Sir George Oswald Browning Allen, affectionately known as ‘Gubby’, was a prominent cricket player from England. Born in Australia, he moved to England at the age of six and would go on to leave an indelible mark on the sport. Throughout his 29-year-long career, he excelled as an all-rounder, leaving an impact on both domestic and international cricket.
Notably, Sir George lived close to Lord’s Cricket Ground for most of his life, which allowed him to exert immense influence over the affairs of MCC and Middlesex. Despite pursuing a career in business and the Stock Exchange, he remained a genuine amateur and played cricket on a part-time basis. Consequently, he never achieved the milestone of scoring 1000 runs or taking 100 wickets in a single season. However, his contributions to the game were invaluable, both on and off the field.
Sir George made his debut in Test cricket against Australia in 1930. Although his bowling proved ineffective, he showcased his batting prowess with a score of 57. However, he truly announced himself during the 1931 Test against New Zealand at Lord’s, where he played a memorable innings of 122, forming a record-breaking partnership of 246 with Leslie Ames for the eighth wicket. Additionally, he took 5 wickets for 14 runs in the same match.
During the infamous “Bodyline series” against Australia in 1932-33, Sir George was a part of Douglas Jardine’s side. Despite disagreements with the strategy, he managed to take 21 wickets in the series, only second to Harold Larwood among English bowlers. In the subsequent years, injuries and operations limited his participation in Test matches. However, he captained England in 11 of his 25 Test appearances, displaying leadership qualities and contributing significantly to the team’s success.
A notable achievement in Sir George’s career was captaining England against India in 1936. Under his leadership, the English side won the three-match series by a 2-1 margin. His opponent in that series, the Maharaj Kumar of Vizianagram, was knighted between the first two Tests. Sir George was again entrusted with the captaincy during the Ashes tour of Australia in 1936-37, where England emerged victorious in the first two Tests before succumbing to a formidable Australian side led by Don Bradman.
While Sir George had intermittent appearances in Test cricket, he remained active in the game’s administration. He became the chairman of selectors in 1955, where his astute decision-making skills garnered admiration. Additionally, he served as the chairman of the MCC cricket committee from 1956 to 1963, followed by assuming the role of the club’s president. His contributions extended beyond administrative roles as well. Alongside Sir Donald Bradman, he played a pivotal role in eradicating illegal bowling actions from the game.
Recognizing his contributions to cricket, Sir George was awarded the CBE in 1962 and was knighted in 1986. Throughout his life, he remained deeply passionate about the sport and tirelessly worked towards its development. His remarkable performances, leadership abilities, and commitment to the game solidify his legacy as one of England’s finest cricketers.
