Arthur Gilligan

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Arthur Gilligan
England (Eng)
Arthur Gilligan
Batting style Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type Right arm fast medium
Tests First-class
Matches 11 337
Runs scored 209 9140
Batting average 16.07 20.08
100s/50s 0/0 12/26
Top score 39* 144
Balls bowled 2404 42650
Wickets 36 868
Bowling average 29.05 23.20
5 wickets in innings 2 42
10 wickets in match 1 4
Best bowling 6/7 8/25
Catches/stumpings 3/0 181/0

Test debut: 23 December 1922
Last Test: 4 March 1925
Source: [1]

Arthur Edward Robert Gilligan (born 23 December 1894 in London, died 5 September 1976 in Pulborough, Sussex) was an English cricketer who played for Cambridge University, Sussex, Surrey and England.

He captained England on 9 occasions, winning four, losing four and drawing once. His brother Harold Gilligan captained England in four later Test matches, making them the only brothers to have both captained England.

The Arthur Gilligan Stand at Hove, the home of Sussex County Cricket Club.
The Arthur Gilligan Stand at Hove, the home of Sussex County Cricket Club.

In 1924, he and his county colleague Maurice Tate had great success as England's opening attack against South Africa. Gilligan took 6/7 and Tate 4/12 on his Test debut, as the visitors were dismissed for 30 in just 12.3 overs in the first innings of the First Test, played at Edgbaston. Gilligan could take much credit for Tate's success as well as his own, as in 1922 he had spotted the then off-spinning all-rounder's potential as a fast-medium bowler.

As well as being a useful lower-middle order batsman, good enough to make 12 first-class centuries, at this stage of his career Gilligan was bowling genuinely fast. But in a match during that 1924 season he was hit over the heart when batting. He was badly hurt but carried on playing, and in the second innings made 112 in 90 minutes. Afterwards he was never able to bowl truly fast again, and was reduced to being a change bowler.

Gilligan was Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1924. In 1967 he was president of the Marylebone Cricket Club. After he retired from playing cricket, Gilligan became a popular radio commentator forging a partnership with renowned Australian commentator Vic Richardson.

Preceded by
Frank Mann
English national cricket captain
1924-1924/5
Succeeded by
Arthur Carr

[edit] External reference