James Hamilton Purves (born 4 December 1937) is a former English cricketer. Purves was a left -handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire and educated at Uppingham School.

Purves made his first-class debut for Essex against Cambridge University in 1960. Following this match he played a first-class fixture for the Free Foresters against Oxford University.^[1] The following season he made four further first-class appearances for Essex, the last of which came against Middlesex in the County Championship.^[1] He struggled in his five first-class appearances for the county, scoring just 36 runs at an average of 5.14, with a high score of 14.^[2] He made a further first-class appearance for the Free Foresters in 1961, followed this up in 1962 by making two more for the team. Also in 1962, Purves made his only first-class appearance for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Cambridge University. In 1964, he made his final first-class appearance for the Free Foresters against Oxford University.^[1] He fared better with the bat for the Free Foresters, scoring 422 runs in his five matches at an average of 42.20, with a high score of 74.^[2] This score, which was one of four fifties he made for the club, came against Cambridge University in 1962.^[3]