James Saunders (cricketer)

James Saunders (27 May 1802 at Haslemere, Surrey – 27 March 1832 at Haslemere) was an English cricketer in the 19th century. He was a noted left-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "showy" batsman whose favourite shot was the square cut: S&B says that Saunders was "renowned" for this shot and that he "fetches runs very fast".

He played for numerous first-class teams but he was mainly attached to Sussex (1823 - 1825), Kent (1827) and Surrey (1828 - 1830). He also played for MCC.

Saunders was about 5'11" tall and weighed about 12 stones. He lived his whole life in Haslemere where he was a butcher. He died very young of consumption and S&B records that he was not fit to play during his last two years, though he still would not abandon the game. S&B concludes that he was a "great batsman" who had scarcely reached his prime.

He belonged to a cricketing family. His cousins were Richard Searle (born October 1789 at Lurgashall in Sussex), who played three matches for Sussex between 1823 and 1825; and his better known brother William Searle.

In the 1824 season, Saunders was the leading runscorer with 267 @ 24.27. In 1827, although Yorkshire's Tom Marsden was the leading runscorer with 308 runs @ 25.66, he was just ahead of Saunders, then with Kent, who had 299 @ 24.91 including the season's only first-class century. This score of exactly 100 was his career high. Given the prevailing conditions, a century in those times was the statistical equivalent of a triple century today. In 1830, Saunders was the third highest scorer behind the great Fuller Pilch and his own cousin William Searle.

James Saunders made his known debut in the 1822 season and had 54 known appearances in major matches to the 1831 season. He scored 2180 runs @ 24.22 with a highest score of 100, which is an outstanding record given the prevailing pitch conditions of his time. His record as a fielder and wicket-keeper is also very good with 43 catches and 31 stumpings. He rarely bowled.

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