Gubby Allen
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Categories: English cricketers | English Test cricketers | English cricket captains | Middlesex cricketers | Cambridge University cricketers | Old Etonians | Alumni of Trinity College, Cambridge | Cricketing knights | Knights Bachelor | Commanders of the Order of the British Empire | 1902 births | 1989 deaths
Sir George Oswald Browning Allen, CBE (known as Gubby Allen) (born 31 July 1902, Bellevue Hill, Sydney, Australia; died 29 November 1989, St John's Wood, London) was an Australian-born English cricketer, renowned as both a bowler and batsman, who played 25 Tests for England and was captain in 11 of them. Educated at Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge, he began his First Class career playing for Cambridge University, being awarded two blues. Between 1921 and 1950 he played for Middlesex and in 1930 was called to make his Test debut, in the 2nd Test against Australia at Lord's. During the famous Bodyline series he strongly disagreed with the controversial tactics of Douglas Jardine, the English captain, but still took 21 wickets. He still holds the all-time Test record partnership for the 8th wicket with Leslie Ames of 246 against New Zealand in 1931, and took all ten wickets in an innings for only 40 runs playing for Middlesex against Lancashire in 1929. After retiring from the county game for Middlesex game in 1950, Allen remained an influential figure in cricket. He played until 1954 and scored an unbeaten first class century (143*) against Cambridge University for the Free Foresters in 1953 [2]. He chaired the selection panel for the England cricket team between 1955 and 1961. As a selector has been criticised for having been "...happiest in the company of clipped accents and a background that incorporated all the social graces" [3]. He was knighted for services to cricket in 1986. During his retirement he remained a regular fixture at Lord's Cricket Ground and around the Middlesex team. The MCC rented a house to him -- maintained by the groundstaff -- and a personal gate led from his garden into the ground, and he was granted his own key to the pavilion.
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