John Lees (5 September 1861 – 20 December 1934) was an English first-class cricketer.

John Lees
Personal information
Full name
John Lees
Born5 September 1861
Ashton-under-Lyne, Lancashire, England
Died20 December 1934(1934-12-20) (aged 73)
Brenchley, Kent, England
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm slow
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1881Cambridge University
1897–1899Cambridgeshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 15
Batting average 7.50
100s/50s –/–
Top score 9
Balls bowled 8
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings
10 wickets in match
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 21 July 2019

The son of Samuel Lees, he was born at Ashton-under-Lyne in September 1861. He was educated at Uppingham School, before going up to Jesus College, Cambridge.[1] While at Cambridge, he made a single appearance in first-class cricket for Cambridge University against the Marylebone Cricket Club at Fenner's in 1881.[2] Batting twice in the match, he was dismissed in the Cambridge first-innings by Alfred Shaw for 6 runs, while in their second-innings he was dismissed for 9 runs by Fred Morley.[3] Though he did not gain a blue in cricket, he did gain a rugby blue.[1]

After graduating from Cambridge, Lees attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, graduating into the West India Regiment as a second lieutenant in August 1885.[4] He held the rank of lieutenant by November 1887,[5] with Lees serving in the British expedition up the River Gambia against Fodey Kabba in 1891–92, and later serving as a garrison adjutant in British Jamaica.[1] He transferred to the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment (Royal Canadians) as a captain in May 1894, before transferring once more to the Royal West Kent Regiment in September of the same year.[1] He played minor counties cricket for Cambridgeshire from 1897–99, making ten appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[6]

He retired from active service in May 1903, retaining the rank of captain.[7] After retiring he became a farmer, but later returned to the Royal West Kent Regiment to serve during the First World War, in the course of which he was mentioned in dispatches.[8] He died in December 1934 at Brenchley, Kent.

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Venn, John (2011). Alumni Cantabrigienses. Cambridge University Press. p. 138. ISBN 978-1108036146.
  2. ^ "First-Class Matches played by John Lees". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Cambridge University v Marylebone Cricket Club, 1881". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  4. ^ "No. 25506". The London Gazette. 28 August 1885. p. 4086.
  5. ^ "No. 25775". The London Gazette. 10 January 1888. p. 305.
  6. ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by John Lees". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  7. ^ "No. 27555". The London Gazette. 22 March 1903. p. 3281.
  8. ^ Ambrose, Don (2003). "Brief profile of John Lees". CricketArchive. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
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