James Cobbett

Who was James Cobbett?

James Cobbett was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1826 to 1841 for Middlesex, Surrey and Yorkshire. Considered by many - according to The Cricketer and Wisden - to be "the finest allrounder of his day", Cobbett was a right-handed batsman, occasional wicket-keeper and right arm slow roundarm bowler.

Cobbett began as an MCC ground staff bowler who occasionally stood as umpire. He started a playing career with Middlesex in 1826, as Surrey - the county of his birth - featured little in first-class cricket at the time. He played only once for them in 1839, as well as matches for Yorkshire in 1835. He represented the Players in the Gentlemen v Players series and the South in the North v. South series. But it was for the MCC between 1830 and 1841, that he made most of his appearances: 47 in all, scoring 78 runs and taking 311 wickets.