Introduction
John Bowra (baptised 3 June 1716 at Sevenoaks, Kent; buried 22 December 1785 at Sevenoaks) was an English professional cricketer of the mid-Georgian period who made 5 known appearances in first-class cricket.
Career
John Bowra (pronounced Borra) has been identified as "Mr. Boarer", one of "three very good gamesters", who assisted London in a match on Kennington Common in 1739.
Later, in the 1740s, he appeared in several great matches on the Artillery Ground as "John Borah" and represented Kent. He played for Robert Colchin's XI, largely a Kent team, against Richard Newland's XI in 1745.
Bowra is believed to have been a shepherd employed by John Frederick Sackville, 3rd Duke of Dorset to explain his title of "The Kentish Shepherd", under which he headed an eleven against "Long Tom" (i.e., Tom Faulkner) of Surrey on Kennington Common in 1747. Earlier that season, he was a member of Robert Colchin's XI against William Hodsoll's XI.
Bowra's final recorded appearance was in 1749 when he again represented Colchin's XI against Stephen Dingate's XI.
Family
William Bowra, who played in the latter part of the 18th century, is believed to have been his son.