Born in Sutton-in-Ashfield on 8 July 1849, John Kesteven, a right-hand bat and a right round-arm medium pacer was tried for the XXII Colts v Notts in April 1876, then for Colts of Notts and Yorkshire v Colts of England at Lord’s the following month. He had a further trial for Notts Colts v Yorkshire Colts in June 1876 and found a place in Notts side v Yorkshire in June 1876. He also played in the following two matches versus Middlesex at Prince’s, Chelsea, and Lancashire at Old Trafford. In three First-Class games he scored 24 runs @6,00 and did not bowl. In September 1876 he represented the Professionals of the MCC in a match against Loughborough at Bromhead’s Ground in the town.
He had been seen in relatively important matches five seasons prior to his Notts debut, for he represented Players of Scotland v Gentlemen at Edinburgh in July 1871.
His known professional engagements were Royal High School Edinburgh 1871, Barrow in Furness 1871 - 74, Wolverhampton 1875, Middlesbrough 1876, Sefton Park 1881-84, Oxford 1888 - 89.
He was secretary of the Sutton-in-Ashfield Professional Cricketers’ Friendly Society from 1888 to 1892. Kesteven was living in Godalming in Surrey in 1897; no details of his death have yet to be obtained - his last known details show him resident in Farnham, Surrey and working as a labourer in 1901.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 147