James Saunders (cricketer)

James Saunders (27 May 1802 – 27 March 1832) was an English cricketer in the 1820s. He was a left-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper who represented many different teams from 1822 to 1831. In county cricket, he played for Sussex (1823–1825), Kent (1827) and Surrey (1828–1830). He belonged to a cricketing family as his cousins were Richard Searle and his better known brother William Searle.[1][2]

Saunders was born and lived his whole life in Haslemere, Surrey, where he was a butcher. He was about 5'11" tall and weighed around 12 st. He died aged 29 of consumption and had to stop playing cricket in 1831, a year before his death. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "showy" batsman whose favourite shot was the square cut.[3]

Saunders made his known debut in the 1822 season and appeared in 54 known matches to the 1831 season. He scored 2,180 career runs at a batting average of 24.22 with a highest score of 100. He rarely bowled but he did take two wickets.