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George Mann (cricketer)

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George Mann

CBE DSO MC
Mann in 1947
Personal information
Full name
Francis George Mann
Born(1917-09-06)6 September 1917
Byfleet, Surrey, England
Died8 August 2001(2001-08-08) (aged 83)
Stockcross, Berkshire, England
BattingRight-handed
RelationsFrank Mann (father)
John Pelham Mann (brother)
Simon Mann (son)
International information
National side
Test debut16 December 1948 v South Africa
Last Test28 June 1949 v New Zealand
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 7 166
Runs scored 376 6,350
Batting average 37.60 25.91
100s/50s 1/0 7/32
Top score 136* 136*
Balls bowled – 414
Wickets – 3
Bowling average – 129.66
5 wickets in innings – 0
10 wickets in match – 0
Best bowling – 2/16
Catches/stumpings 3/– 72/–
Source: CricInfo, 29 July 2020

Francis George Mann, CBE, DSO, MC (6 September 1917 – 8 August 2001) was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University, Middlesex and England.[1] He was born at Byfleet, Surrey and died at Stockcross, Berkshire.

As a cricketer, George Mann was a right-handed middle-order batsman. His father, Frank Mann, also captained England, making them the first father and son to both captain England.[2] Colin and Chris Cowdrey are the only other father and son to have done this for England.[3]

Early life and education

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Mann was born on 6 September 1917 in Byfleet, Surrey, England.[4][5] The son of Frank Mann, he was the brother of John Pelham Mann. He was educated at Eton College, an all-boys public school, and captained the school's cricket XI in 1936.[6] He was also a member of the Eton College Contingent of the Officer Training Corps, and reached the rank of cadet under-officer.[7] He studied at Pembroke College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.[4] While at Cambridge, he earned two cricketing blues, having represented the university in 1938 and 1939.[6]

Military service

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Mann served in the British Army during the Second World War, having joined up before the outbreak of war.[6] On 8 July 1939, he was commissioned in the Royal Welch Fusiliers as a second lieutenant.[7] He transferred to the Scots Guards on 13 March 1940.[8] He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in 1942.[5] On 28 June 1945, the then temporary major Mann was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy".[9]

Mann maintained his links with the army after the war. On 8 July 1949, he was moved from the Supplementary Reserve of Officers to the Regular Army Reserve of Officers, and was granted the honorary rank of major.[10] Having reached the age limit, he resigned his commission on 6 September 1967 and was permitted to retain his honorary rank.[11]

Cricketing career

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Mann captained England in each of his seven Test matches, winning two, and drawing the other five; his father had also been captain in every Test he played in. Wisden said of Mann: "as a captain he was ideal, zealous to a degree, and considerate in all things at all times".[12] After leading England in South Africa in 1948/49, Mann led his side for two Tests in the following summer, before he stood down, citing inability to participate regularly due to his family's brewing business commitments (Mann, Crossman & Paulin).[13]

Mann was chairman of the Test and County Cricket Board (TCCB) from 1978 to 1983.[5] He was therefore chairman during the controversy over the rebel tour which Geoff Boycott and Graham Gooch led to South Africa in 1982.

Later life

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Mann was a main board director and retained his position on the new company board when his family brewery merged with Watney Combe & Reid in 1958.[13] He was also a non-executive Deputy Chairman of the Extel Group from 1980 to 1986.

Mann died on 8 August 2001 in Stockcross, Berkshire, England.[5]

Personal life

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In 1949, Mann married Margaret Hildegarde Marshall Clark. Together they had four children: three sons and one daughter. His wife predeceased him, dying in 1995.[4]

Mann's son, Simon, was sentenced for thirty-four years in Equatorial Guinea in 2008, on charges related to an attempted coup in 2004, but was pardoned on 2 November 2009.

References

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  1. ^ "George Mann". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 23 March 2012.
  2. ^ Bateman, Colin (1993). If The Cap Fits. Tony Williams Publications. p. 116. ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
  3. ^ Eden, Richard (27 October 2013). "England cricket star Chris Cowdrey suffers new heartache". The Telegraph. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c 'MANN, (Francis) George', Who Was Who, A & C Black, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing plc, 1920–2016; online edn, Oxford University Press, 2014; online edn, April 2014 accessed 24 Nov 2017
  5. ^ a b c d Hodgson, Derek (16 August 2001). "George Mann". The Independent. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  6. ^ a b c "George Mann". The Daily Telegraph. 13 August 2001. Retrieved 24 November 2017.
  7. ^ a b "No. 34643". The London Gazette. 7 July 1939. p. 4667.
  8. ^ "No. 34809". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 March 1940. p. 1464.
  9. ^ "No. 37151". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 June 1945. p. 3375.
  10. ^ "No. 38659". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1949. pp. 3337–3338.
  11. ^ "No. 44401". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 September 1967. p. 9668.
  12. ^ "M.C.C Team in South Africa, 1948-49". ESPNcricinfo. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. 15 April 1950. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  13. ^ a b Janes, Hurford (1963). The Red Barrel: A History of Watney Mann. John Murray. p. 175.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by English national cricket Captain
1948/9–1949 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Middlesex County Cricket Captain
1948–1949 		Succeeded by
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