Bonnor Middleton

James "Bonnor" Middleton (30 September 1865 – 23 December 1913) was a South African cricketer who played in six Tests from 1896 to 1902. On his debut, he took five wickets in the first innings against England in Port Elizabeth in 1896.^[1]

Bonnor Middleton

Middleton in 1894
Personal information
Full name	James Middleton
Born	(1865-09-13)13 September 1865 Chester-le-Street, England
Died	23 December 1913(1913-12-23) (aged 48) Cape Town, Cape Province, South Africa
Nickname	Bonnor
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Left-arm slow-medium
International information
National side	South Africa
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 6 31 Runs scored 52 176 Batting average 7.42 6.06 100s/50s 0/0 0/0 Top score 22 32 Balls bowled 1064 5571 Wickets 24 140 Bowling average 18.41 18.02 5 wickets in innings 2 10 10 wickets in match 0 4 Best bowling 5/51 7/64 Catches/stumpings 1/– 14/–
Source: Cricinfo

Middleton served in the British Army until Cape Town Cricket Club bought his release so he could become their professional.^[2] A left-arm slow-medium opening bowler, Middleton played for Western Province from 1890–91 to 1903–04. His best first-class figures were 7 for 64 in the Currie Cup final against Transvaal in 1897–98. He took 12 for 100 in the match, which Western Province won.^[3]

Middleton was one of the leading players on South Africa's tour of England in 1894 when no Tests were played; in the South Africans' narrow victory over MCC at Lord's he bowled unchanged through both innings to take 6 for 48 and 6 for 35.^[4]

His nickname was given because of his resemblance, as a hard-hitting batsman, to the Australian Test cricketer George Bonnor.^[1] He died in Cape Town of heart failure after severe attacks of asthma and bronchitis.^[5]

See also

• List of South Africa cricketers who have taken five-wicket hauls on Test debut