J.M. Sims

13 May 1903 – 27 April 1973

England and Middlesex

Legbreak bowler and right arm bat. 

Beginning his career as a batsman, Jim Sims was able to develop a decent legbreak delivery and became dependable all-rounder for Middlesex from 1929 to 1952, making 381 appearances. During his career he took 1,257 wickets at an average of 25.23 with a career best performance of 9-92 coming in 1934 against Lancashire at Old Trafford. He took 100 wickets in a season eight times, but like so many cricketers of his generation, the war hampered his career, with his best season coming in 1939. His 159 wickets at an average of 20.30 made him the most prolific bowler in county cricket for the season. 

As for his batting, after opening for periods early in his career, Sims became known as an attacking middle-order batter once his bowling took on more importance. Throughout his Middlesex career he amassed 87,173 runs at an average of 17.12, scoring three centuries, with a top score of 121.

His international career never took off; he made just four Test appearances for England between 1935 and 1937. He made his debut against South African in 1935 in the third Test at Headingley, taking 1 for 58 in the match. He went on tour to Australia under Percy Holmes 1935-36 and returned the following winter with MCC under the leadership of Gubby Allen. Selected for the second and third Tests, Sims could not make an impact on the hard local wickets and that proved the end for his international career. In between the two tours he made one appearance against India in the third Test at the Oval. He featured on one final tour, going to South America in 1937-38 under T. E. Brinckman. 

Tall and lean, Sims was popular with players and fans alike for his great sense humour. Waiting to go out and face Harold Larwood in a fiery mood on a fast pitch, he was asked by Patsy Hendren whether he was nervous. “Not exactly nervous, Patsy; just a trifle apprehensive,”. On another occasion after taking a wicket he confided to a fielder, “I'd been keeping that one warm all through the winter.” 

After retirement, he coached the Middlesex second eleven and in 1969 he was made scorer for the county side until his death in 1973, whilst staying at a hotel in Canterbury, prior to match against Kent. His popularity was reflected in a fine tribute Denis Compton wrote in The Cricketer.