Ernest Shorrocks

Who was Ernest Shorrocks?

Ernest Shorrocks, born at Rhodes, Middleton, Greater Manchester, on 12 March 1875, and died at Thiepval, France on 20 July 1916, played in one first-class cricket match for Somerset in the 1905 season.

A professional who batted in the lower order and bowled 20 overs in his one match, Shorrocks was picked for the Somerset match against Lancashire at Taunton. He took the wickets of Reggie Spooner and James Hallows for 60 runs as Lancashire made 401 on the first day, then made 0 and an unbeaten 16 as Somerset were beaten by an innings. He was one of three Somerset debutants in the match; for one of the others, Alfred Trestrail, this was also the only first-class match. The third, John Harcombe, played six further matches for Somerset up to 1919.

Shorrocks was a serjeant in the 20th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers and died in the First World War in the fighting on the Somme. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.