Noah Mann facts for kids

Noah Mann (born November 15, 1756, in Northchapel, Sussex, and died there in December 1789) was a well-known English cricket player. He played for the famous Hambledon Club.

A Talented Cricketer

Noah Mann was a fantastic all-around player for the Hambledon Club. He started playing in important matches, called "first-class" games, in 1777. He played in 55 of these matches between 1777 and 1789.

Mann was a left-handed player who was good at both batting and bowling. As a batsman, he was known for hitting the ball with great power. When he bowled, he could make the ball swing, and he was a medium-fast bowler who made the ball seam, which means it moved sideways after bouncing.

Amazing Athlete

Noah Mann was also a very athletic person. People who watched him play said he could cover a huge amount of ground very quickly, moving like lightning. He was also incredibly agile, even on horseback! He could pick up handkerchiefs from the ground while riding a horse at full speed.

An Early and Tragic End

Sadly, Noah Mann died at a young age due to an unusual accident. In December 1789, when he was only 33 years old, he had been out shooting. When he returned to the Half Moon Inn in Northchapel, he was wet and tired. He decided to stay up with his friends.

Instead of going to bed, he insisted on sleeping in his chair in front of the fireplace all night. In that area, it was common to pile up ashes on the hearth to keep the fire going until the next day. While he was asleep, sparks from the fire caused his clothes to catch fire. He was badly hurt and passed away the next day. An investigation later confirmed that his death was an accident.

His Son, Noah Junior

Noah Mann also had a son, who was also named Noah. His son followed in his footsteps and became a cricketer too. Noah Junior worked for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) as a bowler for about sixteen years. He often played in MCC matches, especially at Lord's cricket ground.