Full name Ian Metcalfe King | Batting style Left-handed Name Ian King | |
Bowling style Slow left-arm orthodox | ||
Ian Metcalfe King (born 10 November 1931) is a former English cricketer. King was a left-handed batsman who bowled slow left-arm orthodox. He was born at Leeds, Yorkshire.
King made his first-class debut for Warwickshire against Kent in the 1952 County Championship. He made 52 further first-class appearances for Warwickshire, the last of which came against Essex in the 1955 County Championship. In his 53 first-class appearances for Warwickshire, he took 95 wickets at an average of 26.94, with best figures of 5/59. These figures, which were his only first-class five wicket haul, came against Essex in 1954. This season was also his most successful for Warwickshire, with King maintaining a regular starting place throughout that season. He took 71 wickets at an average of 23.84 in that season. A tailend batsman, King scored 345 runs at an average of 8.21, with a high score of 29 not out. King left Warwickshire at the end of the 1956 season.
He joined Essex in 1957, making his first-class debut for the county against Cambridge University. He made 27 further appearances that season, the last of which came against Surrey in the County Championship. King performed well with the ball in what was his only season with Essex, taking 34 wickets at an average of 33.70, with best figures of 4/25. He scored 131 runs that season, which came at an average of 8.73, with a high score of 33, which was his highest first-class score. Throughout his first-class career he was an able fielder, taking 60 catches. His best season was in 1957, when he held 29 catches in his 28 matches.