Errol Holmes

Errol Holmes

Errol Holmes in 1947
Cricket information
Batting style	Right-hand bat
Bowling style	Right-arm medium fast
International information
National side	English
Career statistics
Competition Tests First-class Matches 5 301 Runs scored 114 13598 Batting average 16.28 32.84 100s/50s -/1 24/67 Top score 85* 236 Balls bowled 108 18297 Wickets 2 283 Bowling average 38.00 33.67 5 wickets in innings – 4 10 wickets in match – – Best bowling 1/10 6/16 Catches/stumpings 4/- 192/-
Source: [1]

Errol Reginald Thorold Holmes (21 August 1905 at Calcutta – 16 August 1960 in London), was a cricketer who played for Oxford University, Surrey and England.

A dashing right-handed batsman, Holmes believed that cricket was to be enjoyed and was an important figure in restoring the reputation of English cricket after the Bodyline controversy of the early 1930s. He succeeded the Bodyline captain Douglas Jardine as captain of Surrey in 1934 and resolutely refused to use short-pitched bowling in county matches. He also captained the "goodwill" MCC non-Test tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1935–36.

Holmes attended Park View School in South Godstone, Surrey, and St Andrew's School, Eastbourne, before going to Malvern College in Worcestershire in 1919, where he was coached at cricket by Charles Toppin. In a school match in 1922 he took 10 for 36 in an innings. He captained the First XI in 1923 and 1924. He first played for Surrey in 1924 before going up to Trinity College, Oxford.

Holmes came to prominence as a hard-hitting batsman for Oxford University from 1925 to 1927, also playing a few matches for Surrey and for the Gentlemen against the Players. He also bowled fast-medium, though it was reported that his run-up tended to be rather more fearsome than the bowling that resulted from it.