John Evans

Who was John Evans?

Alfred John Evans was a cricketer who played for Oxford University, Hampshire, Kent and England. He was also an all-round sportsman who enjoyed success in golf and racquets.

Evans was born in Newtown, Hampshire. In a spasmodic first-class cricket career that lasted from 1908 to 1928, Evans, a hard-hitting right-handed batsman and medium-pace bowler, played regularly only when at university. By 1921, when he scored 69 not out for MCC against the all-conquering Australians under Warwick Armstrong, he was a very occasional cricketer indeed. But the innings earned him a call to the second Test match at Lord's, where he made just 4 and 14. He was never chosen again.

He later played his only full season when he captained Kent in 1927, scoring 832 runs at 25.21 with three hundreds, including his highest score, 143, against Lancashire.

Evans won perhaps greater distinction as a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps in the First World War, where his exploits in escaping from German prisoner of war camps led to a book, The Escaping Club.

He married Marie Galbraith, an Irish concert violinist. Their son was the actor Michael Evans.

He died in London.