Ian Shield

Ian Noel Ridley Shield MBE (24 December 1914 — 22 February 2005) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

Shield was born in December 1914 at Ayot St Lawrence, Hertfordshire. He was educated at Rugby School, before matriculating to Oriel College, Oxford.[1] A club cricketer for the Hampshire Hogs, he took 495 wickets for the club over a 20-year period.[2] His performances at club level bought him to the attention of Hampshire, with him making his first-class debut for the county against Essex at Southampton in the 1939 County Championship. He made three further appearances that season, against Somerset, Glamorgan and Sussex.[3] Although effective as a fast-medium bowler, he was unable to carry that through into first-class cricket, taking just 4 wickets at an average of 68.50, with best figures of 2 for 91.[4] The start of the Second World War in September 1939 bought the cricket season to a premature end. Shield served in the war, being commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Royal Artillery in October 1940 and ended the war as a temporary captain.[5] Following the war, he was made an MBE in January 1946.[6] Shield died at Petersfield in February 2005.[2]