Jack Flavell

Jack Flavell (15 May 1929 – 25 February 2004) was an English cricketer who played in four Tests for England from 1961 to 1964. His county cricket career was spent with Worcestershire, with whom Flavell won two County Championship titles. His new ball bowling partnership with Len Coldwell was one of the most feared and respected in the 1960s. As late as 1964, E.W. Swanton wrote that "Among first-class cricketers as many hold the view that Flavell is the best opening bowler in the country as do the same for Statham". His benefit in 1963 brought him a county record of £6,480 and he was one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1965.

He retired just as one-day cricket was beginning to take root in county cricket, his accurate bowling earning him thirty three wickets at just 9.75. Flavell had no pretensions as a left-handed batsman, but scored his only first-class fifty against arch rivals Warwickshire at Dudley in 1959, and also in partnership with the still-worse “rabbit” Bob Carter won Worcestershire a vital one-wicket victory over Nottinghamshire with two fours.

A talented all round sportsman, Flavell's cricket career almost ended before it began, due to his talent for soccer. He played for West Bromwich Albion, with whom he signed professional terms at 17, and Walsall. In 1948 he played in the Army cup final at Aldershot, when lightning killed two players and burned the hair from his head. He was a successful amateur golfer and captained Enville Golf Club.

After retirement, with his wife Marie, Flavell ran The Rafters Restaurant near Wolverhampton, and then a guest house in Barmouth, Gwynedd, Wales. He died in his sleep in Barmouth in February 2004, at the age of 74.