Wisden
1969

Obituaries in 1968

BERESFORD, RICHARD MARCUS, who died suddenly on August 19, aged 55, was in the Oundle XI from 1928 to 1931, being captain in the last two years. In 1930 he headed the batting figures with 686 runs, average 57.16. He played for Norfolk while at school. Going up to Cambridge, he took part in trials, but never appeared in the University team.

BESSEMER, HENRY DOUGLAS, who died on February 7, aged 73, was appointed by M.C.C. in 1937 to assist in an advisory capacity on financial questions the Commission which inquired into the problems at present confronting the first-class counties. He was a great grandson of Sir Henry Bessemer, the inventor of the process for the direct conversion of pig-iron into steel.

BISGOOD, BERTRAM LEWIS, who died on July 19, aged 87, played from time to time as an amateur for Somerset from 1907 to 1921. He enjoyed the satisfaction of hitting a century on his debut in first-class cricket when, for Somerset against Worcestershire at Worcester in 1907, he followed a first innings of 82 with one of 116 not out. Another big success came against Gloucestershire at Taunton in 1914 when he scored 116 and 78 not out.

BOUCHER, NOEL, who died on July 27, aged 72, was in the Tonbridge XI in 1914--the year in which the series of annual matches with Clifton at Lord's commenced--and 1915. In 1924 and 1925 he made occasional appearances for Kent Second XI. He was President of Kent in 1964.

BROOKE-TAYLOR, GEOFFREY PARKER, who died in Buenos Aires on January 15, aged 72, was in the XI at Cheltenham from 1912 to 1914, being captain in the last season. He got his Blue as a left-handed batsman for Cambridge in 1919 and 1920. Against Oxford in the second year he scored 55 in the second innings, helping G. Ashton to put on 74 for the fifth wicket before he was run out. In that season he appeared in one match for Derbyshire.

CHADWICK, THE REV. ROHAN MACKENZIE, who died on February 15, was in the Rugby XI from 1902 to 1904 and before his ordination played for Dorset for a number of years.

COLLINS, GEOFFREY ALBERT KIRWAN, who died suddenly on August 7, aged 59, was in the Lancing XI from 1926 to 1928. He handed the batting figures in each season, his best being that of 1928 when, as captain, he scored 863 runs, average 71.91, including four centuries, the highest of which was 212 against Lancing Old Boys. First appearing for Sussex when still at school, he played periodically for the county for seven years till 1934. Business afterwards confined his activities on the field to club cricket. As an Association footballer of ability, he assisted Lancing Old Boys and The Casuals.

COOPER, EDWIN, who died in a Birmingham hospital on October 29, aged 52, was a stylish right-handed professional batsman for Worcestershire from 1937 to 1951. During that time he scored 13,304 runs for the county, including 18 centuries, at an average of 31.90. Born at Bacup, he played for the local club in the Lancashire League before qualifying for Worcestershire, for whom he met with immediate success. He reached 1,212 runs, average 23.30, in his first season and put together a four-figure aggregate in each of the next eight summers till he left to take up a coaching appointment at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth.

Eddie Cooper's highest innings for Worcestershire was 216 not out off the Warwickshire bowling at Dudley in 1938, when he batted without fault for six and a half hours and he and S. H. Martin (136) put on 245 for the fourth wicket. The following season he made the highest innings, 69, in the low-scoring tie game with Somerset at Kidderminster and on the same ground in 1946 hit 191 and 106 not out in the match with Northamptonshire. Generally an opening batsman, he used his height to get to the pitch of the ball, which he watched very closely; employed neat footwork against spin bowling and, with a high back-lift, put considerable power into his strokes. He was at his best on the off-side and in hooking. His most successful season was that of 1949 when, with 1,872 runs, average 46.80, he headed the Worcestershire figures. In 1951 he and D. Kenyon became what Wisden termed almost the ideal opening pair, sharing seven partnerships of over 100. He was also a capital fieldsman in the deep. After leaving Dartmouth, he coached for a time at Bedford School.

CUMMING, BRUCE LEONARD, who died in Johannesburg in May, was educated at Michaelhouse, South Africa. He did not gain a Blue at Oxford, but played in a few matches as South Africa a batsman for Sussex from 1936 to 1938.

DACOSTA, GRANVILLE MONTY, who died at Kingston, Jamaica, on February 18, aged 83, was a well-known sportsman and businessman who had represented Jamaica on the West Indies Board of Control. He was formerly President of the Jamaica Chambers of Commerce.

DAWSON, HAROLD B., who died in April, aged 76, had been a member of the C.C.C. Committee since 1949. In his younger days he played as a Yorkshire left-hand batsman for Leeds, whom he captained.

DYNES, BRIGADIER ERNEST D., who died on June 21, aged 65, played for the Army and Bedfordshire between the two World Wars. He was A.D.C. to the Queen from 1955 to 1957, when he became C.B.E. He was also honorary secretary of the Suffolk County Golf Union.

EYTLE, ERNEST B., who died suddenly on December 1, aged 49, was a cricket commentator for the B.B.C., for whom he played regularly in club cricket for a number of years. Born in British Guiana, he went to England in 1937 and became a barrister. During the War he appeared for the British Empire XI.

