John Moss was one of the best-known umpires in First-Class cricket. He umpired in 666 first-class between 1894 and 1932, being a regular on the county circuit from 1899 to 1929. He also stood in 11 Test matches, including the 1921 Test at Trent Bridge between England and Australia. Most notably, he was umpire in three of the nine matches in the ill-fated (the wettest British summer on record) Triangular Tournament of 1912; in the final, timeless, decider between England and Australia at The Oval, Moss gave Warren Bardsley run out by Jack Hobbs, a decision hotly disputed by the Australian team and some of the few souls that had braved the weather.
Moss was born on 7 February 1864 in Clifton and was a right-hand bat and right-arm medium pacer. He played for Notts Colts v Yorkshire Colts at Trent Bridge in May 1892. A week later, his sole First-Class match was Notts v MCC at Lord’s on 19, 20 and 21 May 1892, he scored 1 and 1 and did not bowl. In 1904/5 he toured the West Indies with Viscount Brackley’s team and in 1906/7 toured New Zealand. He played at one time with Clifton Village CC, Orleans CC, Phoenix Park, and Leeds Grammar School before joining the MCC in 1893.
A farmer and wheelwright in Clifton, he resided in his native village until 1937 when he moved to Keyworth, dying there on 10 July 1950, aged 86 years.
His brother, Edward Moss, represented Notts Colts in 1890. His brother-in-law John Butler (1863-1945) represented Notts in six First-Class matches in 1889.
January 2022
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 221