Harold Gilligan

Alfred Herbert Harold Gilligan AFC (29 June 1896 – 5 May 1978) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Sussex and England. Gilligan captained England on their four-Test tour of New Zealand in 1929–30, which England won 1–0.

Life and career After attending Dulwich College, Gilligan served in the First World War, and was awarded the Air Force Cross. He played regularly for Sussex from 1919 to 1930. A right-handed batsman of style but limited ability, and an occasional leg-spin bowler, Gilligan set a record in 1923 that is unlikely to be equalled when, in batting 70 times during the season, he scored 1,186 runs at an average of 17.70 runs per innings: the average is the lowest by any cricketer who has made 1,000 runs in a season. He had his most successful season in 1929, scoring 1,161 runs at an average of 23.69, including his only first-class century, 143 against Derbyshire. His Wisden obituary described him as a "beautiful stylist" who typically got out to an impetuous stroke just when a substantial innings looked possible. Maurice Allom, a member of the touring team to New Zealand, wrote in 1978 of Gilligan's captaincy on that tour: "He proved himself not only an astute captain but also a diplomat of considerable ability. His charming and likeable personality was, in large measure, responsible for this tour being remembered to this day with affection by many New Zealanders." Harold's daughter, Virginia, married the England Test captain Peter May in 1959; they had four daughters.

After the Second World War, Gilligan became active in the administration of the Surrey County Cricket Club and the Marylebone Cricket Club.