The most powerful influence on the game of cricket and a major force at Lord's for over 60 years as a high-class all-rounder, captain, selector and administrator, Sir George Oswald Browning "Gubby" Allen was born at Bellevue Hill, Sydney on 31st July 1902.
He represented Middlesex in 146 first-class matches from 1921 to 1950 and Cambridge University in 1922 and 1923. He took 420 wickets with a personal best of 10/40 versus Lancashire in 1929 at Lord's (8 clean bowled) versus Lancashire.
Representing his country in 25 Tests from 1930 to 1947/48, he toured abroad 3 times including the 1932/33 Ashes series when he refused to adopt 'bodyline' tactics. He scored 750 runs with a top score of 122 versus New Zealand at Lord's in 1931 and he took 81 wickets with a best of 7 for 80 versus India at the Oval in 1936. He was the second-oldest Test captain after W.G. Grace at 45 years 254 days when he led the M.C.C. tour to the West Indies in 1947/48.
He played 265 first-class matches scoring 9,233 runs and he took 788 wickets before retiring in 1950.
He served as Chairman of the Test Selectors and as President of M.C.C. (1963-1964) and Middlesex (1977-1979) , The former 'Q' Stand at Lord's was named after him. He was knighted for his services to cricket in 1986 and he died on 29th November 1989 aged 87.
