George Sharp (cricketer)

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = George Sharp

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = George Sharp

| nickname = Blunt, Razor, Sharpie

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|2|12|df=yes}}

| birth_place = West Hartlepool, England

| heightft = 5

| heightinch = 11

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Left-arm medium

| role = Wicket-keeper

| family =

| umpire = true

| testsumpired = 15

| umptestdebutyr = 1996

| umptestlastyr = 2002

| odisumpired = 31

| umpodidebutyr = 1996

| umpodilastyr = 2001

| wodisumpired = 2

| umpwodidebutyr = 2007

| umpwodilastyr = 2011

| wt20isumpired = 2

| umpwt20idebutyr = 2006

| umpwt20ilastyr = 2012

| fcumpired = 301

| umpfcdebutyr = 1992

| umpfclastyr = 2015

| club1 = Northamptonshire County Cricket Club

| year1 = 1968–1985

| columns = 2

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 306

| runs1 = 6,254

| bat avg1 = 19.85

| 100s/50s1 = 0/50

| top score1 = 98

| deliveries1 = 114

| wickets1 = 1

| bowl avg1 = 70

| fivefor1 = 0

| tenfor1 = 0

| best bowling1 = 1/47

| catches/stumpings1 = 565/90

| column2 = List A

| matches2 = 285

| runs2 = 2,377

| bat avg2 = 15.74

| 100s/50s2 = 0/1

| top score2 = 51*

| deliveries2 = –

| wickets2 = –

| bowl avg2 = –

| fivefor2 = –

| tenfor2 = –

| best bowling2 = –

| catches/stumpings2 = 242/50

| date = 6 March

| year = 2009

| source = http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20129.html Cricinfo

}}

George Sharp (born 12 March 1950) is an English former first-class cricketer and umpire. He was born at West Hartlepool, County Durham.

Playing career

Sharp spent 17 years at Northamptonshire and played more than 300 games, as a wicketkeeper batsman.{{cite web|url=http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20129.html|title=Players and Officials - George Sharp|publisher=Cricinfo|access-date=2009-03-06}}

Umpiring career

Sharp umpired 15 Tests and 31 One Day Internationals.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5684/Umpire_in_ODI_Matches.html | title=George Sharp as Umpire in ODI Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date=28 September 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5684/Umpire_in_Test_Matches.html | title=George Sharp as Umpire in Test Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date=28 September 2012}} He umpired over 300 matches in First-class and List A cricket.{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5684/Umpire_in_First-Class_Matches.html | title=George Sharp as Umpire in First-Class Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date=28 September 2012}}{{cite web | url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/5/5684/Umpire_in_List_A_Matches.html | title=George Sharp as Umpire in List A Matches | publisher=CricketArchive | access-date=28 September 2012}} Sharp continued to umpire matches in England until 2015, when he turned 65. ECB policy requires all umpires to retire when they reach this age, in order to allow younger umpires to gain employment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sportskeeda.com/cricket/umpire-peter-willey-challenges-dismissal-grounds-age-discrimination|title = Umpire Peter Willey challenges dismissal on grounds of age discrimination}} Sharp and fellow Northamptonshire team-mate and umpire Peter Willey challenged this decision at an employment tribunal, alleging age discrimination on the part of the ECB, but lost their case.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/county-cricket-2015/content/story/849331.html|title = Willey, Sharp fail in fight against retirement}}