John Bridger

Reverend John Richard Bridger (8 April 1920 – 14 July 1986) was an English cricketer. Bridger was a right-handed batsman and a leg break bowler.

Bridger was educated at Rugby School, where he played cricket for the school from 1935 to 1938. In one match in which he captained the Rugby side Bridger scored 153 runs in three hours, held four catches in the Marlborough first innings and took 5/54. Bridger later went to Clare College, Cambridge University, where as a Theology student he was exempt from military service in World War II.

Bridger made his first-class debut in 1945 for an Under-33 side against an Over-33 side at Lord's, scoring 49 in the Under-33's first innings. In 1946 he played his only game for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Cambridge University, where he scored his maiden half century, making 94 runs.

He made his County Championship debut for Hampshire in 1946 against local rivals Sussex, scoring 50. In his second match of the season against Middlesex, he scored his maiden first-class century with a score of 142. Bridger's second century would come in 1953 when he made 102 against Worcestershire.

Bridger made 38 first-class appearances for Hampshire between 1946 and 1954. In 1954 he was awarded his County Cap, and captained the side in his last five first-class matches in August. In his 38 first-class matches for the club, he scored 1,725 runs at an average of 27.82, with a highest score of 142. He made two centuries and 10 fifties and took 29 catches. He had a reputation as an excellent fielder.

Bridger died in a road accident at Burley, Hampshire on 14 July 1986.

External links

• John Bridger at Cricinfo
• John Bridger at CricketArchive
• Matches and detailed statistics for John Bridger