Norman Stewart “Mandy” Mitchell-Innes (7 September 1914 – 28 December 2006) was an amateur cricketer for Somerset, who played in one Test match for England in 1935. Between 1931 and 1949 Mitchell-Innes played 132 first-class matches, appearing 69 times for Somerset, and 43 times for Oxford University. He made his debut for Somerset while he was still a schoolboy at the now, Lancashire CCC, out ground Sedbergh School in 1931.
Mitchell-Innes was named as one of three captains of Somerset in 1948. Jack Meyer had reluctantly captained the side in 1947, but stepped down at the end of the season: he was having problems with his sight, and required daily painkillers for lumbago. There was no obvious replacement for Meyer; like many counties Somerset would not consider having a professional captain, and finding an amateur with the time and money to lead the side was proving troublesome.
When Mitchell-Innes left the team for the Sudan, they were bottom of the County Championship with no points; they finished the season 12th of 17 after collecting 92 points, including five wins. Batting was identified as Somerset’s weakest area in both 1947 and 1948; Mitchell-Innes’ batting average of 22.20 placed him sixth in the county averages in 1948.
1949 was his last season of first-class cricket, and he played his final match in May 1949 against Hampshire and died on 28th December 2006.
Photo from SCCC Players, Photographs and Statistics – available in the Museum and Library
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