George Summers (cricketer)

George Summers

Personal information
Full name	George Summers
Born	21 June 1844 Nottingham, England
Died	19 June 1870 (aged 25) Nottingham, England
Batting style	Right-handed
Role	Batsman
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1867–1870	Nottinghamshire
Career statistics
Competition FC Matches 32 Runs scored 922 Batting average 15.89 100s/50s –/1 Top score 57 Balls bowled 0 Wickets – Bowling average – 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling – Catches/stumpings 15/–
Source: , 11 June 2012

George Summers (21 June 1844 – 19 June 1870) 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.

References

• Simon Rae, W.G.Grace: A Life, 1998, ISBN 978-0-571-17855-1, p92
• Cricinfo player profile
• Dangerous Games