George Summers

Who was George Summers?

George Summers was an English cricketer. He played all his first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire.

In the match against MCC at Lord's in 1870, Summers was hit by a short delivery from John Platts, at the time a fast bowler. He was carried off the field. He seemed to recover, and was not taken to hospital, but went by train back to Nottingham. He died from his injury four days later. Lord's at the time was renowned for being a poor pitch. After Summers' death, efforts were made to improve it, and MCC paid for his gravestone. The death of Summers ensured that the bowler never bowled fast again.

As a protest against what he saw as dangerous bowling, the next batsman - Richard Daft - came out to the wicket with his head wrapped in a towel.