norma, in 1942; she died in 1991. He was survived by their daughter.
977:
908:
896:
967:
630:
592:
588:
574:
570:
566:
562:
518:
498:
602:
Jackson had to wait twelve years to play his second Test, allegedly and almost certainly due to upper class prejudice by the
England captain
423:
982:
962:
561:
Nonetheless, Jackson averaged under twenty runs a wicket in every season from 1951 to 1962, and took 100 or more in every season except
997:
734:
136:
957:
147:
486:
continue bowling for lengthy periods, and was particularly difficult to play on the uncovered wickets used in county cricket.
952:
494:
395:
176:
835:
820:
583:
390:. A fast or fast-medium bowler renowned for his accurate bowling and particular hostility on uncovered wickets, he played
992:
987:
638:
530:
653:(MCC) against Derbyshire on 5 July 1970, a 40-overs match commemorating the centenary of Derbyshire's first match at
578:
525:
of 20.41. After a successful Test trial taking six for 37, Jackson was selected in 1949 for the third Test against
471:
646:
603:
514:
398:
from 1947 to 1963, and was regularly at, or near the top of, the
English bowling averages. He played in only two
233:
665:
526:
506:
411:
76:
972:
660:
He continued mining in the winter through much of his cricketing career, later becoming a chauffeur for the
650:
642:
611:
443:
555:
884:
947:
942:
634:
459:
403:
122:
57:
874:
889:
789:
661:
502:
204:
920:
848:
778:
670:
615:
493:, Jackson became a professional with Worksop in 1947, playing in the Bassetlaw League and joined
271:
859:
767:
730:
558:
did the bulk of the bowling for "The Rest" and
Jackson's bowling was described as "mediocre".
913:
370:
311:
104:
901:
649:
and longtime partner
Gladwin (who was then 54), played his last game at the age of 49 for
618:, when he was 40 years old. Again, he was chosen to replace the first-choice fast bowler,
522:
298:
726:
720:
657:
in 1870. Jackson was elected
President of the Derbyshire Players' Association in 1995.
391:
936:
619:
538:
510:
435:
419:
925:
623:
596:
490:
427:
415:
399:
199:
607:
542:
534:
467:
447:
431:
463:
551:
546:
521:, his second full season after joining Derbyshire, he took 120 wickets at a
654:
466:, the youngest of thirteen children. His eldest brother had been killed in
599:
described Jackson as "The best six-days-a-week bowler in county cricket".
878:
407:
387:
347:
264:
285:
610:
later. He was finally selected for the third Test against the 1961
477:
He was educated at Whitwell Church of England School, and became a
478:
690:
He missed 13 Championship matches with a shoulder injury in 1955.
509:
on 5 July 1947. He formed formidable bowling partnerships with
805:(93rd ed.). London: Sporting Handbooks Ltd. p. 304.
645:
from 1965 to 1970. Jackson, along with Derbyshire namesake
386:(5 April 1921 – 25 April 2007) was an English professional
779:
Test no. 316: England v New Zealand at Old Trafford, 1949
595:. In all, he passed 100 wickets in ten domestic seasons.
470:; another brother was one of eighty who perished in the
849:
Test no. 509: England v Australia at Headingley, Leeds
591:(being the first to reach 100), and then 160 at 13.61
668:, Derbyshire, after a short illness was announced on
186:
170:
157:
142:
131:
115:
110:
100:
92:
84:
65:
43:
33:
28:
629:Jackson retired from Derbyshire at the end of the
573:when he was severely handicapped by injuries. In
839:, Ninety-Seventh Edition (1960); pp. 250, 342
489:After many delays, including the outbreak of
8:
860:Derbyshire v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1970
21:
753:; p. 317. Published 1951 by Playfair Books.
458:Jackson was born in the mining village of
20:
814:
812:
587:in 1959, then took a further 140 wickets
517:, both also England Test players. In the
824:, Ninety-Sixth Edition (1959); pp. 57-60
606:in early years, and of England selector
698:
683:
725:. Tony Williams Publications. p.
763:
761:
759:
714:
712:
710:
708:
706:
704:
702:
7:
751:The Playfair Book of Cricket Records
641:in 1964, and for Undercliffe in the
541:while the first choice fast bowler,
533:. He made his Test debut alongside
875:Derbyshire legend Les Jackson dies
14:
1003:A. E. R. Gilligan's XI cricketers
978:People from Whitwell, Derbyshire
803:Wisden Cricketers' Almanac 1956
426:. His leading competitors like
1:
968:Wisden Cricketers of the Year
801:Preston, Norman, ed. (1956).
