"Les Ames" | Leslie Ethelbert George Ames

 

Born 1905, Elham, Kent- Died 1990, Canterbury, Kent

Played for Kent and England

Les Ames was a great Wicket Keeper, playing for England 47 times. He was comfortable whether he was standing up to spin, or taking the quickest bowling in the world at the time, namely Harold Larwood or Bill Voce. For 7 years (1931 - 1938), Les was first choice keeper for his country.

He was good enough as a batsman to be picked for England, without the additional value of being a wicket keeper. He is the only wicket keeper who has scored 100 first class hundreds. During his career, he played against Australia, the West Indies, and New Zealand. In Test matches he scored 2,434 runs at an average of 40.56 including 8 centuries.

Les Ames suffered for many years with Fibrosis and after he retired from the game, became selector for England between 1950 and 1956 and again in 1958.