Jim Watts

Patrick James 'Jim' Watts (born, 16 June 1940, Henlow, Bedfordshire) was a professional cricketer who spent his entire career at Northamptonshire.

Watts was educated at Stratton School, Biggleswade,Beds His brother, leg-spinner Peter, also played for Northamptonshire between 1958 and 1966 and notched up 158 County appearances. As the 1978 season began, Watts' wife became seriously ill and subsequently died. Cricket's importance diminished rapidly but he bravely returned to the side in July of that year.

Watts made his Northamptonshire debut as an eighteen-year-old in 1959, and reached 1,000 runs in each of his first four seasons, receiving his county cap in 1962. He was a significant figure in the 1965 Championship challenge, heading the batting averages with 1,211 runs at 31.05 and picking up 44 wickets. Watts asked to be released in 1966; but he was fit enough to set a new Northants County League record two years later, claiming 10–10 for Rushden against Kettering. Twice he took on the captaincy in very difficult circumstances, and twice he left the side in an immeasurably better state than he found it. In the autumn of 1970, Northamptonshire faced the future without the services of Roger Prideaux, Brian Reynolds and Albert Lightfoot, and with Mushtaq Mohammad expected to miss a good part of the following summer on tour with Pakistan. Watts, only back at Wantage Road for a season after three years out of the county game, was the committee's choice to take charge. The 1971 season was the first as captain and marked it with 1,311 runs, and the following August led Northamptonshire to a hugely satisfying seven-wicket victory over Ian Chappell's Australians. 'The better side won' observed secretary Ken Turner. It was, for Watts, 'the greatest moment since I became captain.' Northamptonshire finished fourth, third and third again in the Championship before Watts handed over the baton to concentrate on his teaching career. Another highlight before he resigned was the 59-run John Player League triumph over one-day specialists Lancashire in 1974, it was Watts' benefit match and he marked the occasion with 61 runs.