Jimmy Ell appeared in 28 first-class matches as a right-handed batsman, scoring 1185 runs, with a highest of 89.

[1] He scored 61, top-scoring in the second innings, in Wellington's narrow victory over the touring MCC in 1935-36.

[3] The New Zealand cricket historian Don Neely described Ell as "a brilliant stylist with a hint of batting genius who never really developed into the great player he could have been".

[2] Ell was born in Lower Hutt and educated at Johnsonville School and Wellington Technical College.

[2] His first wife Hilda and his sister Agnes played Test cricket for New Zealand.