Monty Bowden

Who was Monty Bowden?

Montague Parker Bowden was an English cricketer and wicket-keeper, who played two Test matches against South Africa in 1888/9.

Bowden was born in Stockwell, Surrey, and educated at Dulwich College. Aged 23 years 144 days, he became England's youngest captain on 25 March 1889, when he captained England to victory in the second of his two Tests. Three years later he died in Umtali Hospital, Umtali, Rhodesia. Officially he died of epilepsy, although a fall from his cart, leading him to be trampled under the hooves of his own oxen contributed to his death. Umtali Hospital was nothing more than a glorified mud hut, where his body had to be protected from marauding lions, prior to being interred in a coffin made from whiskey cases.