FRANKLIN, WALTER BELL, who died suddenly on March 5, aged 76, was a regular member of the Buckinghamshire side from 1911 to 1946, holding the position of captain from 1919 till his retirement from the game. Under his leadership, the county carried off the Minor Counties' Championship on five occasions. In the Repton XI for three years from 1908 to 1910, Franklin was a first-rate wicket-keeper and as such gained a Blue at Cambridge in 1912. He lost his place against Oxford next year because the Harrovian, A. H. Lang, possessed greater ability as a batsman. Though he rarely took part in first-class cricket, Franklin's ability behind the stumps was rated so highly that he was chosen to play for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lord's in 1926 and the two following years, doing surprisingly well as a lower-order batsman. His class may be gauged from the comments of Sir Pelham Warner in his book, Lord's. Of Franklin's 1926 performance, Sir Pelham wrote that he kept superbly and of that of 1928 that he was almost as good as Duckworth. Franklin became President of the Minor Counties C.A. and of Buckinghamshire and he contributed a chapter on wicket-keeping to the Lonsdale volume.

GERMAN, ARTHUR CLIVE JOHNSON, who died in an Aberdeen hospital on February 2, aged 62, was in the Repton XI in 1922 and 1923. He did not get a cricket Blue at Oxford, but represented the University against Cambridge at Association football from 1925 to 1927, becoming captain. He was also a noted half-back for the Corinthians. He played in a few matches for Leicestershire in 1923 and the following season.

GOODALL, ARTHUR WILLIAM, who died suddenly on December 17, aged 73 while on a visit to Nairobi, was vice-president and chairman of the finance committee of Lancashire C.C.C. from 1950 to 1964.

GROUT, ARTHUR THEODORE WALLACE, who died in hospital in Brisbane on November 9, aged 41, kept wicket for Australia in 51 Test matches between 1957 and 1965. He entered hospital only two days before his death. A Brisbane doctor was afterwards reported as saying that Grout knew that he might collapse at any time during the last four years of his Test career and that he took part in the Australian tour of the West Indies only a few months after a heart attack in 1964. Yet Wally's unfailingly cheerful demeanour gave no inkling that there might be anything amiss with him.

Few chances escaped the agile Grout behind the stumps. In Test cricket he dismissed 187 batsmen, 163 of them caught and 24 stumped. Of these, 23 fell to him in the series with the West Indies in Australia in 1960-61; 21 in England in 1961 and 20 against England in Australia in 1958-59. Only T. G. Evans, who played in 40 more Test matches for England, possesses a better record. On two occasions Grout claimed eight victims in a Test match and his six catches in one innings against South Africa at Johannesburg in 1957-58 set up a world's record which has since been equalled by J. D. Lindsay for South Africa and J. T. Murray for England. On five other occasions Grout disposed of five batsmen in an innings. Outside Test cricket, his greatest achievement was when he exceeded all previous wicket-keeping feats in first-class cricket; for Queensland in the Sheffield Shield match at Brisbane in 1960, he sent back eight Western Australia batsmen, all caught, in one innings. That world's record still stands.

In addition to his wicket-keeping ability, Grout was also a distinctly useful late-order batsman, as he proved in that Test at Johannesburg in which he brought off his six catches. He and R. Benaud, in adding 89, set up a new record for the Australian eighth wicket against South Africa.

Tributes to Grout included:

S. C. Griffith (M.C.C. Secretary): Among cricketers, he was regarded as one of the most kindly and generous of men. Speaking as a former wicket-keeper myself, I regarded him as among the most consistent performers behind the wicket I have ever played with or seen.

Sir Donald Bradman: He was one of the finest wicket-keepers of all time.

R. B. Simpson: He was the greatest wicket-keeper I ever saw.

R. Benaud: He was able to read a match as well as any captain and was always of tremendous value to me in captaining the Australian side.

W. W. Hall ( West Indies fast bowler who played for Queensland in two Sheffield Shield series): He was the finest wicket-keeper I either played with or against in my ten years of big cricket.

B. N. Jarman (successor to Grout as Australian wicket-keeper): I could not speak too highly of Wally as a wicket-keeper. He was one of the game's greatest characters. I never begrudged playing second fiddle to him.

HASLIP, SHEARMAN MONTAGUE, who died on July 4, aged 71, was in the Rugby XI in 1914 and 1915 as a fast-medium bowler and batsman. He played in a few matches for Middlesex in 1919, heading the bowling averages with 12 wickets at a cost of 21.08 runs each.

HESELTON, ALLISON WYNDHAM, who died on September 29, aged 74, served as Treasurer of Yorkshire C.C.C. for 31 years from 1932 to 1962.

HICKMOTT, WILLIAM EDWARD, who died on January 16, aged 72, played as a professional left-arm bowler for Kent between 1914 and 1921 and for Lancashire in 1923 and 1924. In his first year with Lancashire he took 57 wickets, average 23.96, including five for 20 against Leicestershire at Old Trafford. Wisden said of him at that time: He bowled medium to rather slow and sometimes caused a lot of trouble without doing steady enough work to fulfil expectations. As a professional with Rochdale, he set up a Central Lancashire League record in 1927 by taking 140 wickets during the season. Nephew of E. Hickmott, the old Kent player who served for so long as groundsman at The Mote, Maidstone, he afterwards became celebrated as a breeder and trainer of golden retrievers.

