John Parker (West Indian cricketer)

John Ernest Parker (2 July 1871 in Plantation Vigilance, East Coast, Demerara, British Guiana – 1946 in Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana) was a West Indian cricketer who toured with the second West Indian touring side to England in 1906. He was a right-handed batsman and leg break/googly bowler.

John Parker

John Parker in 1906
Personal information
Full name	John Ernest Parker
Born	(1871-07-02)2 July 1871 Plantation Vigilance, Demerara, British Guiana
Died	1946 (aged 74–75) Georgetown, Demerara, British Guiana
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Leg break googly
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1905/06–1909/10	British Guiana
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 8 Runs scored 61 Batting average 4.35 100s/50s –/– Top score 15 Balls bowled 480 Wickets 5 Bowling average 56.20 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 2/28 Catches/stumpings 4/–
Source: CricketArchive, 14 October 2011

He made his debut in important cricket for British Guiana in the 1905-06 Inter-Colonial Tournament in Trinidad. He scored 6 and 3 and took no wickets. The team for the forthcoming tour of England was decided after this tournament and surprisingly Parker was one of those chosen.

He was a complete disappointment on the 1906 tour to England averaging just 6 with the bat and taking just 4 wickets. Before the tour he was described as "a slow bowler of great merit; took part in the late Intercolonial cricket matches played at Trinidad, and, although not successful in getting wickets, greatly impressed the selectors; hence his inclusion in the team"[1] and "a slow bowler of the Armstrong type, with a field placed on the on-side; a fair defensive batsman and excellent slip".[2]

He played in the next two Inter-Colonial Tournaments in 1907-08 and 1907-08 again with a complete lack of success and this marked the end of his career in important matches.