James Sharples only made one first-class appearance – in 1922 in the end of season encounter with Leicestershire at Cardiff Arms Park when the county were missing several regulars. The young batsman failed to score in his only innings and never appeared again in first-class cricket.
Sharples was an engineer by trade and after playing in League cricket in his native Lancashire, he moved initially to Kent, before securing a post at the National Oil Refinery in Skewen. Whilst in South Wales he played for Briton Ferry Town, but later emigrated to work in Turkey and Egypt.
He returned to the UK in the 1930s and settled in Shropshire, where he ran a tobacconists and newsagents in Craven Arms. Sharples retained a keen interest in sport, playing cricket for Craven Arms CC, in addition to owning racehorses who ran in his colours under National Hunt rules. He also became involved in local politics and served as a councillor for Ludlow Rural District Council.
In his youth, Jimmy had also been a talented footballer and had played professionally for the Leicester Fosse team.
SHARPLES, James Everett
Born – Pendlebury, Lancashire, 26th December 1890.
Died – Craven Arms, 23rd August 1969.
| M | I | NO | RUNS | AV | 100 | 50 | CT | ST | |
| F-c | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | – |
| Balls | M | R | W | AV | 5wI | 10wM | |
| First-class | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – |