Profile of Cyril Washbrook on Famous Like Me

Cyril Washbrook England (Eng)
Batting style	Right-handed batsman (RHB)
Bowling type	Right arm medium
	Tests	First-class
Matches	37	592
Runs scored	2,569	34,101
Batting average	42.81	42.67
100s/50s	6/12	27/83
Top score	195	251*
Balls bowled	36	474
Wickets	1	7
Bowling average	33.00	44.14
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	0
Best bowling	1/25	2/8
Catches/stumpings	12/0	212/0
Test debut: 14 August 1937 Last Test: 28 August 1956 Source:

Cyril Washbrook (born 6 December 1914 in Barrow, Clitheroe, Lancashire; died 27 April 1999 in Sale, Cheshire) was a noted cricketer who played for Lancashire and England. He had a long career, split by the Second World War, and ending when he was 44. Washbrook, who is most famous for opening the batting for England with Len Hutton, which he did 51 times, played a total of 592 first-class cricket matches, of which 37 were Tests. Washbrook was named one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1947.

After being schooled at Bridgnorth Grammar School, aged 18, Washbrook went to Lancashire County Cricket Club, though it wasn't until two years later, in 1935, that he was fully established in the side, after scoring 1,724 runs and coming fifth in the national averages. He was selected to play his first Test in 1937, against New Zealand at the Oval. However, he could only make 9 and 8 not out, and wasn't selected for the Australian Tests the next year.

The War then interrupted his career, with Washbrook becoming a physical training instructor in the Royal Air Force, and so it wasn't until the Ashes tour of 1946/7 that he finally took on Australia. Hutton and Washbrook made three consecutive century stands, as Washbrook, with his cricket cap cocked in a jaunty style, became a familiar figure to cricket fans in Australia and England.

Washbrook was a strong leg side players, and noted for his hooks and pulls, and was at his greatest in the late 1940s. Washbrook was made one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1947, and was awarded a benefit by Lancashire in 1948, which raised £14,000. By 1950/1, he was a reluctant tourist, and was beaten many times by Australia's spinner, Jack Iverson. After the first Test of 1951 against New Zealand, he was dropped from the Test side, reputedly against the wishes of the England cricket captain, his batting partner Len Hutton. His average partnership with Len Hutton in Tests was 60.

In 1954 Washbrook was appointed Lancashire's first ever professional captain, a role he held on till 1959, when he was awarded a second benefit, which raised £1,520. In 1956 Washbrook was appointed a Test selector - and in 1956, aged 41, he was selected to play himself.

After England had lost the Second Test against Australia at Lord's to go one-nil down in the five match series, the 41 year old was asked by his fellow selectors to leave the room. When he returned, they asked him if he would play in the Third Test at Headingley. Washbrook made 98, sharing a stand of 187 with May after England had been reduced to 17 for three. England won the game, and Washbrook stayed in the team, scoring just 6 in the Fourth Test at Old Trafford, in which Jim Laker took his record-breaking 19 wickets as England went two-one up. The Fifth Test at the Oval saw Washbrook's last Test innings, a duck, but with the game drawn, England had won the Ashes.

From 1989 to 1990 Washbrook was president of Lancashire.

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