Mann George Image 1 Cambridge University 1939

Description

Byfleet, Surrey born right-hand middle order batsman George Mann was educated at Eton College and captained the school’s cricket XI in 1936, before going up to Pembroke College, Cambridge University, where he earned two cricketing Blues, having represented the University in 1938 and 1939. He had made his first class debut for Middlesex in 1937 and played several matches for them in the pre-war seasons.

With the outbreak of the Second World War Mann served in the British Army, having joined up before the outbreak of war. On 8th July 1939, he was commissioned in the Royal Welch Fusiliers as a second lieutenant. He transferred to the Scots Guards on 13th March 1940. He was awarded the Military Cross (MA) in 1942. On 28th June 1945, the then temporary major Mann was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) “in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy”. In one judgment he was assessed as “the best regimental officer in the British Army”.

Mann maintained his links with the army after the War. On 8th July 1949, he was moved from the Supplementary Reserve of Officers to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, and was granted the honorary rank of major. Having reached the age limit, he resigned his commission on 6th September 1967 and was permitted to retain his honorary rank.

Needing time to recuperate from wounds, he did not return to cricket seriously until 1947, when he played in the majority of Middlesex’s usually victorious matches of that summer. He occasionally deputised as captain for Walter Robins, and took on the role full-time in 1948 and 1949 with consummate style, leading Middlesex to third and then a shared first place. Such were his personal appeal and practical skills that he was invited to take M.C.C. to South Africa in the winter of 1948-49.

Mann captained England in each of his seven Test matches, winning two, and drawing the other five; he continued another family achievement by captaining England – his father had also been captain in every Test he played in, making them the first father and son to both captain England, Colin and Chris Cowdrey are the only other father and son to have done this for England.

His England debut came against South Africa at Durban in December 1948. Wisden said of Mann: “as a captain he was ideal, zealous to a degree, and considerate in all things at all times”. He made the highest score of his career in all first class cricket in the Fifth Test at Port Elizabeth, when he scored an unbeaten 136 in the first innings as England won by 3 wickets. After leading England in South Africa in 1948-49, Mann led his side for two Tests in the following summer against New Zealand before he stood down, citing inability to participate regularly due to his family’s brewing business commitments (Mann, Crossman & Paulin), and Freddie Brown appointed in his place.

He also resigned the Middlesex captaincy after that summer, from then on, most of his cricket was at a minor level. He played his last first class match in 1958 for the Free Foresters.

Mann was chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) from 1978 to 1983. He was therefore chairman during the controversy over the rebel tour which Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch led to South Africa in 1982. Additionally, he was President of M.C.C. in 1984-85 and Chairman of the Cricket Council in 1983. He was appointed CBE in 1983. Ken Cranston, born a month after George Mann and, with Mann’s death aged 83 in 2001, England’s senior captain by age as well as service (he temporarily captained England in the West Indies in 1947-48), remembered his friend, contemporary and sometime Middlesex adversary as “a charming, gentlemanly figure from the old-world tradition of cricket”.

In all his 166 first class matches, made 6,350 runs at an average of 25.91 with 7 centuries and 32 half centuries; in Tests, he scored 376 runs at 37.60. He also took 3 first class wickets as an occasional bowler with a best return of 2-16, and took 72 catches in first class play.

He was the elder son of Frank Mann, who played for Middlesex and captained England in South Africa in 1922-23, his younger brother John Mann also played for Cambridge University and Middlesex either side of the Second World War.

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