HOLLIES, WILLIAM, who died in March, aged 84, was father of W. E. Hollies, the former Warwickshire and England leg-break and googly bowler. In his playing days Will earned a reputation in the Midlands as a skilful bowler of lobs for Old Hill and in 1940 he and his son helped the club to win the Birmingham League Championship.

HOLT, JOHN KENNETH, who died in Kingston, Jamaica, on August 5, aged 83, played as an all-rounder for Jamaica. He toured England as a member of H. B. G. Austin's West Indies side in 1923, his highest innings being 56 against Somerset at Weston-super-Mare.

HOOD, LT.-COL. ERNEST HUGO MEGGISON, who died on August 1, aged 54, took part in one match for Somerset, against Cambridge University, in 1935. He played in war-time cricket for the Army and for several years with Scarborough C.C.

JAYAWEERA, LEONARD VIVIAN, one of Ceylon's most versatile sportsmen, died on May 2, aged 67. His left-arm medium-paced in-swingers earned 1,000 wickets for the Colts, the premier Ceylonese club, Colombo Commercial Company, the Colombo Municipality, and the Ceylon Garrison Artillery. In 1931 he captured 100 wickets and in his career he performed the hat-trick seven times. Always tremendously fit, he would walk long distances there and back to play an afternoon's cricket. Jayaweera was also a prominent boxer and footballer.

JOYNSON, LIEUT.-COLONEL WILLIAM OWEN HAMBRO, who died on July 19, aged 79, was Chairman of Kent C.C.C. for some years and became President in 1959 and 1960. He was High Sheriff of Kent in 1966.

KELAART, MERVYN, who died in Victoria, Australia, on February 2, aged 60, was a member of a celebrated Ceylon cricketing family. A stylish left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pace spin bowler, he headed both sets of averages for St. Joseph's College, Colombo, when 16. He represented Ceylon against the M.C.C. team of 1932 and also against New Zealand and was an outstanding success in the Ceylon side that toured India in 1932-33, when he scored 101 from the All India bowling at Lahore. He again visited India in 1940 and, as a member of Dr. C. H. Gunasekara's touring team in Malaya, took six wickets for 19 runs and two for 20 against Malaya.

KELLY, WILLIAM L., who died in Melbourne in December, aged 92, was manager of the Australian team in England in 1930-- Sir Donald Bradman's first tour. Kelly played for Victoria in 1908. An amusing story is told of his visit to England. During a match at The Oval, he was said to have placed a notice on the door of the Australian dressing-room which read: Nobody admitted without manager's authority. The Oval, of course, forms part of the Duchy of Cornwall, which provided a source of revenue to the then Prince of Wales, now the Duke of Windsor. The Prince attended the match, saw the notice and told Kelly: You can't keep me out. I'm your landlord!

LAMBERT, REIGNALD EVERITT, who died on January 23, aged 85, was in the Harrow XI in 1901, making top score, 71, and helping in victory by ten wickets over Eton at Lord's. He played in one match for Sussex in 1904, against Cambridge University, when C. B. Fry (150) and J. Vine (82) shared an opening partnership of 220 for the county.

LINNELL, HERBERT JAMES, who died in hospital at Canterbury on February 8, aged 58, was in the St. Lawrence, Ramsgate XI for four years from 1925, being captain in 1928. He played in one match for Kent Second XI in 1929.

MCCABE, STANLEY JOSEPH, who died on August 25, aged 58, following a fall from a cliff at his home in Sydney, was one of Australia's greatest and most enterprising batsmen. In 62 Test innings between 1930 and 1938 he scored 2,748 runs, including six centuries, for an average of 48.21. During a first-class career lasting from 1928 to 1942, he obtained 11,951 runs, average 49.39, reaching three figures on 29 occasions. Short and stockily-built, with strong arms, flexible wrists and excellent footwork, he was at his best when facing bowlers of pace. Though he scored most of his runs by strokes in front of the wicket, with the drive his speciality, he also hooked splendidly. In addition, he was a useful change bowler above medium pace, with the ability to send down the occasional ball which came back from the off at disconcerting speed, and an energetic and accurate fielder.

He displayed an early aptitude for cricket when, after a month in the second team at St. Joseph's College, Hunter Hill, Sydney, he gained a place in the first eleven as an all-rounder at the age of 14 and held it for three years. After leaving school, he assisted Grenfell Juniors, a country district club, and in 1928 made the first of many appearances for New South Wales. His form for the State was such that he earned a place in W. M. Woodfull's team which visited England in 1930 when, having taken some time to become accustomed to unfamiliar conditions, he averaged 35 in the five Test matches and in all first-class fixtures reached 1,012 runs without hitting a century. In 1931-32 he enjoyed remarkable success in his three innings for New South Wales, scores of 229 not out against Queensland at Brisbane and 106 and 103 not out from the Victoria bowling at Sydney giving him the phenomenal Sheffield Shield average of 438. That season, too, he averaged 33.50 in five Tests with South Africa.

