Cox George Jr Image 2 Sussex 1938

Description

Warnham, Sussex born right-handed batsman George Cox Junior was primarily known as an attacking batsman, but also bowled occasional right-arm medium-pace and in his youth a fine cover fielder. Cox made his debut for Sussex against Essex at Chelmsford in 1931 three years after his father, George Cox Senior had retired. He was awarded his County cap in 1935, in a season when he made 162 against Hampshire. He went on to play 455 first class matches through to 1961, including one match in 1945 for The RAF against Yorkshire, such that either he or his father appeared for Sussex in 8 distinct decades. Cox made 22,949 runs at an average of 32.92, that included 50 centuries and 97 half centuries, with a highest score of 234 not out against The Indians at Hove in 1946. He scored 1,000 runs or more in thirteen of his seasons at the County. With his bowling he took 192 wickets at 30.91 apiece, and his best return of 6-125 was one of three career five wicket hauls, and held 141 catches.

He made his first double century for Sussex in 1939, scoring 232 against Northamptonshire, following that innings with 182 against Lancashire the next match. In 1949, Headingley became the scene of one of Cox Jr’s magical performances. After disposing of Sussex for a mere 181, Yorkshire replied with 520-7. Sussex began their second innings with a mammoth deficit of 339, and were soon in trouble when their third wicket fell at 116. It was at this point of the game that Cox joined James Langridge at the crease. At the end of the drawn game, the Sussex total read 442-3, with Langridge unbeaten on 133 in 405 minutes with 14 fours and Cox unbeaten on 212 in 320 minutes with 36 fours. Sussex awarded Cox Jr a benefit season in 1951 that raised him £6,620, and his appearances became less frequent from the late 1950’s, with only one appearance per season in his final two seasons, 1960 and 1961.

Cox also played football as a centre forward for Arsenal, whom he joined in November 1933 from Horsham. Cox made his Football League debut at Leicester City in March 1934 and stayed at Highbury for the following three years, where he played predominantly in the Football Combination. In the Combination, Cox scored 53 times in 75 games for The Gunners. He played seven times for the first team, scoring once for the club in a 4-0 win at Derby County in March 1936. In the summer of 1936, Cox moved to Second Division Fulham for a transfer fee of £150 but again found himself mainly on the fringes. After a sole season with Fulham, where he scored 3 goals in 6 appearances including a brace on his Cottagers debut in a 5-3 defeat at Nottingham Forest, Cox joined Luton Town in the 1937 close season, however he failed to break through into The Hatters’ first eleven and retired from football to concentrate on his cricket.

He was later a cricket coach at Winchester from 1960 to 1964 and also continued to appear for Sussex Second XI, and he also coached in South Africa in the 1950’s.

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