George Thornton (cricketer)

George Thornton (24 December 1867 – 31 January 1939) was an English amateur first-class cricketer, who played County Championship cricket for both Yorkshire County Cricket Club in three matches in 1891, and later that decade for Middlesex, whilst also appearing in a Test match representing South Africa in 1902.

Thornton was born in Skipton, Yorkshire, England. He was educated at Skipton Grammar School, and Edinburgh University.

Thornton occasionally played for Yorkshire and Middlesex before going to South Africa when the South African Wars broke out. A medical man, Thornton was one of the first to volunteer, and was appointed head of the Government Hospital in Pretoria. Thornton spent nine years in South Africa and, during his stay, he played cricket for both Transvaal, and for South Africa at the Old Wanderers, Johannesburg. This was in the first Test match that Australia played in South Africa in October 1902, when the Australian side, led by Joe Darling were on their way home from their tour of England.

A left-handed batsman and bowler, Thornton peaked in 1895 when for Middlesex he averaged 31.00 with the bat, and took 23 wickets. He triumphed with the ball against Gloucestershire at Lord's. Being the fifth bowler used, he bowled W. G. Grace, who had scored 169, and in the last innings of the match took all five wickets that fell, finishing with a match return of nine wickets for 72. In the corresponding fixture the next season, Thornton recorded his highest first-class score of 161, as Middlesex won by an innings and 77 runs. However, in that match, he was not used as a bowler.

Thornton died in January 1939, in Kensington, London, England, aged 71.

His great-grandson, Warren Thornton, represented Western Province.