Against D. R. Jardine's team in 1932-33, in what is often called the body-line tour, when England employed fast leg-theory bowling to a packed leg-side field, McCabe distinguished himself by hitting 385 runs in the five Tests, average nearly 43. His 187 not out in the first match of the series at Sydney was a remarkable exhibition of both craftsmanship and courage. He made his runs out of 278 in less than four and three-quarter hours, after his earlier colleagues failed, with twenty-five 4's among his figures. His hooking of short-pitched deliveries by H. Larwood and W. Voce, the Nottinghamshire pair, was something which will for ever hold a place in Australian cricket history. In England again in 1934, he put together eight centuries--more than any of his team-mates--including 240, the highest of his career, against Surrey at The Oval and 137 in the third Test at Old Trafford. As Wisden of the time said of him: He blossomed forth as an almost completely equipped batsman of the forcing type and was probably the best exponent-- Bradman himself scarcely excluded--of the art of hitting the ball tremendously hard and safely.

Next season at home he became captain of New South Wales and on tour in South Africa in 1935-36 he enjoyed more success, heading the Test batting figures with 420 runs, average 84. He hit 149 in the first test at Durban, sharing a second-wicket partnership of 161 with W. A. Brown, and 189 not out in the second meeting with South Africa at Johannesburg, where he and J. H. Fingleton put on 177 together. At Johannesburg he showed his fast-scoring ability to the full by reaching 50 in forty-two minutes.

Perhaps McCabe's most famous innings was his 232 not out in the opening Test against England at Trent Bridge in 1938 which, scored at the rate of one a minute, promoted Sir Donald Bradman, his captain, to greet him on his return to the pavilion with the words: If I could play an innings like that, I'd be a proud man, Stan.

S. C. Griffith, Secretary of M.C.C., commented upon this innings when paying a tribute to McCabe, calling it one of the best batting displays ever seen. McCabe was a very great cricketer and a wonderful friend to all cricketers, said Mr. Griffith.

Other tributes included:

Sir Robert Menzies, former Prime Minister of Australia: One of his great points was that he never bothered about averages; he enjoyed his batting. He was one of the two or three greatest batsman I ever saw.

Sir Leonard Hutton: I knew him well. It would be hard to think of a greater Australian batsman. He had qualities that even Bradman hadn't got. I always liked to watch him bat and he was a most likeable fellow.

MCCASKIE, NORMAN, who died suddenly on July 1, aged 57, was in the XI at Winchester in 1928 and 1929, but did not gain a Blue at Oxford. He made one appearance for Middlesex at Lord's in 1932, when he formed the third leg of a hat-trick by G. Paine, the Warwickshire left-arm slow bowler, who took seven wickets for 14 runs.

MACHIN, REGINALD STANLEY, who died on November 3, aged 64, was in the Lancing XI as wicket-keeper in 1922 and 1923. He got a Blue at Cambridge in 1927 and, with one catch and three stumpings, helped in the defeat of Oxford by 116 runs. From 1927 to 1930 he made occasional appearances for Surrey. In all first-class cricket Rex Machin brought off 55 catches and 14 stumpings. For 32 years he was headmaster of Bilton Grange Preparatory School, Dunchurch, near Rugby.

MCVEAGH, GEORGE, who died in Dublin on June 5, aged 61, played for Ireland in many cricket, lawn tennis, hockey and squash rackets matches and was a former President of the Irish Cricket Union. He captained Ireland at hockey from 1937 to 1939 when his country won the triple crown in three successive years.

MARSH, WILLIAM HENRY, who died in a St. Albans nursing home on April 18, aged 91, first played for Harpenden C.C. in 1896 and continued for some 60 years. As an all-rounder he frequently assisted Hertfordshire from 1899 to 1923, scoring 2, 462 runs and taking 303 wickets, and was elected county captain in 1912. A member of Harpenden for 73 years, Billy Marsh became their first honorary life President and after 50 years on the Hertfordshire Committee was in 1960 elected their sole honorary life member.

MARTIN, GEOFFREY WILLIAM, who died in Launceston on March 7, aged 72, played in 22 matches for Tasmania between the 1922-23 and 1931-32 seasons. An aggressive right-hand batsman, strong in off-side strokes, he excelled in matches with M.C.C. teams, scoring 121 at one a minute against A. E. R. Gilligan's 1924-25 side and 92 against that led by A. P. F. Chapman in 1928-29. On the latter occasion he was bowled by the Nottinghamshire fast bowler, H. Larwood, the bail travelling 67 yards 6 inches, or equal to the world record distance for a bail set up by R. D. Burrows, of Worcestershire, in 1911. Martin's career in senior cricket in Launceston extended over 44 years and in his last season at the age of 60 he played an innings of 63.

MORRIS, FRANCIS GEORGE, who died on May 30, aged 58, was an executive member and selector of the English Schools Cricket Association and secretary of the senior section of the Cheshire Schools C.A. He had been headmaster of Nantwich and Acton County Grammar School since 1951.

