James Parfitt

James John Alexander Parfitt (23 December 1857 – 17 May 1926) was an amateur English cricketer who played fourteen first-class cricket matches during a career that spanned from 1881 until 1885. He played for both Surrey and Somerset during this time, and later appeared for Warwickshire in second-class cricket.

Life and career

Parfitt was educated at Prior Park College in Bath, and from there went up to London University. He worked in education for a time, acting as a tutor at Lord Petre's School in Weybridge, Surrey and for three years at The Oratory School in Edgbaston, Birmingham. He was called to the bar in 1887, and appointed as a Queen's Counsel in 1908.^[1]

Cricket career

Parfitt began his cricket career in 1881 at Surrey County Cricket Club. His debut came on 11 August against Yorkshire, in which he claimed three first-innings wickets.^[2] In his second match, a week later, Parfitt returned the best figures of his first-class career, taking seven wickets during the first innings, every one of them bowled. He collected another three wickets in the second innings to complete his only ten-wicket haul.^[3] In the six first-class matches he played during his maiden season, Parfitt took 22 wickets at an average of 17.95.^[4] He appeared just twice for Surrey in 1882, taking two wickets.

He played his first match for Somerset in August 1883, during which he scored his largest total with the bat, remaining unbeaten on 41 runs when Somerset were dismissed in their second innings against Gloucestershire.^[5] He appeared for the county in four matches in 1883, and then twice more during 1885, his final first-class match being played 10–12 August 1885, between Somerset and Surrey. He claimed one wicket in the match, which Somerset lost by an innings and 301 runs to Parfitt's former club.^[6] He played one second-class match for Warwickshire in 1886, batting at number six against Staffordshire.^[7]

References