Charles Knott

Charles James Knott (26 November 1914 — 27 February 2003) was an English first-class cricketer, cricket administrator, and motorcycle speedway promoter. Knott began his first-class cricket career with Hampshire as a right-arm medium pace bowler, before switching to bowl off-spin from his third first-class match. Knott went onto be considered one of the best amateur spinners in England, and came close on a few occasions to being capped at Test level for England. Playing in 173 first-class matches between 1938 and 1957, he took 676 wickets, with 47 five wicket hauls. He remained connected to Hampshire following his retirement from playing, holding the post of chairman of cricket from 1967 to 1988. During that period he was instrumental in attracting some of the best young cricketers to Hampshire, and oversaw their second County Championship title in 1973.

Alongside his father, Charles, who was a promininent businessman in Southampton, Knott helped run the Banister Court Stadium and promote its motorcycle speedway team, the Southampton Saints until 1963, when the team was disbanded. In 1959, the attention of the Knott's had turned to the Poole Pirates in Dorset, whom he would promote until 1979. Knott is considered one of the sports most important figures during the 1960s and 1970s. He would later commentate on the sport.

Early life Knott was born in Southampton in November 1914. He was educated at Taunton's School, Despite his work for the family business, he found time for cricket on Wednesday and Saturday afternoons, and on the encouragement of Don Roper he began playing for Deanery Cricket Club in the Southampton League, where he soon began to produce excellent performances bowling medium-pace. Knott received a phone call from Hampshire in July 1938 inviting him to play against Kent at Canterbury in the County Championship. but took just one wicket in his first two matches, which prompted him to cut the pace at which he delivered the ball and add off spin to it. with Knott taking figures of 5 for 51. The following season, he made seven first-class appearances, He gained his county cap at the end of the 1939, but with the outbreak of the Second World War, it would be seven years before he would wear it on a cricket field. His performances established him as the leading off-spinner in county cricket, and drew the attention of the England selectors, He was beset by injury in 1947, In the proceeding season he once again took 101 wickets, this time at an average of 26.90, whilst taking six five wicket hauls. During the 1950 season Knott once again passed a hundred wickets for the season, taking 111 from 30 matches at an average of 23.19, with seven five wicket hauls. which Wisden proffered was again due to what was perceived as his inferior batting and fielding when compared to his contemporaries. At the beginning of the season, Knott made two appearances for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Yorkshire and Surrey. Following a strong start to the 1953 season, in which he had successfully taken advantage of the good spin-bowling conditions which were on offer, Knott stood on the ball during a match against Leicestershire in mid-May, injuring his foot and ruling him out for five weeks. He returned later in the season, making four appearances in July and August,

Playing style and attitudes As a "beguiling and flighty" off-spinner who could generate sharp turn, and who had in his repertoire several variations of delivery, John Arlott proffered that Knott was the best amateur bowler in Hampshire. The focus of the Knott's soon turned to the Poole Pirates in Dorset, where they set about redeveloping their speedway track which surrounded a football pitch by adding a greyhound racing track. As a result, the Banister Court Stadium was sold to The Rank Organisation who built housing on some of the site. A road on the development was subsequently named "Charles Knott Gardens", in tribute to both father and son. He was considered by former speedway rider Pete Smith to have been one of the most influential people in the sport, who had helped to keep it going when its survival was under threat in the 1960s.

Later in life, he commentated on speedway, providing the latest news in the sport before it was picked up by national media.

Personal life and death Following the opening of Hampshire's new home at the Rose Bowl in 2001, Knott would attend matches there when his health allowed. Knott died in Southampton on 27 February 2003. His funeral took place in the city at Highfield Church, followed by a private cremation. He was survived by his wife, Iris, and their two daughters. His son-in-law was the cricketer Richard Lewis.