584:Wisden Cricketers of the Year
16:English cricketer (1921–2007)
768:Les Jackson CricInfo profile
554:took 8 wickets for 2 runs,
537:, opening the bowling with
1019:
983:Cricketers from Derbyshire
963:Commonwealth XI cricketers
836:Wisden Cricketers' Almanac
833:Preston, Norman (editor);
821:Wisden Cricketers' Almanac
818:Preston, Norman (editor);
790:England v The Rest in 1950
664:until 1982. His death, in
472:Creswell colliery disaster
158:Domestic team information
111:International information
446:(MCC) but in an era when
438:were far better batsmen.
367:
363:
191:
182:
165:
162:
153:
135:23 July 1949 v
998:North v South cricketers
146:6 July 1961 v
958:England Test cricketers
719:Bateman, Colin (1993).
651:Marylebone Cricket Club
444:Marylebone Cricket Club
384:Herbert Leslie Jackson
38:Herbert Leslie Jackson
953:Derbyshire cricketers
434:, and even teammate
312:5 wickets in innings
58:Whitwell, Derbyshire
29:Personal information
890:The Daily Telegraph
662:National Coal Board
324:10 wickets in match
25:
993:Players cricketers
988:English cricketers
671:Test Match Special
639:Lancashire League
381:
380:
359:
358:
187:Career statistics
1010:
914:The Sunday Times
862:
857:
851:
846:
840:
831:
825:
816:
807:
806:
798:
792:
787:
781:
776:
770:
765:
754:
747:
741:
740:
716:
691:
688:
513:, and then with
376:
193:
192:
173:
80:
72:
61:
53:
51:
26:
1018:
1017:
1013:
1012:
1011:
1009:
1008:
1007:
933:
932:
902:The Independent
893:, 30 April 2007
881:, 25 April 2007
871:
866:
865:
858:
854:
847:
843:
832:
828:
817:
810:
800:
799:
795:
788:
784:
777:
773:
766:
757:
748:
744:
737:
722:If The Cap Fits
718:
717:
700:
695:
694:
689:
685:
680:
643:Bradford League
575:the 1958 season
523:bowling average
456:
454:Life and career
377:
374:
299:Bowling average
234:Batting average
171:
127:
75:
74:
70:
56:
55:
49:
47:
39:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1016:
1014:
1006:
1005:
1000:
995:
990:
985:
980:
975:
973:English miners
970:
965:
960:
955:
950:
945:
935:
934:
931:
930:
918:
906:
894:
882:
870:
869:External links
867:
864:
863:
852:
841:
826:
808:
793:
782:
771:
755:
742:
735:
697:
696:
693:
692:
682:
681:
679:
676:
579:Tom Richardson
505:debut against
455:
452:
392:county cricket
379:
378:
371:CricketArchive
368:
365:
364:
361:
360:
357:
356:
353:
350:
343:
342:
339:
336:
332:
331:
328:
325:
321:
320:
317:
314:
308:
307:
304:
301:
295:
294:
291:
288:
282:
281:
278:
275:
268:
267:
261:
258:
254:
253:
250:
247:
243:
242:
239:
236:
230:
229:
226:
223:
219:
218:
215:
212:
208:
207:
202:
197:
189:
188:
184:
183:
180:
179:
174:
168:
167:
164:
160:
159:
155:
154:
151:
150:
144:
140:
139:
133:
129:
128:
126:
125:
119:
117:
113:
112:
108:
107:
102:
98:
97:
96:Right-arm fast
94:
90:
89:
86:
82:
81:
73:(aged 86)
67:
63:
62:
45:
41:
40:
37:
35:
34:Full name
31:
30:
22:
15:
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1015:
1004:
1001:
999:
996:
994:
991:
989:
986:
984:
981:
979:
976:
974:
971:
969:
966:
964:
961:
959:
956:
954:
951:
949:
946:
944:
941:
940:
938:
929:, 11 May 2007
928:
927:
922:
919:
916:
915:
910:
907:
904:
903:
898:
895:
892:
891:
886:
883:
880:
876:
873:
872:
868:
861:
856:
853:
850:
845:
842:
838:
837:
830:
827:
