1963 English cricket season

1963 was the 64th season of County Championship cricket in England. Limited overs cricket began with the first edition of the knockout competition that was originally called the Gillette Cup. The highlight of the season was a memorable Test series between England and West Indies which the tourists won 3–1. Yorkshire won their second consecutive championship title. Off the field, the year saw the publication of the hundredth edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, as well as the deaths of two cricketing knights, Sir Jack Hobbs and Sir Pelham Warner.

1963 English cricket season
1962
1964

Honours

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Test series

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West Indies tour

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There was a memorable series between England and West Indies. The tourists won 3–1 with one match drawn. The Lord's Test had one of the most exciting finishes ever and all four results were possible with two balls to be bowled: it ended as a draw with England five runs behind and their last pair batting. Colin Cowdrey had gone in as number 11 with a broken arm, but did not have to face a ball.

As a result of the great success of this series, England's future home Test programme was revised so that West Indies could return in 1966, much earlier than originally planned. This was done by introducing "twin tours", in which two countries would each play three Tests against England in the course of a season.

County Championship

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Gillette Cup

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Leading batsmen

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1963 English cricket season – leading batsmen by average
Name Innings Runs Highest Average 100s
Gary Sobers 34 1333 112 47.60 4
Mike Smith 39 1566 144* 47.45 3
Geoff Boycott 43 1628 165* 45.22 3
Basil Butcher 34 1294 133 44.62 2
Conrad Hunte 37 1367 182 44.09 3
Clive Inman 51 1708 120* 42.70 1
Brian Bolus 57 2190 202* 41.32 5
Ken Barrington 45 1568 110* 41.26 2
1963 English cricket season – leading batsmen by aggregate
Name Innings Runs Highest Average 100s
Brian Bolus 57 2190 202* 41.32 5
Peter Richardson 56 2110 172 39.07 5
John Edrich 55 1921 125 40.02 2
Alan Jones 58 1857 187* 34.38 3
Ken Suttle 57 1854 141 34.98 3

Leading bowlers

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1963 English cricket season – leading bowlers by average
Name Balls Maidens Runs Wickets Average
Charlie Griffith 4208 192 1527 119 12.83
Fred Trueman 5067 206 1955 129 15.15
Ken Palmer 6113 289 2234 139 16.07
Alan Moss 3857 249 1355 84 16.13
David Sydenham 4915 239 1753 108 16.23
Brian Statham 4746 168 1874 113 16.58
1963 English cricket season – leading bowlers by aggregate
Name Balls Maidens Runs Wickets Average
Derek Shackleton 8325 583 2446 146 16.75
Barry Knight 6743 207 3042 140 21.72
Ken Palmer 6113 289 2234 139 16.07
Fred Trueman 5067 206 1955 129 15.15
Don Shepherd 7713 540 2373 126 18.83

References

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Annual reviews

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