Thomas Box
Thomas Box (7 February 1808 in Ardingly, Sussex – 12 July 1876 at Prince's Cricket Ground, London) was a famous English cricketer who is remembered as one of the most outstanding wicketkeepers of the 19th century.
Player
Box played in important matches from 1826 to 1856. Although he played several matches for MCC, Hampshire and Surrey, he has always been associated with cricket in his native county of Sussex. He played for the Sussex team during the early years of roundarm bowling when his colleagues included Jem Broadbridge and William Lillywhite. He was a member of the Sussex team when the county club was founded in 1839 and continued to play for the club until he retired.
In all, Box is known to have played in 248 important matches. He was a right-handed batsman who occasionally made useful scores. He had 456 innings, in 43 of which he was not out, and scored 4,936 runs at an average of 11.95 with a highest score of 79. He scored 8 half-centuries. He bowled very rarely, style unknown, and took just 8 wickets but with a best analysis of 5-45.
As a wicketkeeper, he was highly successful and his known career record of 236 catches and 162 stumpings is outstanding.
Groundsman
In 1843 Sussex CCC granted Box a benefit match and the proceeds enabled him to lease the Hanover Arms in Lewes Road, Hove. This had the Royal New Ground (aka Hanover Ground) attached and Box was called upon to manage the matches taking place there. As a result, it became popularly known as "Box's Ground". Sussex CCC used it until September 1847, after which Box leased the Royal Brunswick Ground, also in Hove, and the club moved there.
Box relinquished the lease of the Brunswick Ground to the club in 1863. In 1864, on the death of his wife, Box moved to London where he became a publican again but without success. His final employment was as an attendant at the Prince's Cricket Ground in Chelsea. On 12 July 1876, during a Middlesex v Nottinghamshire match, he collapsed and died three hours later.
External sources
Further reading
- Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volume 1-5, Lillywhite, 1862