James Edward McConnon (21 June 1922 – 26 January 2003) was an English cricketer, who played in two Tests in 1954 as an off-spin bowler. He played for Glamorgan from 1950 to 1961, albeit missing the 1956 season when he decided to play for Burnley in the Lancashire League. His 819 first-class wickets cost less than 20 runs each.

Jim McConnon
McConnon in 1954
Personal information
Full name
James Edward McConnon
Born(1922-06-21)21 June 1922
Burnopfield, County Durham, England
Died26 January 2003(2003-01-26) (aged 80)
Altrincham, Greater Manchester, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm offbreak
International information
National side
Test debut22 July 1954 v Pakistan
Last Test12 August 1954 v Pakistan
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 2 256
Runs scored 18 4,661
Batting average 9.00 14.38
100s/50s 0/0 0/13
Top score 11 95
Balls bowled 216 37,449
Wickets 4 819
Bowling average 18.50 19.88
5 wickets in innings 0 49
10 wickets in match 0 12
Best bowling 3/19 8/36
Catches/stumpings 4/– 151/–
Source: CricInfo, 7 November 2022

Life and career

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Jim McConnon was born in Burnopfield, County Durham.[1] His was a late conversion to cricket, having played football for Aston Villa and Newport County. A knee injury resulted in McConnon switching sports and, for a short time, his lovely bowling action utilising long spinner's fingers threatened Jim Laker's role in the England team.[1]

He made his first-class debut for Glamorgan against Surrey at the start of the 1950 season, in the same match as Don Shepherd. He claimed 100 wickets in a season three times, with 136 at 16.07 in 1951 being his best. Against the South African tourists in that year he took 6 for 27 including a hat-trick, helping Glamorgan to an unlikely victory.

McConnon's selection for the Ashes tour of 1954-55 was controversial in that it meant that Laker was not taken.[2] As it was McConnon broke a finger during the tour, and he returned home early.[1]

His season as a professional in the Lancashire League was successful: he topped the League bowling averages with 52 wickets at 6.8,[3] and Burnley won the championship.[4] After he left first-class cricket he played a few seasons of Minor Counties cricket for Cheshire.

McConnon and his wife Pauline had three children, Michael, Catherine and Christopher.[5]

McConnon died in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, at the age of 80.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. pp. 114–115. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
  2. ^ Brian Scovell (2006). Jim Laker: Nineteen for Ninety (2006 ed.). The History Press. ISBN 978-0-7524-3932-7.
  3. ^ 1956 averages
  4. ^ 1956 table
  5. ^ "Jim McConnon profile and biography, stats, records, averages, photos and videos".
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