Jim Parks
cricketer
- May 12, 1903
- November 21, 1980
About Jim Parks
Jim Parks, 77, English cricketer.
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Full Biography
|James Horace Parks (12 May 1903 – 21 November 1980) was a cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club and England.
Parks was a right-handed opening batsman and a medium-pace bowler of inswingers. He was a regular member of the Sussex county team from 1927 and scored 1,000 runs in every season except one up to 1939, when his first-class career ended with the Second World War in 1935, he did the all - rounder's "double" of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets, but nothing in Parks' career suggested he was an out-of-the-ordinary county cricketer — until 1937.
In that year, by scoring 3,003 runs and taking 101 wickets in the season, he set a record that is all but certainly never to be equalled. Only 13 cricketers have scored more than 2,000 runs and taken 100 wickets in an English season; no other cricketer has ever taken 100 wickets while scoring 3,000 runs. His run total included 11 centuries and he also took 21 catches. Having been termed "solid" earlier in his career, Parks revealed in 1937 a full range of previously unsuspected strokes and was praised by Wisden for his "enterprise".
He was called up for the 1937 Test match against New Zealand at Lord's alongside another debutant, Leonard Hutton. He scored 22 and 7 and took three wickets, but was never chosen again. Unsurprisingly, he was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1938.
After the Second World War, Parks played Lancashire League cricket and was coach at Sussex for a period in the 1960s.
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Sources
- Wikipedia
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Parks_(cricketer%2C_born_1903)
- CC BY-SA 4.0
- Sep 26, 2026
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- View record
- October 21, 2026
- Sep 26, 2026
Trivia & Knowledge· 16 questions
Questions drawn from Jim Parks's archived record and the sources above.
1.On what date was James Horace Parks born?
- A.21 November 1939
- B.12 May 1903correct
- C.12 May 1937
- D.21 November 1980
James Horace Parks was born on 12 May 1903.
Source: biographical introduction
2.What was the primary role of James Horace Parks as a cricket player?
- A.Spin bowler
- B.Right-handed opening batsmancorrect
- C.Left-handed wicket-keeper
- D.All-rounder exclusively
James Horace Parks was a right-handed opening batsman and a medium-pace bowler of inswingers.
Source: career description
3.From which year did James Horace Parks become a regular member of the Sussex county team?
- A.1923
- B.1927correct
- C.1938
- D.1935
James Horace Parks was a regular member of the Sussex county team from 1927.
Source: career overview
4.In which year did James Horace Parks achieve the all-rounder's double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets?
- A.1935correct
- B.1939
- C.1927
- D.1937
In 1935, James Horace Parks did the all-rounder's double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets.
Source: career overview
5.How many runs did James Horace Parks score in the 1937 season?
- A.3,003correct
- B.2,000
- C.3,100
- D.1,000
In 1937, James Horace Parks set a record by scoring 3,003 runs in the season.
Source: 1937 record section
6.How many wickets did James Horace Parks take in the 1937 season?
- A.121
- B.101correct
- C.111
- D.81
James Horace Parks took 101 wickets in the 1937 season.
Source: 1937 record section
7.What total number of centuries did James Horace Parks score during his 1937 season?
- A.9
- B.21
- C.11correct
- D.13
His run total in 1937 included 11 centuries.
Source: 1937 record section
8.How many catches did James Horace Parks take during his record-breaking 1937 season?
- A.41
- B.31
- C.11
- D.21correct
During his 1937 season, James Horace Parks took 21 catches.
Source: 1937 record section
9.Which publication praised James Horace Parks for his enterprise in 1937?
- A.Wisdencorrect
- B.The Sussex Herald
- C.The London Times
- D.The Cricket Gazette
James Horace Parks was praised by Wisden for his enterprise in 1937.
Source: 1937 record section
10.Against which national team did James Horace Parks play his only Test match in 1937?
- A.India
- B.New Zealandcorrect
- C.Australia
- D.West Indies
James Horace Parks was called up for the 1937 Test match against New Zealand at Lord's.
Source: Test career section
11.Who debuted alongside James Horace Parks in the 1937 Test match at Lord's?
- A.Don Bradman
- B.Leonard Huttoncorrect
- C.Jack Hobbs
- D.Herbert Sutcliffe
James Horace Parks was called up for the 1937 Test match alongside another debutant, Leonard Hutton.
Source: Test career section
12.What scores did James Horace Parks achieve in his only Test match?
- A.22 and 7correct
- B.20 and 5
- C.22 and 22
- D.33 and 10
In his only Test match, James Horace Parks scored 22 and 7.
Source: Test career section
13.In what year was James Horace Parks named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year?
- A.1937
- B.1935
- C.1939
- D.1938correct
James Horace Parks was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1938.
Source: career recognition
14.After the Second World War, in which league did James Horace Parks play?
- A.Lancashire Leaguecorrect
- B.Sussex County League
- C.Yorkshire Association
- D.Kent Premier League
After the Second World War, James Horace Parks played Lancashire League cricket.
Source: post-war career
15.What role did James Horace Parks hold at Sussex in the 1960s?
- A.Head selector
- B.Team captain
- C.Club president
- D.Coachcorrect
James Horace Parks was coach at Sussex for a period in the 1960s.
Source: post-war career
16.When did James Horace Parks die?
- A.21 November 1980correct
- B.21 November 1939
- C.12 May 1903
- D.12 May 1980
James Horace Parks died on 21 November 1980.
Source: biographical introduction
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