Alfred Mynn (born 19 January 1807 at Twisden, near Goudhurst in Kent; died 1 November 1861 at Newington near Southwark) was a famous English cricketer during the game's "Roundarm Era". He was a genuine all-rounder, being both an attacking right-handed batsman and a formidable right arm fast bowler. The noted cricket writer John Woodcock ranked him as the fourth greatest cricketer of all time. [1] January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1807 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Kent is a county in England, south-east of London. ... November 1 is the 305th day of the year (306th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 60 days remaining. ... 1861 is a common year starting on Tuesday. ... The Borough or Southwark is an area of the London Borough of Southwark situated 1. ... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... In cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the early years of the 19th century to supercede underarm bowling. ...

Mynn was a very large man by cricket standards. He was well over six feet tall and weighed more than 300 pounds. He was known as "the Lion of Kent" and it was for Kent that most of his greatest feats occurred, though he also played a substantial number of matches for Sussex, MCC and the All-England Eleven (AEE). Kent County Cricket Club is an English county cricket club based at Canterbury, Kent. ... Sussex field against Derbyshire at Hove on 24 April 2005 The Arthur Gilligan stand at Hove The Pavilion at Hove Crowd leaves the County Ground at Hove Sussex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major counties which make up the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county... Lords 2005 The Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), founded in 1787, is a private members club and was the original governing body of cricket in England and across the world. ... In cricket, the term All-England Eleven has been used for various non-international England teams since 1739 and it indicates that the Rest of England are playing against, say, MCC or an individual county side. ...

In 1836 he scored a hundred for South v North at Leicester but badly injured a leg in the process. He had to return to London laid out on the top of a stagecoach, and it was feared that his leg might have to be amputated. Fortunately he fully recovered. October 2, Charles Darwin returns from his voyage around the world. ...

Alfred Mynn's "first-class" career, which excludes most of his AEE appearnaces, was from 1832 to 1859. He played in 213 first-class matches. 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... 1859 (MDCCCLIX) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar). ...

As a batsman he had 395 innings including 26 not out. He scored 4,955 runs at 13.42 with a highest score of 125*. He made the one century and 12 fifties. He took 125 catches. It should be remembered when studying the batting records of players in this era that prevailing conditions greatly favoured bowlers.

Even with that in mind, Mynn's known bowling figures are still impressive. He took at least 1,038 wickets for 3,261 known runs at the outstanding average of 10.22. The number of overs and maidens he bowled is unknown and neither is his best analysis except that it was 9/?. Mynn is known to have performed 5wI on 93 occasions and 10wM in 34 matches.

When Mynn died, William Jeffrey Prowse wrote what was to become one of the most famous pieces of cricket poetry in his memory. The first six stanzas compare Mynn with his contemporaries. The poem closes with these lines: The sport of cricket has inspired much poetry, most of which romanticises the sport. ...

With his tall and stately presence, with his nobly moulded form,

His broad hand was ever open, his brave heart was ever warm;

All were proud of him, all loved him. As the changing seasons pass,

As our champion lies a-sleeping underneath the Kentish grass,

Proudly, sadly will we name him - to forget him were a sin.

Lightly lie the turf upon thee, kind and manly Alfred Mynn!

External links

• "Alfred Mynn" Cricketarchive - statistics of Mynn's career.
• "Alfred Mynn" Cricinfo - statistics and profile.

References

Morrah, Patrick. Alfred Mynn and the Cricketers of his Time, Constable. 1986. ISBN 0-09-467020-X