Jack Davies

Who was Jack Davies?

Jack Gale Wilmot Davies was an English cricketer, rugby union player and psychologist.

Jack Davies was educated at Tonbridge and St John's College, Cambridge, where he won a classical scholarship. He was an all-round academic and sportsman. He played cricket for Kent as an off-spinner during the summer holidays and rugby union for Blackheath F.C. in the winter. He also won the rugby fives national singles title three times and took a second degree in psychology. Playing for Cambridge University against the touring Australians in 1934, he bowled Don Bradman for a duck.

He joined the War Office at the onset of war as chief psychologist in the Directorate of Personnel Selection.

In the early 1950s, he returned to Cambridge University as Secretary of the University Appointments Board. He was also an executive director of the Bank of England and an occasional journalist with the Daily Telegraph.

After retiring from county cricket he played for MCC in the annual first-class match against Cambridge University from 1953 to 1961, captaining the side on the last seven occasions. He was a member of the MCC Committee and became Treasurer and President.