MURRAY-WOOD, WILLIAM, who died in hospital on December 21, aged 51, enjoyed remarkable success as a hard-hitting batsman and leg-break bowler while in the Mill Hill XI from 1932 to 1935. Three times he headed both sets of averages and in 1935, when captain, held a batting average of 48.50 and took 61 wickets for 9.49 runs each. He got his Blue as a Frenchman in 1936 at Oxford, where he distinguished himself by scoring 106 not out against Gloucestershire in his first first-class match. Unfortunately he could not maintain this form and against Cambridge failed to score in either innings. He made his debut for Kent that season and played occasionally till he was appointed county captain in 1952 and 1953.

In August, 1953, his first-class career came to an abrupt end. During the closing match of the Canterbury Festival in August, the Kent Committee announced that he was being replaced forthwith as captain by D. V. P. Wright, a professional. Murray-Wood, clearly upset by this decision, made it plain that he had not resigned. Not until the Kent annual meeting the following February was it stated that the Committee's unprecendented action came as a result of representations by the club's amateur players, who had said that they would not continue under Murray-Wood's leadership.

A farmer by profession, Murray-Wood toured Jamaica with the Combined Oxford and Cambridge team in 1938 and Bermuda with W. S. Surridge's XI in 1961.

During the last war he worked with the Special Operations Executive which trained men and women to parachute into occupied territory and work with patriot forces.

NEWSUM, LIEUT.-COLONEL H. N., who died after a long illness on April 13, aged 74, was at one time a player and a secretary of Lincolnshire County C.C.

OATES, ARCHER WILLIAMSON, who died on December 31, aged 60, played as a right-arm fast bowler for Nottinghamshire in a few matches between 1931 and 1933. His opportunities were limited by the presence in the county team of the England pair, H. Larwood and W. Voce, and he left the staff to join the Nottingham City Police Force. He retired with the rank of inspector in 1964. He was a nephew of T. W. Oates, the long-serving Nottinghamshire wicket-keeper.

ORMSBY, GEORGE, who died in a New York hospital on April 14, aged 67, was a noted American cricketer. Born in British Honduras, he first appeared in New York cricket in 1919 and continued till heart trouble caused his retirement in the'50s. He hit 28 centuries, a New York record, the highest being 179 not out, and while on tour with a club side in Canada in 1937 obtained five within a week. During a visit to England in 1939, he played for the Buccaneers and was invited by Sir Pelham Warner to turn out for Middlesex, but business claims prevented him accepting.

PINNEY, LIEUT.-COLONEL GEORGE AMBROSE, who died on March 26, aged 80, had been President of Dorset County C.C. since 1955.

QUAIFE, FRANK C., who died on August 27, was professional at Eastbourne College from 1946 to 1963. A slow left-arm bowler, he played in two matches for Sussex in 1928.

REMNANT, LIEUT.-COLONEL HON. PETER FARQUHARSON, who died in hospital on January 31, aged 70, was in the Eton XI in 1915, playing in the one-day match with Winchester. He later appeared for Berkshire and the Minor Counties. He served in the Army in both World Wars and was Conservative M.P. for Workingham, Berks. from 1950 to 1959.

ROBERTS, DESMOND, who died on January 11, aged 72, was educated at St. Bees, where he was in the XI. He played on occasion for Surrey Second XI and took part in several first-class matches for M.C.C. In 1920 he toured America with the Incogniti and during a stay in that country captained Hollywood C.C. for five years.

ROBINS, ROBERT WALTER VIVIAN, who died at his home near Lord's on December 12, aged 62, will live in history as one of the most dynamic all-round cricketers of his time. In three of his four years in the XI at Highgate School he headed both batting and bowling averages, being captain in the last, 1925, when, with an innings of 206 and seven wickets for 54 runs against Aldenham his outstanding performance, he scored 816 runs, average 62.76, and dismissed 60 batsmen for 15.18 runs apiece. He also captained the Highgate football XI. In 1925, while still at school, he made his first appearance for Middlesex, for whom he played irregularly till 1950. In all first-class cricket, he hit 13,490 runs, average 26.45, and took 946 wickets at 23.59 runs each--figures which do not convey his true worth.

From an early age, Robbie was taught the rudiments of the game by his father, a Staffordshire player, and as a boy he assisted East Molesey C.C. He attributed his success to an indefatigable, patient male parent, but whatever the reason, he always displayed an aggressively enterprising attitude to the game, whether in batting, bowling, fielding, particularly at cover point, or in captaincy, which made him immensely popular with spectators and frequently swayed the course of a match.

He got his Blue as a Freshman at Cambridge in 1926 purely as a batsman, scoring 37 and 21 not out. In the next season's University match he hit 55 and 41, sending down only one over; but in 1928 he not only put together innings of 53 and 101 not out, but took eight wickets for 151 runs, almost bringing success over Oxford. That gained him a place in the Gentlemen's team against the Players for the first of numerous occasions. Impatient of dull cricket, Robins wasted few scoring opportunities as a batsman, employing his nimble footwork and flexible wrists to the full, especially in cutting and driving. His example transformed a hitherto drab Middlesex side when he took over the captaincy from 1935 to 1938. He also led the county in 1946, 1947--when they carried off the Championship--and 1950.

