John Minshull facts for kids

John Minshull (born around 1741 – died October 23, 1793), also known as John Minchin, was a famous English cricketer in the 1770s. He made history by scoring the first officially recorded century (100 runs) in cricket. He was born in Acton, which is in Middlesex.

Who Was John Minshull?

John Minshull was a well-known cricket player during his time. He was remembered for his powerful hitting and for being very good at protecting his wicket. However, his playing style wasn't always graceful; some people described it as a bit awkward.

He was also known for having a very high opinion of his own skills. Because he often acted like he was better than he was, some people didn't appreciate him as much as he thought they should. Physically, he was described as a strong man, about 5 feet 9 inches tall. He wasn't the fastest player in the field and sometimes had problems with injuries or getting sick.

A Cricket Pioneer

Minshull made two important marks in cricket history.

The First Century

On Thursday, August 31, 1769, John Minshull scored 107 runs while playing for the Duke of Dorset's team against Wrotham. This was a smaller match, but his score of 107 is the earliest known century in any cricket game that was officially recorded. To reach his 107 runs, Minshull scored 34 single runs, 15 twos, 9 threes, and 4 fours where he ran all the way.

A Unique Dismissal

Minshull was also the first batsman ever recorded to be dismissed (get out) by hitting his own wicket. This happened in 1773 when he was playing for the All England team against Hampshire. A "hit wicket" dismissal happens when a batsman accidentally knocks down their own wicket with their bat or body while trying to hit the ball or starting a run. Interestingly, it seems he might not have even been the one facing the ball at that exact moment.

Life Off the Field

Not much is known about John Minshull's personal life. For a while, he worked as a gardener for the Duke of Dorset at Knole House, which is near Sevenoaks. During this time, he played cricket for the Duke's Kent county cricket teams. Later, it seems he moved to Middlesex and then to Surrey, as he played for the Surrey team from 1775 until his last recorded game in 1780.

John Minshull passed away in Kingston upon Thames in Surrey in 1793. He was 52 years old.