Thomas Box

For the American Civil War soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, see Thomas J. Box.

Thomas Box (7 February 1808 – 12 July 1876) was a famous English cricketer who is remembered as one of the most outstanding wicketkeepers of the 19th century.

Thomas Box

Personal information
Born	7 February 1808 Ardingly, Sussex, England
Died	12 July 1876 (aged 68) Prince's Cricket Ground, London, England
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Batting	Right-handed
Domestic team information
Years	Team
	Sussex
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 247 Runs scored 4,936 Batting average 11.95 100s/50s 0/0 Top score 79 Balls bowled 66+ Wickets 8 Bowling average 13.20 5 wickets in innings 1 10 wickets in match 0 Best bowling 5/45 Catches/stumpings 236/162
Source: Cricinfo, 16 April 2022

Player

Box played in important matches from 1826 to 1856. Although he played several matches for Marylebone Cricket Club, Hampshire and Surrey, he was most closely linked with cricket in his native county of Sussex. He played for the Sussex team during the early years of roundarm bowling when his colleagues included Jem Broadbridge and William Lillywhite. He was a member of the Sussex team when the county club was founded in 1839 and continued to play for the club until he retired.

In all, Box is known to have played in 248 important matches. He was a right-handed batsman who occasionally made useful scores. He had 456 innings, in 43 of which he was not out, and scored 4,936 runs at an average of 11.95 with a highest score of 79. He scored 8 half-centuries. He bowled very rarely, style unknown, and took just 8 wickets but with a best analysis of 5/45.

As a wicketkeeper, he was highly successful and his known career record of 236 catches and 162 stumpings is outstanding.

Groundsman

In 1843 Sussex County Cricket Club granted Box a benefit match and the proceeds enabled him to lease the Hanover Arms public house in Lewes Road, Brighton. This had the Royal New Ground attached and Box was called upon to manage the matches taking place there. As a result, it became popularly known as "Box's Ground". Sussex County Cricket Club used it until September 1847, after which Box leased the Royal Brunswick Ground, also in Hove, and the club moved there.

Box relinquished the lease of the Brunswick Ground to the club in 1863. In 1864, on the death of his wife, Box moved to London where he became a publican again but without success. His final employment was as an attendant at the Prince's Cricket Ground in Chelsea. On 12 July 1876, during a Middlesex v Nottinghamshire match, he collapsed and died three hours later.

External sources

• Media related to Thomas Box at Wikimedia Commons