Ian Gibson (cricketer)

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Ian Gibson (August 15, 1936 — May 3, 1963) was an English cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and leg-break bowler. He played first-class cricket between 1955 and 1961. He was born in Glossop and died in Bowdon.

Gibson began his cricketing career at the top level with Oxford University, having played for the Lancashire Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship since 1953. Gibson made his first-class debut against Gloucestershire, and playing fifteen first-class games in 1955. Gibson played as a lower-order batsman for Oxford, and took just four wickets with the ball during his first season.

He continued to play for the team the following season, with remarkably similar batting statistics, scoring three further half-centuries. 1957 saw Gibson pick up his County Championship debut, for Derbyshire against Nottinghamshire, in which he scored a half-century in his first innings. Gibson failed to retain the same form towards the end of his season, though Derbyshire finished the season in fourth place in the County Championship.

Gibson returned to play for Oxford University from the 1958 season onwards, retaining his position in the upper order at which he was not given the chance to bat during his short spell at Derbyshire, the team sticking with established batsman Arnold Hamer, at this time nearly forty-two years old and heading towards his final years in first-class cricket.

However, following the end of this season, he was only to appear for the team sporadically, retiring from the game in 1961 having played two matches for Marylebone Cricket Club and returning to play for the Derbyshire Second XI.

Gibson's career-best innings was one of precisely 100 not out, his sole first-class century, achieved in a draw for Oxford University against Gloucestershire in his penultimate year playing for the club.