Thomas May (cricketer) facts for kids

Thomas ("Tom") May was a famous cricketer who played for Kent in the 1760s and 1770s. We don't know exactly when he was born or when he passed away. Tom May was especially known as a great batsman, which means he was very good at hitting the ball. His main career in first-class cricket was during the 1772 and 1773 seasons.

Who Was Thomas May?

Thomas May was a skilled player in the early days of cricket. He played for the Kent team, which was one of the top teams at the time. A "first-class cricketer" is someone who plays in the highest level of cricket matches. Tom May was particularly good at batting, which is a key part of the game.

Playing Cricket with His Brother

Tom May had a brother named Dick May. Dick was also a cricketer for Kent, but he was known for his bowling skills. Bowling is when a player throws the ball towards the batsman. The May brothers often played in the same matches together.

Old Cricket Records

It can be tricky to tell the May brothers apart in old cricket records. Many scorecards from that time didn't write down players' full first names, only "May." This makes it hard to know if it was Tom or Dick playing in some games.

For example, old books like Scores and Biographies show that a player simply called "May" played in 5 matches. Dick May is clearly named in 8 matches, and Tom May is specifically named in 5 matches. Another record, CricketArchive, also lists Tom May in 5 matches.

A Special Verse About the May Brothers

An old poem about the May brothers was written down in Scores and Biographies:

Tom was for batting, Dick for bowling famed

This little verse tells us what each brother was best at in cricket.

What We Don't Know

We don't know much about the personal lives of Tom and Dick May. There isn't much information available about Tom May's life outside of cricket.