In his first full season for them, 1929, he achieved his only double, scoring 1,134 runs, including one century, and taking 162 wickets, but more than once he came near repeating that feat. He took part in 19 Test matches for England, being captain in the home series with New Zealand in 1937, and in these he made 612 runs, average 26.60, and took 64 wickets for 27.46 runs each. His highest innings in a Test was 108, when runs were sorely needed, against South Africa at Old Trafford in 1935, and his best bowling analysis six wickets for 32 runs against the West Indies at Lord's in 1933. His one major tour abroad was to Australia in 1936-37, when he was vice-captain under G. O. Allen. Unfortunately he broke a finger of the right hand at fielding practice in the first week of the tour with the result that he could not spin the ball and achieved small bowling success. At the age of 45, he captained the M.C.C. team which visited Canada in 1951, meeting with considerable all-round success.

As a bowler of leg-bowlers and googlies, Robins could not always command a good length; but though he sometimes came in for punishment he was always capable of producing a telling delivery. Twice he did the hat-trick for Middlesex: against Leicestershire in 1929 and against Somerset in 1937, both at Lord's. At Trent Bridge in 1930, he bowled Sir Donald Bradman with a googly to which that famous batsman did not offer a stroke and virtually won the game for England. One recalls, too, an occasion at Lord's when Robins, arriving late through business claims, put himself on to bowl directly he took the field. Nottinghamshire at that time were making runs comfortably, with F. W. Stocks, the left-hander, well set. The last ball of an over from Robins pitched so near the end of the popping crease on the batsman's off-side that he completely ignored it. To his astonishment, the ball turned almost at right-angles and hit the stumps! No wonder that Robbie doubled up with laughter.

As a Test team selector, Robins served from 1946 to 1949 and again in 1954 and was chairman of the Committee from 1962 to 1964. He began this latter period by issuing an ultimatum to first-class cricketers: Play aggressively at all times; otherwise you will not be chosen for England. It cannot be said that this produced precisely the results desired, but at least it relieved Test cricket of some of the stagnation which threatened its popularity at the time. Robins also ably filled the position of manager of the M.C.C. team in the West Indies in 1959-60.

As an Association footballer, he displayed much of the same dash which distinguished him on the cricket field. He played on the right wing for Cambridge in the University matches of 1926, 1927 and 1928, being captain in the second season, and he appeared with credit for that celebrated amateur club, the Corinthians. He also took part in League football with Nottingham Forest.

Tributes included:--

S. C. Griffith: Walter was one of the most dynamic cricketers with whom I played. His tremendous enthusiasm and deep knowledge of the game and its history made him the complete cricketer. As an administrator he always proved extremely helpful.

I. A. R. Peebles: I think that he was the most enthusiastic and joyous cricketer I played with. In addition he possessed an unparalleled knowledge of the game.

D. J. Insole: Walter's death is a sad blow. He was the greatest exponent ever of brighter cricket, though never for its own sake, but because he believed such cricket achieved greater success. As a selector his judgement of a player was excellent.

A. W. Flower (Middlesex C.C. Secretary): Mr. Robins was still a member of the county's General and Cricket Committees. He was a wonderful character, a dynamic personality both on and off the field.

ROBSON, HARRY, who died suddenly on August 31, aged 64, was one of the best spin bowlers ever produced by the North East of England. Born in County Durham, he qualified by residence for Northumberland, for whom he played from 1932 to 1951. In that time he took with left-arm bowling well over 300 wickets in Minor Counties' Competition matches, performing the hat-trick on three occasions. His most successful season was that of 1939, when he dismissed 48 batsmen at a cost of 19.31 runs each, and on four occasions he headed the county averages. In League and club cricket, too, he achieved many telling performances, including 10 wickets for 21 runs for Haslingden in 1946.

ROWBOTHAM, DENYS, who collapsed and died while working in his newspaper's Manchester office on January 18, aged 52, reported cricket and Rugby football for The Guardian for 20 years. As a calmly discerning writer with a sense of humour, he toured Australia and South Africa with several M.C.C. teams. During the Second World War, while working for a newspaper in New Zealand, he joined the New Zealand Forces and served for more than five years in the Pacific. He was educated at King's School, Macclesfield, and Balliol College, Oxford.

SIEVERS, MAURICE, who died in a Melbourne hospital on May 1 following a heart attack, aged 56, played as a fast-medium bowler and useful batsman for Victoria from 1934 to 1941. He took 92 wickets for the State at a cost of 35.81 runs each and hit 1,540 runs, average 28.00. In 1936-37 he played in three Test matches for Australia against G. O. Allen's England side, heading his country's averages with nine wickets for 17.88 runs apiece. He achieved his best performance in his third Test when, on a glue-pot pitch at Melbourne, he dismissed five batsmen for 21 runs in the first innings. Australia won the game by 365 runs and as they also triumphed in the next two Tests, retained The Ashes after losing the first two fixtures of the series.

STANLEY, LIEUT.-COLONEL KENNETH BRIDGES, who died on April 20, was honorary Secretary of the Free Foresters C.C. from 1938 till his death. Educated at Malvern and the R.M.C., Sandhurst, he served in the Army during both World Wars. He contributed an article to Wisden on the occasion of the Free Foresters' centenary.

