Billy Gunn (cricketer)

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Billy Gunn
England (Eng)
Billy Gunn
Batting style Right-handed batsman
Bowling type Underarm Right-arm slow
Tests First-class
Matches 11 521
Runs scored 392 25,691
Batting average 21.77 33.02
100s/50s 1/1 48/117
Top score 102* 273
Balls bowled 0 3,540
Wickets 0 76
Bowling average n/a 23.68
5 wickets in innings 0 2
10 wickets in match 0 1
Best bowling n/a 6/48
Catches/stumpings 5/0 333/1

Test debut: 28 January 1887
Last Test: 3 June 1899
Source: [1]

William (Billy) Gunn (born 4 December 1858 in St Anne's, Nottingham, England; died 29 January 1921 in Standard Hill, Nottingham, England) was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club in a first-class career that lasted from 1880 to 1904. He also played eleven Test matches for England.

He was also a first class amateur football player for Notts County FC and played twice for England, scoring once in the inaugural British Home Championship.

He had a superb season in 1889, which earned him the accolade of Wisden Batsman of the Year. He first appeared for Nottinghamshire in 1880, and, though his efforts in a dozen matches for the county that season only resulted in an average of 10, it was yet evident from the outset that a batsman of more than ordinary promise had been discovered. Like all other cricketers he was far more successful in some seasons than others, and Wisden, when reporting on the accolade it had given Gunn in 1890 noted that the whole his career was one of steady progress, with the summer of 1889 finding him in a higher position than he had ever occupied before.

Gunn was approximately 6 ft 2 in tall, and we think we are correct in saying that no batsman of the same height has ever played in more elegant and perfect form. Even before he rose to his fame as a batsman, Gunn was one of the most brilliant fields in the country, and it was the general opinion of practical cricketers of his era that in the long field and at third man he had never had a superior. Gunn was a member of Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury's team in Australia during the season of 1886/7, and averaged 21.8 in eleven-a-side matches, and 20.7 in all matches.

For several years Gunn was one of the most brilliant forwards in the country at Association football, but latterly gave up the game, reserving himself entirely for cricket. He founded the sports equipment firm Gunn and Moore in 1885, and became the first former professional cricketer to serve on a County committee. His nephews, George and John both represented England.

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