George Summers (cricketer)

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George Summers
England
Personal information
Full name George Summers
Born 21 June 1844 (1844-06-21)
Nottingham, England
Died 19 June 1870 (aged 25)
Nottingham, England
Role Batsman
Batting style Right-handed
Domestic team information
Years Team
1867–1870 Nottinghamshire
Career statistics
FC
Matches 32
Runs scored 922
Batting average 15.89
100s/50s –/15
Top score 57
Balls bowled 0
Wickets –
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings –
10 wickets in match –
Best bowling –
Catches/stumpings 15/–

As of 19 June 1870
Source: Cricinfo

George Summers (born June 21, 1844, died June 19, 1870) was an English cricketer. He played all his first-class cricket for Nottinghamshire.

Summers is the only cricketer known to have died as a result of being hit on the head during a match. In the match against MCC at Lord's in 1870, Summers was hit by a short delivery from John Platts, at the time a fast bowler. He was carried off the field. He seemed to recover, and was not taken to hospital, but went by train back to Nottingham. He died from his injury four days later. Lord's at the time was renowned for being a poor pitch. After Summers' death, efforts were made to improve it, and MCC paid for his gravestone. The death of Summers ensured that the bowler never bowled fast again.

As a protest against what he saw as dangerous bowling, the next batsman - Richard Daft - came out to the wicket with his head wrapped in a towel.

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