Gubby Allen

Sir George Allen

Allen, photographed ca. 1932
Personal information
Full name	George Oswald Browning Allen
Born	(1902-07-31)31 July 1902 Bellevue Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Died	29 November 1989(1989-11-29) (aged 87) St John's Wood, London, England
Nickname	Gubby
Batting style	Right-hand
Bowling style	Right-arm fast
Role	All-rounder
International information
National side	England
Test debut	27 June 1930 v Australia
Last Test	1 April 1948 v West Indies
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1921–1950	Middlesex
1922–1923	Cambridge University
1923–1953	MCC
Career statistics
Competition Tests FC Matches 25 265 Runs scored 750 9233 Batting average 24.19 28.67 100s/50s 1/3 11/47 Top score 122 180 Balls bowled 4386 36189 Wickets 81 788 Bowling average 29.37 22.23 5 wickets in innings 5 48 10 wickets in match 1 9 Best bowling 7/80 10/40 Catches/stumpings 20/– 131/–
Source: CricketArchive, 28 March 2008

Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" AllenCBE (31 July 1902 – 29 November 1989) was a cricketer who captained England in eleven Test matches. In first-class matches, he played for Middlesex and Cambridge University. A fast bowler and hard-hitting lower-order batsman, Allen later became an influential cricket administrator who held key positions in the Marylebone Cricket Club, which effectively ruled English cricket at the time; he also served as chairman of the England selectors.

Allen was born in Australia but grew up in England from the age of six. After playing cricket for Eton College, he went to Cambridge University where he established a reputation as a fast bowler, albeit one who was often injured. After leaving university, Allen played mainly for Middlesex. He improved as a batsman in the following seasons until work commitments forced him to play less regularly. A change of career allowed him to play more cricket, and by the late 1920s he was on the verge of the England Test team. He made his debut in 1930, and remained in contention for a place, when he was available to play, for the rest of the decade. During the controversial bodyline tour of 1932–33, Allen was very successful for England but refused to use the intimidatory tactics employed by his team-mates.

From 1933, Allen worked in the , which limited the amount cricket he could play. Even so, he was appointed England captain in 1936 and led the team during the 1936–37 tour of Australia, when the home team won 3–2 having lost the first two matches. He continued to play for Middlesex until 1939; after the Second World War, in which he worked in Military Intelligence, he played irregularly into the 1950s. He captained England in a final Test series in the West Indies in 1947–48. As a cricketer, Allen was affected by his lack of regular play and was at his most effective during his two tours of Australia when he was able to build up his form. At other times, his bowling was often erratic but occasionally devastating. An orthodox batsman, he often scored runs when his team were under pressure.