Local Sussex cricketer with unwanted record

Ernest Harry ‘Tim’ Killick was a Sussex cricketer who, on this day, set a totally unwanted record and, despite it being surpassed, sadly, remains best known for that feat.

Killick was born in January 1875 in Southwater, although most records say Horsham.

He was a good, solid all-rounder for Sussex despite being short and of slight build. He played from 1893 (aged just 18) until 1913. He then spent several years as the county’s scorer.

Unusually for a sportsman of those days he wore spectacles. His vision deteriorated in 1897 and he wore his glasses all the time.

He may have received criticism for playing in spectacles (it was seen as some sort of weakness of spirit in those days) but it helped him carve out a decent sporting career!

In 1905 he did the double, scoring 1,392 runs and taking 108 wickets. Four years earlier he had score a double hundred against Yorkshire.

So it was something of a surprise when, on May 20 in 1911, he suffered badly against Nottinghamshire.

Killick had already taken 5-14 in Notts’ first innings but in the second Ted Alletson strode to the wicket with his side struggling at 185-7.

Alletson then proceeded to smash one of Alletson’s overs for 34 runs. There were two no-balls, three sixes and four fours!

Alletson took just 40 minutes to score 142, so the other Sussex bowlers didn’t fare that well either!

However, that 34-run haul stood as a record (most runs scored in an over in first class cricket) for 57 years and was not surpassed until the West Indian legend Gary Sobers hit 36 off Malcom Nash.

Thankfully Killick shrugged off this anomaly in his career and ended up with 22 centuries and 729 wickets (he also took 187 catches).

However, for several years he was saddled with his unwanted record!