May, Peter Barker Howard

▪ 1995

      English cricketer (b. Dec. 31, 1929, Reading, Berkshire, England—d. Dec. 27, 1994, Liphook, Hampshire, England), was widely regarded as England's finest post-World War II batsman. In his first-class career (1948-63)—all as an amateur—May scored 85 centuries and 27,592 runs (average 51), including 4,537 runs (average 46.77) and 13 centuries in 66 Test matches. At age 14 while at Charterhouse, he led that public school's batting average in his first year. He was a blue for three years at the University of Cambridge, which he attended after his wartime service in the Royal Navy. May debuted with Surrey in 1950 (he was captain from 1957). He was selected to play for England against South Africa in 1951 and scored 138 runs in his first innings. In 1957 he triumphed against West Indies, when he made a career high 285 not out and 411 in partnership with Colin Cowdrey, a fourth-wicket record in any Test and a record for any England wicket that still stood at the time of his death. From 1955 to 1961, he was England captain a record 41 times, with 20 wins, 10 losses, and 11 draws. In 1963, two years after ill health and the pressures of his work as a broker with Lloyd's of London led to his early retirement from Test cricket, May retired from first-class cricket. Later he served the Marylebone Cricket Club as president (1980-81) and had a somewhat less successful stint as the chairman of selectors (1982-88). May was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1981.

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