STEVENS, LIEUT.-COLONEL LEONARD CORDING, who died on May 27, aged 77, was a well-known sportsman in Eastbourne for over 50 years. After the Second World War, he raised many teams who met touring sides from overseas, Cambridge University and the Royal Air Force on the Saffrons ground. He was President of Eastbourne Cricket and Football Club for 31 years and had been President of Eastbourne R.F.C. In his younger days he played cricket, Association and Rugby football, at which last he represented Sussex. He was founder headmaster of Chelmsford Hall Preparatory School.

STOW, VINCENT AUBREY STEWART, who died on April 21, aged 84, did not gain a place in the XI while at Winchester, but received a trial as wicket-keeper for Oxford University in 1904. He was the last surviving member of the M.C.C. team who, under the captaincy of E. W. Mann, visited America in 1905.

SULLIVAN, DENNIS, who died in Harold Wood Hospital, Essex, on December 28, aged 81, kept wicket occasionally for Surrey in 1920. Seeing little prospect of a place in the first team while H. Strudwick, the England player was still available, he joined forces with Glamorgan, for whom he played from 1925 to 1927. In all first-class matches he held 92 catches and brought off 56 stumpings.

THOMSON, ARTHUR ALEXANDER, who died in hospital near Lord's on June 2, aged 74, was one of the best known and best loved writers on cricket. A. A. or Tommy was born at Harrogate on April 7, 1894, and educated at Harrogate Grammar School and King's College, London. His early thoughts of entering the scholastic profession were interrupted by the First World War, when he joined the West Yorkshire Regiment and served in France and Mesopotamia. His early boyhood in Yorkshire had formed the subject of his brilliant autobiographical novel, The Exquisite Burden (1935), re-issued in 1963. He wrote nearly 60 books in all, including plays, novels, verse, humour and travel books, and in 1953, with Cricket My Pleasure, there began his long series of cricket books in which his buoyant philosophy of the game, with all its comedy and character, shone through in rich prose and mellow phrases. There then followed Cricket My Happiness (1954), Pavilioned in Splendour (1956), The Great Cricketer (a biography of Dr. W. G. Grace) (1957 and 1968), Odd Men In (1958), Hirst and Rhodes (1959), Cricket Bouquet (1961), Cricket: The Golden Ages (1961), Hutton and Washbrook (1963), Cricket: The Great Captains (1965), Cricket: The Wars of the Roses (1967), and Cricketers of My Times (1967). He also contributed some delightful articles to Wisden. Probably no cricket author since Sir Neville Cardus was in his prime had a closer following. Cricket, he once declared, gave him more unalloyed pleasure over a longer period than any single thing.

He had an enormous sense of fun and a perpetual twinkle in his eye, and when, in 1958, he started writing cricket for The Times, and then rugger in the winter, his presence in press-boxes throughout the country could guarantee a warm fund of stories, all told with an expressive fervour, that made up for any deficiencies on the field. As an after-dinner speaker at cricket gatherings he was one of the most original and popular of the last decade, and since 1963 he had been President of the Cricket Society. During the Second World War he worked first at the Air Ministry and then as a lecturer with the Ministry of Information. In the 1966 Birthday Honours List, he was awarded the M.B.E. for services to sports writing.

TRESAWNA, HENRY, who died on May 24, aged 90, enjoyed a long and distinguished career as one of the Cornwall's outstanding cricketers. He played for the county from 1898 to 1934, captaining the side from 1905 till he retired. In all he scored 6,814 runs for the county, average 23.10, and took 100 wickets at 18.25 runs apiece. A great character and a fine sportsman, he was immensely popular and got the best out of his players.

TURNER, CYRIL, who died on November 19, aged 66, played as a professional all-rounder for Yorkshire from 1924 to 1946. As a left-handed batsman he obtained 6,117 runs, average 26.14 and with right-arm spin bowling took 173 wickets at a cost of 30.75 runs each. He did not gain a regular place in the county eleven till 1934, but thereafter proved a sound and valuable addition to the batting strength. His first full season was his most successful, for he scored, 1,153 runs. He hit both his centuries, 130 v. Somerset at Bath and 115 not out v. Hampshire at Bournemouth, in 1936. From 1952 till ill health forced him to retire in 1960, he acted as scorer for Yorkshire.

TURNER, DR. JAMES WILLIAM CECIL, who died on November 29, aged 82, played occasionally for Worcestershire between 1911 and 1921. His highest innings was 106 against Northamptonshire at Northampton in his last season. For some years he was treasurer of the Cambridge University C.C.

UTLEY, THE REV. RICHARD PETER HUGH, O.S.B., who died suddenly at Ampleforth College, on August 28, aged 62, was in the Ampleforth XI from 1922 to 1924, doing much splendid work as a fast bowler and heading the batting averages in the last year. He played for Hampshire in 1927 and 1928. Of medium height and bowling from an economical run-up, he appeared only occasionally in the first summer but in the next rendered excellent service by taking 59 wickets at 23.27 runs each. His best performances were the taking of 12 Warwickshire wickets for 140 runs in the match at Bournemouth and six for 70 in the first innings of Middlesex at Lord's. A product of Cranwell, he became a pilot and played cricket for the Royal Air Force. After entering the Church he commanded for 30 years the Cadet Force at Ampleforth, where he was a housemaster, and was in charge of cricket from 1936 to 1955.

