Ian Metcalfe King (10 November 1931 – 31 March 2020) was an English cricketer. He was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left-arm orthodox. He was born at Leeds, Yorkshire.[1]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ian Metcalfe King | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1931-11-10)10 November 1931 Leeds, Yorkshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 31 March 2020(2020-03-31) (aged 88) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1952–1955 | Warwickshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1957 | Essex | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 10 October 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
King attended Hanley Castle Grammar School, where he captained the First XI.[2] He made his first-class debut for Warwickshire against Kent in the 1952 County Championship. He made 52 further first-class appearances for Warwickshire, the last of which came against Essex in the 1955 County Championship.[3]
He took 95 wickets for Warwickshire at an average of 26.94, with best figures of 5/59 against Essex in 1954.[4][5] This season was also his most successful for Warwickshire, with King maintaining a regular starting place throughout that season. He took 71 wickets at an average of 23.84 in that season.[6] A tailend batsman, King scored 345 runs at an average of 8.21, with a high score of 29 not out.[7] King left Warwickshire at the end of the 1956 season.
He joined Essex in 1957, making his first-class debut for the county against Cambridge University. He made 27 further appearances that season, the last of which came against Surrey in the County Championship.[3] King performed well with the ball in what was his only season with Essex, taking 34 wickets at an average of 33.70, with best figures of 4/25.[4] He scored 131 runs that season at an average of 8.73, with a high score of 33, which was his highest first-class score.[7] Throughout his first-class career he was an able fielder, taking 60 catches. His best season was in 1957, when he held 29 catches in his 28 matches.[8]