823:
822:
815:
813:
809:
804:
797:
794:
791:
786:
783:
780:
775:
772:
769:
764:
762:
760:
756:
752:
749:Webber, Roy;
746:
743:
738:
736:1-869833-21-X
732:
728:
724:
723:
715:
713:
711:
709:
707:
705:
703:
699:
687:
684:
677:
675:
673:
672:
667:
663:
658:
656:
652:
648:
644:
640:
636:
632:
627:
625:
621:
620:Brian Statham
617:
613:
609:
605:
604:Freddie Brown
600:
598:
594:
590:
586:
585:
580:
576:
572:
568:
564:
559:
557:
553:
548:
544:
540:
539:Trevor Bailey
536:
532:
528:
524:
520:
516:
515:Harold Rhodes
512:
511:Cliff Gladwin
508:
504:
501:, making his
500:
497:later in the
496:
492:
487:
483:
480:
475:
473:
469:
465:
461:
453:
451:
449:
445:
439:
437:
433:
429:
425:
424:Mark Robinson
421:
420:Brian Boshier
417:
413:
409:
405:
401:
397:
393:
389:
385:
372:
366:
362:
354:
351:
349:
345:
344:
340:
337:
334:
333:
329:
326:
323:
322:
318:
315:
313:
310:
309:
305:
302:
300:
297:
296:
292:
289:
287:
284:
283:
279:
276:
273:
270:
269:
266:
262:
259:
256:
255:
251:
248:
245:
244:
240:
237:
235:
232:
231:
227:
224:
221:
220:
216:
213:
210:
209:
206:
203:
201:
198:
195:
194:
190:
185:
181:
178:
175:
169:
161:
156:
152:
149:
145:
141:
138:
134:
130:
124:
121:
120:
118:
116:National side
114:
109:
106:
103:
99:
95:
91:
87:
83:
78:
69:25 April 2007
68:
64:
59:
46:
42:
36:
32:
27:
19:
926:The Guardian
924:
917:, 3 May 2007
912:
905:, 2 May 2007
900:
888:
855:
844:
834:
829:
819:
802:
796:
785:
774:
750:
745:
721:
686:
669:
666:Chesterfield
659:
628:
624:Jack Flavell
601:
597:Fred Trueman
582:
560:
531:Old Trafford
491:World War II
488:
484:
476:
457:
440:
416:Eric Hollies
400:Test matches
383:
382:
375:24 June 2010
335:Best bowling
88:Right-handed
77:Chesterfield
71:(2007-04-25)
54:5 April 1921
18:
948:2007 deaths
943:1921 births
631:1963 season
612:Australians
608:Gubby Allen
543:Alec Bedser
535:Brian Close
527:New Zealand
519:1949 season
503:first-class
499:1947 season
468:World War I
448:Alec Bedser
412:Nobby Clark
222:Runs scored
205:First-class
196:Competition
137:New Zealand
23:Les Jackson
937:Categories
678:References
616:Headingley
495:Derbyshire
464:Derbyshire
396:Derbyshire
177:Derbyshire
132:Test debut
50:1921-04-05
556:Bob Berry
552:Jim Laker
547:John Warr
474:in 1950.
418:(twice),
388:cricketer
348:stumpings
257:Top score
172:1947–1963
148:Australia
143:Last Test
79:, England
60:, England
921:Obituary
909:Obituary
897:Obituary
885:Obituary
879:Cricinfo
460:Whitwell
408:Jem Shaw
369:Source:
346:Catches/
246:100s/50s
637:in the
635:Enfield
593:in 1960
589:in 1959
436:Gladwin
428:Trueman
404:England
286:Wickets
211:Matches
123:England
93:Bowling
85:Batting
733:
655:Lord's
280:83,267
274:bowled
105:Bowler
647:Brian
479:miner
432:Tyson
355:137/–
306:17.36
303:22.14
293:1,733
272:Balls
238:15.00
228:2,083
163:Years
731:ISBN
571:1961
569:and
567:1955
563:1951
507:Kent
422:and
402:for
394:for
341:9/17
338:2/26
241:6.19
200:Test
166:Team
101:Role
66:Died
44:Born
614:at
529:at
462:in
352:1/–
319:115
277:498
252:0/0
249:0/0
217:418
939::
923:,
911:,
899:,
887:,
877:,
811:^
758:^
729:.
727:99
701:^
565:,
430:,
414:,
410:,
373:,
330:20
263:39
225:15
739:.
327:0
316:0
290:7
265:*
260:8
214:2
52:)
48:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.