Background
He was born at Streatham, London.
He was born at Streatham, London.
Melville was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium. Melville made his first-class debut for Kent against Sussex in the 1962 County Championship. He made five further first-class appearances for the county, the last of which came against Somerset in the 1963 County Championship.
In his six first-class appearances, he took 14 wickets at an average of 30.14, with best figures of 4/78.
With the bat, he scored a total of 20 runs at an average of 5.00, with a high score of 6. On 13 July 1961 he played for the Club Cricket Conference against the touring 1961 Australian team
This one day match was the only match the Australian"s lost on this tour other that a Test match. James Melville was mainly responsible by taking 6 wickets for 46 runs in 11 overs.
His club was Blackheath Central Committee, a member of the Master Control Console and played for the Club against Ireland at Lords June 1965.