VAN RENSBURG, MICHAEL, died on February 24, aged 25, after being struck over the heart by a fast rising ball in a club match at Benoni, South Africa. He was a school teacher.

WALKER, JACK, who collapsed and died on May 29, aged 54, kept wicket in one match for Kent, against Essex at Gravesend, in 1949. He played on a number of occasions for the Second XI. For 16 years he assisted Gravesend C.C. and was chairman of Cobham C.C. for 21 years.

WHIPP, ARNOLD, who was drowned while taking part in a bird-watching expedition on March 17, aged 33, frequently acted as scorer for the B.B.C. and wrote on Lancashire League cricket for Cricket Monthly.

WHITE, JACK, who died in hospital at East Grinstead on November 6, aged 75 was in the Wellingborough XI before going up to Cambridge. He received trials for the University in 1913 and 1914, taking five wickets for 75 in the Yorkshire first innings at Fenner's in 1913, but he did not get a Blue. A fast right-arm bowler, he turned out for Surrey against Oxford University in 1926 when J. B. Hobbs (261) and A. Sandham (183) hit 428 in five hours, which still stands as the first-wicket record for the county. Well-known in club cricket, White played for Richmond and later for many years captained East Grinstead.

WILKINSON, WILLIAM, who died on December, aged 84, was a talented all-rounder with Harrogate and later professional for Dalkeith in Scotland. He also turned out for Yorkshire 2nd XI. In 1913 he became landlord of the Cross Keys. Dringhouses, York, where he stayed until he retired in 1951 when he went to Scarborough.

WRIGHT, PHILIP ALAN, who died in hospital after a short illness on December 21, aged 65, was in the Wellingborough XI before gaining a Blue as a Freshman at Cambridge in 1922. He helped to beat Oxford with an innings to spare by taking five wickets for 54 runs in the big match at Lord's. With five wickets in seven overs for five runs against Lancashire at Fenner's--twice he disposed of two men with the following deliveries--he obtained 52 wickets for the Light Blues at a cost of 17.26 runs each. He could not produce his true from the next season and came in for punishment from Oxford; but he again did well at the expense of Lancashire at Fenner's with six first-innings wickets for 79. The following summer he returned to his best and, with two wickets for 21 runs and six for 49 in the University match, did much to bring success for Cambridge by nine wickets. He also dismissed six Sussex batsmen at Fenner's for 77 runs and he headed the University bowling figures with 56 wickets at an average cost of 15.85. An opening bowler of medium pace who employed a certain amount of spin with good effect and bowled an admirable length, he assisted Northamptonshire as an amateur from 1921 to 1929. In 1925, his one full season with the county, he took 100 wickets for 24.62 runs apiece. On seven occasions that summer he obtained five or more wickets in an innings, with his chief performance six for 65 runs against Nottinghamshire at Northampton, and he also hit 83, far and away his highest score, from the Dublin University bowling at Kettering. In all first-class cricket Bill as he was known, took 343 wickets, average 23.55. Both his brothers, B. and N. E. also played for the county as well as three other brothers Wright who were cousins.

YOUNG, RICHARD ALFRED, who died on July 1, aged 82, was one of the few spectacled players to represent England at both cricket and Association football. He established a high reputation as a wicket-keeper and batsman while in the XI at Repton from 1901 to 1904, heading the averages in 1902 when Wisden described him as out and away the best batsman at the school. He captained the side in the last two seasons. A consistent and reliable batsman, strong on the leg-side and in driving to the off, he gained a Blue as a Freshman at Cambridge in 1905 and also played in the University matches of the following three seasons. In 1906 he distinguished himself by hitting 150 against Oxford out of a total of 360, being first in and last out when, with wickets falling fast, he began to take risks. In 1907 and again in 1908, when captain, he occupied first place in the University batting figures. He enjoyed the honour in 1907-08 of being chosen as a member of the M.C.C. team which toured Australia under A. O. Jones, taking part in two Test matches. From 1905 to 1925 he assisted Sussex as an amateur, his highest innings for the county being 220 in a total of 611 against Essex at Leyton in 1905. In all first-class cricket he scored 6,502 runs, including six centuries, for an average of 28.76 and he brought off 82 catches behind the wicket and 23 stumpings.

A clever and speedy outside-right, Young also represented Cambridge at Association football and was a noted player for the famous Corinthians. He earned an amateur cap against Hungary and also played for the Amateur F. A. against France. For over 30 years he was mathematics and cricket master at Eton till retiring in 1951.

ZULFIQAR ALI, who died in Pakistan on October 12, aged 26, was a talented off-break bowler and capable tail-end batsman. Earlier in the year he played in the first two Tests against the Commonwealth XI at Multan, where he took eight wickets, and at Lahore. Educated at West Pakistan Agricultural University, he came to the fore as a cricketer in the Ayub Zonal Tournament of 1964-65 when, for Lahore Board, he scored 285 runs and dismissed 15 batsmen. His side lost in the Final to Karachi by an innings and 91 runs.

© John Wisden & Co