John Platts

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John Platts (November 23, 1848 — August 6, 1898) was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman and a right-arm round-arm slow bowler, with the added bonus of some occasionally fiendish pace to his straight-arm action.

Prior to the genesis of his main team, Derbyshire, Platts played a single game for Marylebone Cricket Club in 1870, however, his thirteen-year spell at Derbyshire, commencing with the very first match that the team played, against Lancashire, is what he is best known for.

Platts played steadily and continuously throughout the early 1870s, in a lower-middle order batting position, and, as the decade progressed, Platts moved further up the order as he became more confident in his batting ability, while still being able to put in a good innings with the ball. Continuing with the team well into the 1880s, Platts played against a lineup of Australians several times during the early part of the decade, fixtures intended to help the young members of the international side do their homework for possible upcoming Test fixtures against England.

After the final one of these in which he participated, Platts played one final game, and, having continued steadily up the order during his career, played his penultimate game as an opener, a testament to his persistence and skill.

Platts, sometimes known by his initials, JTBD Platts, was born in Chellaston and died in Derby at the age of 49.

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