Jimmy Stone

James Stone (29 November 1876 – 15 November 1942) was an English first-class cricketer and umpire. A batsman and wicket-keeper, he played for Hampshire and Glamorgan between 1900 and 1923, making over 300 first-class appearances, in which he scored over 10,000 runs and claimed over 400 dismissals as a wicket-keeper. He later stood as an umpire in nearly 240 matches between 1912 and 1934.

Playing career Career with Hampshire Stone was born at Southampton in November 1876. He was given a trial by Hampshire in 1900, making his debut in first-class cricket against Surrey at Bournemouth in the County Championship. He made three further first-class appearances in the 1901 County Championship, before replacing Charles Robson as Hampshire's regular wicket-keeper in 1902; by establishing himself in the Hampshire side, he became the first local-born professional to do so. He made twelve appearances in 1902, followed by fourteen in 1903. During the 1903 Bournemouth Cricket Week, he played for the Players of the South against the Gentlemen of the South. In 1908, he made 23 appearances for Hampshire and appeared in the end-of-season commemorative first-class match between Hambledon and an England XI at Broadhalfpenny Down, with Stone playing for Hambledon. His 23 matches that season saw him compliment his century with five half centuries, He also played for the East against the West during the 1910 season, complimenting the 23 matches he played for Hampshire that season. Opening the batting, he helped put on 109 runs with C. B. Fry for the third wicket, though Hampshire lost the match by 9 wickets due to a batting collapse in their second innings facilitated by George Hirst and Schofield Haigh. Stone's final season with Hampshire was in 1914, when the First World War led to the cancellation of first-class cricket in August 1914. Prior to that, Stone made fifteen first-class appearances and made an unbeaten century against Worcestershire. With wicket-keeper Walter Livsey coming into the Hampshire side in 1914, Stone seemingly retired during the five years in which no first-class cricket was played. As Hampshire's wicket-keeper, he took 355 catches and made 114 stumpings. Stumpings accounted for nearly 25% of his dismissals, a high percentage when compared with modern wicket-keepers. He then moved to South Wales to play club cricket for Briton Ferry.

Glamorgan gained first-class status in 1921, but were without the services of a regular wicket-keeper during their inaugural season and had to make-do with amateur or occasional wicket-keepers, Having qualified through residency, Stone made his debut for Glamorgan against Northamptonshire at Swansea in the 1922 County Championship. He made five first-class appearances for Glamorgan in 1922, and 22 in the 1923 season. in doing so he became the first Glamorgan batsman to score a first-class century against a touring team.

Umpiring and later life

After retiring as a player, Stone became a first-class cricket umpire. He first stood as a first-class umpire in 1912, when Hampshire played Oxford University. The remainder of his umpiring career occurred after his retirement from playing. He stood in 238 first-class matches between 1925 and 1934. Stone died in November 1942 in Maidenhead, aged 65.