Knott John Image 1 Oxford University 1924

Description

Tunbridge Wells, Kent born Charles Harold “John” Knott was an amateur cricketer who played mainly for Kent and Oxford University, making a total of 136 first class cricket appearances during his career. Knott was educated at Tonbridge School, where he had been a prolific scorer, hitting 220 against Lancing, and made his first class debut for Kent soon after finishing school in 1921, appearing in a County Championship against Nottinghamshire. He then attended Oxford University, gaining a cricket Blue and playing in three Varsity matches between 1922 and 1924.

He continued playing for Kent during his years at university before becoming a teacher at Tonbridge where he was master-in-charge of cricket, coaching, amongst others, Colin Cowdrey, spending 40 years with the school as a pupil and employee between 1915 and 1955. Knott was considered a powerful batsman who could drive effectively. He played for Kent mainly during the school holidays when not working. He had a highest first class score of 261 not out for Oxford Harlequins against the 1928 West Indians at Eastbourne, his side piling up 676-8 and winning the match by an innings. Knott’s six hour innings contained five sixes, a five and 29 fours, and he had stands of 233 with Reg Bettington and 160 in under an hour with A.J. Evans. He also later toured Egypt with six of H.M. Martineau’s expeditions.

In his first class career that lasted until 1939, Knott scored 5,633 runs at an average of 31.46 with 9 centuries and 31 half centuries, and also took 24 wickets bowling legbreaks at an average of 27.50, with a best return of 4-24. He was a fine cover fielder and took 66 catches in first class play.

Before his death aged 87 in 1988 he was the oldest living Kent player and the oldest to have gained a cricket Blue at Oxford.

Knott’s older brother Freddie also played cricket for Oxford University and Kent in the period before the First World War and after the War appeared infrequently due to his wounds for Kent’s Second XI, for H.D.G. Leveson-Gower’s XI and played once for Sussex in 1926.

NB in the photograph he wears an Oxford University blazer.

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