Cricket Career
Born in Bolton on Dearne, Yorkshire, England, Watson, a left-handed batsman, made his debut for Yorkshire in 1939, and was a regular in the side for a dozen years after World War II. He made his Test match debut against the South Africans in 1951, and did well. But at a time when England was rich in batting talent, Watson rarely commanded a regular place and his twenty three Test matches were spread across eight years. His most famous innings was one of 109, in almost six hours, which with Trevor Bailey contributing to a partnership of 163, enabled England to save the second Test at Lord's in 1953 against the Australians, when the game appeared to be lost.
Despite being a stylish left-hander, his Test career was a series of stops and starts. He even found himself dropped after his efforts at Lord's for the final Ashes series clinching victory. Nevertheless, he was one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1954.
Watson toured in the West Indies in 1953-54, and scored his second Test century in Jamaica. He final Test appearance was in New Zealand in March 1959, when one of his team-mates was another cricket and double football international, Arthur Milton. Watson's highest first-class score was 257, for the MCC against British Guiana at Georgetown.
Watson's cricket career received a late boost when, in 1958, he left Yorkshire and joined Leicestershire as assistant secretary and captain. A popular if quiet skipper, he temporarily regained his England place, and was also instrumental in a limited revival of the Leicestershire's fortunes. He retired in 1962, although he made several appearances in 1964.
Watson emigrated to South Africa in 1968, to coach the Wanderers. He died in Johannesburg in April 2004, at the age of 84.
Read more about this topic: Willie Watson (England Cricketer)
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