| Fullname | Harry Robert Murrell |
|---|---|
| Birth date | 19 November 1879 |
| Birth place | Hounslow, Middlesex |
| Death date | 15 August 1952 (aged 72) |
| Death place | West Wickham, Kent |
| Batting | Right-handed |
| Role | Wicket-keeper |
| Club 1 | Kent |
| Year 1 | 1899–1905 |
| Club 2 | Middlsex |
| Year 2 | 1906–1926 |
| Type 1 | FC |
| Debutdate 1 | 26 June |
| Debutyear 1 | 1899 |
| Debutfor 1 | Kent |
| Debutagainst 1 | Nottinghamshire |
| Lastdate 1 | 1 September |
| Lastyear 1 | 1926 |
| Lastfor 1 | Middlesex |
| Lastagainst 1 | Warwickshire |
| Columns | 1 |
| Column 1 | First-class |
| Matches 1 | 378 |
| Runs 1 | 6,663 |
| Bat avg 1 | 14.29 |
| 100s/50s 1 | 0/24 |
| Top score 1 | 96* |
| Deliveries 1 | 213 |
| Wickets 1 | 0 |
| Bowl avg 1 | – |
| Fivefor 1 | – |
| Tenfor 1 | – |
| Best bowling 1 | – |
| Catches/stumpings 1 | 565/269 |
| Source | http://www.espncricinfo.com/england/content/player/17753.html CricInfo |
| Date | 19 December |
| Year | 2018 |
Harry Robert Murrell (19 November 1879 – 15 August 1952), known as Joe Murrell, was an English cricketer who played over 350 matches, mainly for Middlesex County Cricket Club as a wicket-keeper.[1]
Murrell was born at Hounslow in Middlesex.[2] He made his first-class cricket debut for Kent County Cricket Club in 1899 and played for the county until the end of the 1905 season. Kent's wicket-keeper at the time was Fred Huish and Murrell found it difficult to gain a place, only keeping wicket in six of his 27 first-class matches for the county. In 1906 he joined Middlesex and was associated with the club for the next 46 years.[3][4]
Murrell played 342 times for Middlesex in first-class cricket and developed a reputation as "a first-class wicket-keeper" who, when Middlesex won the County Championship in 1920 and 1921, was considered by Wisden as "one of the best of wicket-keepers".[3] He was considered a loyal team-mate whose judgment and advice could be relied upon by Middlesex captain Pelham Warner and in his obituary Wisden considered him unfortunate to have not played for England.[3] As a batsman Murrell was considered "fast-footed" and "could hit extremely hard", although he never scored a century.[2][3]
Over the course of his career, Murrell took 835 dismissals, 564 caught and 271 stumped.[2] After retiring, he was the 1st XI scorer for Middlesex until his death at West Wickham in Kent in 1952 at the age of 72.[2]
He also played football for Woolwich Arsenal. After playing for local clubs in Kent and Middlesex, he joined Arsenal in October 1898, making his first-team debut against Small Heath on 31 March 1900. He played mainly as a full back filling in for regulars Jimmy Jackson and David McNichol. He left Arsenal for Clapton Orient in the summer of 1900, having played 6 first-team games for them.
References
- ^ Carlaw, pp. 398–399. (Retrieved 21 December 2020.)
- ^ Joe Murrell, CricInfo. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Murrell, Mr Harry Robert, Obituaries in 1952, Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1953. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
- ^ Joe Murrell, CricketArchive. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
Bibliography
- Carlaw, Derek (2020). Kent County Cricketers, A to Z: Part One (1806–1914). Cardiff: ACS