A profile of Jack Iddon by Dave Liverman

---

Player:

J Iddon

---

Jack Iddon was a useful all-rounder who combined forceful right hand batting with slow left-arm orthodox spin, over fifteen seasons with Lancashire. Brought up in a cricketing family - his father was Lancaster's professional for a number of years – he made his debut for Lancashire in 1924, and over the next fifteen seasons scored over 22,000 runs, including 46 centuries. He became an important part of a successful Lancashire team that won the Championship five times during his career, his hard hitting batting being complemented by his left-arm spin that was particularly effective on worn pitches. His best bowling came in the 1937 Roses match, where his 9/42 in the second innings led Lancashire to their first win over Yorkshire in five years.

He toured the West Indies in 1934/35, and played in four Tests, mostly as a batsman. He made a useful 73 in a losing cause in the Second Test. After making 54 in the first innings of the final Test was asked to open when England followed on, but made a duck. He played his final Test against South Africa in 1935, and then returned to the county ranks.

He had a successful career as a technical representative for a Manchester company, and had hoped to return to play as an amateur after the war. Unfortunately he was killed in a car accident after he had only the briefest of opportunities to do so.

(Article: Copyright © 2003 Dave Liverman)