John Guise (cricketer)

John Lindsay Guise (29 November 1903 – 29 June 1991) was an English first-class cricketer active 1922–34 who played for Middlesex, Oxford University and, in India, for the Europeans. He was born in Calcutta; died in Eastbourne. Guise was a right-handed batsman and a right arm medium pace bowler who played in 94 first-class matches. He scored 3,775 career runs with a highest score of 154* and, as a fielder, held 53 catches. He took 63 wickets with a best analysis of four for 19.^[1]

In his 1992 Wisden obituary, Guise is described as one of "the select few who have achieved fame through one big performance". In a 1921 public schools match when he was 17, Guise made a record score of 278 for Winchester College against Eton College at Agar's Plough. Wisden recorded that Winchester had been bowled out for 57 in their first innings on a rain-affected pitch. Eton, batting in better conditions, had taken a lead of 198. At close of play, Winchester in their second innings had made 130 for 3 with opening batsman Guise on 86 not out. On the second day, he "farmed the bowling like a veteran" to score 278 before being run out. Winchester had made 381, which left Eton needing 184 to win; they did so, by seven wickets.^[2] After Winchester, Guise went up to Brasenose College, Oxford.^[3] His brother, James, also played first-class cricket.

Guise was a schoolteacher by profession, teaching at Winchester, Adams Grammar School in Shropshire and Helston Grammar School in Cornwall between 1927 and 1964.^[4] Guise resigned from Helston Grammar due to an incident regarding corporal punishment being administered to two students in his office, for which Guise was fined £50.^[4]

• Successful Cricket, A. Barker, 1951
• Talking of cricket, Methuen, 1952