Maurice Jewell
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Maurice Frederick Stewart Jewell, CBE (15 September 1885 - 28 May 1978) was an English cricketer: a right-handed batsman and slow left arm bowler who played the bulk of his first-class cricket for Worcestershire between the wars. His first-class statistics were relatively modest (4,118 runs at 18.85; 104 wickets at 33.15), but his dedication to Worcestershire kept them going through lean times. He had three stints at captaining the county, in 1920-21, 1926 and 1928-29: his obituary in Wisden said that "he was prepared to step into the breach when no one else would".[1]
Jewell was born in Iquique, Chile. His first-class debut came in 1909 for Worcestershire against Oxford University in a 12-a-side match; he batted at number ten and scored 10 not out and 4. With the exception of one outing for Surrey's seconds two years later, his next appearance was not to be until 1913, when he played for HK Foster's XI: again against Oxford University, and again in a 12-a-side game. In 1914, Jewell finally appeared in the County Championship, having a qualification, he appeared for Sussex. When county cricket resumed in 1919, he played five times for Sussex in the Championship (taking his first wicket, that of Andy Ducat, in June) but also appeared for Worcestershire (who did not re-enter the Championship until the following season) in a number of first-class friendly matches. It was in the last of these, in late August, that he took 7-56 against Warwickshire; these were to remain his career-best bowling figures.
From 1920 onwards, he appeared for Worcestershire. Not always able to play regularly, his best year, he hit 920 runs at 27.05, was 1926. when he compiled his only two centuries: 103 and 125, scored opening the batting in each of two matches against Hampshire. He also claimed 22 wickets, including 5-69 against Leicestershire. He toured Argentina with MCC that winter, though with very little personal success.
Jewell played little from 1930 onwards because of ill-health, and his final first-class game came in 1933, when he made 3 and 16 against the touring West Indians. Thereafter he maintained his association with Worcestershire, serving as President in the early 1950s. He died in Whiteleaf, Buckinghamshire at the age of 92.
Several of Jewell's relations played first-class cricket: his brothers Arthur and John both played for Orange Free State (Arthur also appeared for Worcestershire) and his nephew (also John) played twice for Worcestershire in 1939. His brother-in-law William Taylor also captained Worcestershire.
[edit] References
- ^ Obituaries in 1978. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack 1979.
