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Full name James Michael Parks
Born October 21, 1931, Haywards Heath, Sussex
Current age 76 years 356 days
Major teams England,Somerset,Sussex
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Legbreak
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Relations Father - JH Parks,Uncle - HW Parks,Son - RJ Parks
Batting and fielding averages
Mat
Inns
NO
Runs
HS
Ave
100
50
6s
Ct
St
Tests
46
68
7
1962
108*
32.16
2
9
15
103
11
First-class
739
1227
172
36673
205*
34.76
51
213
1087
94
List A
132
123
15
2832
102*
26.22
1
13
113
7
Bowling averages
Mat
Inns
Balls
Runs
Wkts
BBI
BBM
Ave
Econ
SR
4w
5w
10
Tests
46
2
54
51
1
1/43
1/43
51.00
5.66
54.0
0
0
0
First-class
739
3837
2235
51
3/23
43.82
3.49
75.2
0
0
List A
132
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
Career statistics
Test debut
England v Pakistan at Manchester, Jul 22-27, 1954 scorecard
Last Test
West Indies v England at Bridgetown, Feb 29-Mar 5, 1968 scorecard
Test statistics
First-class span
1949 - 1976
List A span
1963 - 1975
Profile
Jim Parks was a multitalented cricketer, initially as a batsman and in latter years as an outstanding batsman-wicketkeeper. His father, also Jim, had been a Sussex stalwart between the wars and had played once for England, but young Jim soon established himself in his own right.
He made his debut in 1949 as a batsman who could also bowl decent offspin and was also an outstanding fielder. His Test debut in 1954 was as a specialist batsman but it was only when he took up wicketkeeping that his international career took off. That he did so was through necessity as Sussex were in need of a keeper and Parks volunteered; he was a natural. Within 18 months he had been recalled by England and he remained a mainstay of the side for much of the 1960s.
Parks captained Sussex in 1967 and 1968, making the third of his four Lord's final appearances in the second season, and at the end of 1972 he left Hove and joined Somerset on a three-year contract.
He later worked for Whitbread and as a marketing manager for Sussex. He also managed the Old England cricket team for several years.
. Martin Williamson
