James Southerton

Who was James Southerton?

James Southerton was a professional cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1854 and 1879. After a slow start, he became along with Alfred Shaw the greatest slow bowler of the 1870s.

Southerton began his cricketing life during the 1850s as a batsman, but apart from a few good scores in 1858, when he at times opened the batting and averaged 22 which in an era pre-dating the heavy roller was exceeded by only two players with more innings, he did little for Sussex in this role and played in none of the major first-class games in the following two seasons. In 1861, Southerton was engaged at Southampton and resided at the Antelope Ground until 1867. During this period Southerton, operating in a period before regulations prevented a played from turning out for more than one county in the same season, played for both Sussex and Hampshire.

It was not until 1865 that Southerton developed the slow bowling for which he was to gain belated fame and set many records. At a time when bowling was mainly fast round-arm, Southerton’s slower speed with its deceptive flight and sharp break was a challenge for batsmen that they did not adapt to easily.