James Heap

For the American businessman and politician, see James C. Heap.

James Sutcliffe Heap (12 August 1882 – 30 January 1951) was an English cricketer who played for Lancashire from 1903 to 1921 after graduating from the Lancashire League where he played for his hometown club, Lowerhouse.

James Heap

James Heap from a collection of English county cricketers cigarette cards
Personal information
Full name	James Sutcliffe Heap
Born	(1882-08-12)12 August 1882 Burnley, Lancashire, England
Died	30 January 1951(1951-01-30) (aged 68) Stoneclough, Bolton, Lancashire, England
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Slow left-arm orthodox
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1903–1921	Lancashire
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 210 Runs scored 5,146 Batting average 18.98 100s/50s 1/27 Top score 132 not out Balls bowled 23,458 Wickets 412 Bowling average 23.08 5 wickets in innings 25 10 wickets in match 5 Best bowling 9/43 Catches/stumpings 76/–
Source: Cricinfo, 23 August 2023

Heap appeared in 210 first-class matches as a slow left-arm orthodox spin bowler who batted left-handed in the lower or middle order. He had a "beautiful natural action".^[1] He often suffered from severe lumbago, which affected his bowling. Neville Cardus wrote:

James Heap was a slow left-hand spinner with a charming action, a little jump, right hand pointing to heaven, side to the batsman, then a "swing-through" of easeful rhythm. On a "sticky" wicket he could bowl as dangerously as Rhodes himself; but his misfortune was lumbago.^[2]

Heap scored 5,146 runs at an average of 18.98 with a highest score of 132 not out and held 74 catches. He took 412 wickets with a best analysis of 9 for 43 (after 5 for 50 in the first innings) against Northamptonshire at Northampton in 1910.^[3] He saved some of his best performances for the Roses Match – in 1909 he recorded match figures of 11 for 95 at Bradford,^[4] and 11 for 39 at Manchester in the first match of the 1913 season.^[5] Lancashire organised a benefit for him in his final season, 1921, which realised £1,804.^[6]