Obituaries in 1940

AMAR SINGH, one of the best cricketers produced by India, died at Rajkot on May 20. A very good right-hand fast-medium bowler with easy delivery, he swung the ball; and pace from the pitch made him difficult to time. Seldom failing as a taker of wickets, he seemed to reserve his most effective work for the big occasion. Tall, of athletic build, Amar Singh, besides being such a capable bowler, batted freely and fielded brilliantly. Born in December 1910, he passed away when in his prime.

Coming to England in 1932, he stood out as a prominent member of the All-India team, dismissing 111 batsmen at a cost of 20.78 each and scoring 641 runs with an average of nearly 23. In the one match played against England he created a good impression at Lord's. Four batsmen fell to him and in an uphill struggle he played a very good innings of 51. After the tour he became a Lancashire League player for the Colne club, who released him for a few matches in 1936 when India rose to the status of three tests. In these engagements with England Amar Singh took ten wickets and averaged 31 with the bat. So well did he bowl at Lord's that he dismissed four of the first five England batsmen for 13 runs and altogether sent back six batsmen for 35 in 25 overs and a ball, so enabling India to lead by 13 on the first innings. England won comfortably by nine wickets, but nothing in the match was more noteworthy than the bowling of the Indian between two batting collapses by his own side. At Old Trafford he hit up 48 and was not out, while at the Oval he gave a brilliant display with the bat, making 44 out of 51 in half an hour. These exhibitions of free hitting were in keeping with his most note worthy performance in 1932, when, going in last but one at Liverpool, he played a grand innings of 131 not out against Lancashire; his chanceless hitting was remarkable. His batting average for the 1936 tour was 33.30 in eleven innings; second in the bowling list, he took 26 wickets at 23.50 each.

Against England touring teams Amar Singh met with special success, notably when Lord Tennyson led a side in the winter of 1938. In five representative fixtures, described as unofficial tests, he took 36 wickets at a cost of 16 runs apiece, and was largely responsible for India gaining two victories. When Tennyson's team won the rubber match by 156 runs Amar Singh took nine wickets in twelve overs--all he sent down in the two innings.

ASHBOLT, MR. F., prominent in New Zealand cricket, who died at Wellington, on July 16, aged 64, was a clever right-hand slow bowler, capable of keeping a length with his leg-breaks, and a sure catch in the slips. He took many wickets for Wellington, 8 for 58 against Hawkes Bay and 7 for 52 against Canterbury being among his best performances. Also he did well against visiting teams on tour, dismissing six New South Wales batsmen for 52 in an innings in 1894, while in 1896, in a match against an Australian XI, captained by G. H. S. Trott, he disposed of Frank Iredale, Joe Darling and C. J. Eady. He played for North Island, and in 1898 was a member of the first New Zealand team which went to Australia.

BAINBRIDGE, MR. HERBERT WILLIAM, of high renown in Warwickshire cricket, died at Leamington Spa on March 3, aged 77, having been born at Assam on October 29, 1862. Standing about six feet tall and strong, he was an accomplished batsman, capable of punishing good bowling by well-controlled strokes all round the wicket; he also commanded respect for leadership. After four seasons in the Eton eleven, being captain in 1882, Bainbridge was awarded his Blue at Cambridge in 1884 and helped to make University match history. He gave an exceptional display in the 1885 match at Lord's, when for the fourth consecutive time the match ended in a victory by seven wickets, this being the third such success by Cambridge. Bainbridge and Charles Wright, a stone-waller, opened the Cambridge innings with 152 runs, which gave their side a lead of 16 before Bainbridge hit a ball into mid-off's hands. His 101 was a faultless display of splendid strokes. This was at that time the best opening stand for either University; but, strangely enough, next year, when Bainbridge succeeded Lord Hawke as Cambridge captain, K. J. Key and W. Rashleigh put up 243 in starting Oxford's second innings, and this remains the first wicket partnership record for the University match. Oxford won by 133 runs. Bainbridge scored 44 and 79 in that encounter, and altogether in three meetings with Oxford he made 262 runs with an average of 43--an exceptional achievement.

Belonging to a Surrey family, Bainbridge played for the county occasionally previous to beginning his association with Warwickshire before completing the regulation period of qualification. In 1887 Leicestershire protested and the objection was upheld by M.C.C. However, Bainbridge captained Warwickshire in 1888 and kept the position until 1902, when he became honorary secretary--an office he retained when appointed chairman. In 1936 his fifty years of service received recognition by a presentation from the Warwickshire club. His highest innings for the county was 162 against Hampshire at Southampton in 1897, when he and W. G. Quaife put on 288 for the first wicket. Bainbridge played several times for Gentlemen against Players, and in the 1895 match at Kennington Oval he scored 82. That season was his most successful in first-class cricket, his aggregate runs numbering 1,162 with an average of 34. He was in the team captained by E. J. Sanders, in company with W. E. Roller, K. J. Key, E. H. Buckland, Hugh Rotherham, and C. E. Cottrell, who went to America in 1886 and won seven out of eight matches, the other being drawn in their favour.

Bainbridge played Association football for Cambridge without getting his Blue, but was prominent for Old Etonians and was in the eleven who lost the final tie for the F. A. Cup at the Oval in 1883, when Blackburn Olympic earned lasting fame, being the first provincial club to carry off the trophy. That was before professionalism was legalised.

BARTHOLOMEW, MR. ARTHUR CHURCHILL, of Oxford, the oldest cricket Blue, passed away on March 29, some five weeks after completing his 94th year. Born on February 21, 1846, at Lympstone, Devon, he was more than a year senior to the Rev. E. E. Harrison Ward, the oldest Cambridge Blue, who died on Easter Monday, five days earlier. The passing of Mr. Bartholomew, Oxford, and Mr. Ward within this brief space of time left Mr. F. A. MacKinnon, Chief of the Scottish Clan, the senior living Blue of either University. He and Mr. Ward both played for Cambridge in the Cobden match to which further reference will be found in the biography of Mr. Harrison Ward.

It is of interest to add here that Mr. MacKinnon, now aged 92, who went to Australia in 1878 with the team captained by Lord Harris, is the oldest living cricketer who has represented England. H. C. Maul, another member of that touring side, died early in the year; Mr. A. J. Webbe, Middlesex president for so many years, who reached the age of 86 in January, five weeks before his death, played in the only test of that tour.

A. C. Bartholomew went to Marlborough and appeared at Lord's against Rugby in 1865, when he was described as a good bat with patient defence. Going to Trinity College, Oxford, he headed the University averages in 1867, but did not play against Cambridge until the following season, when, in a match of small totals, he scored 7 and 11 not out. He was regarded as one of the best cover points of the day and a contemporary described his quick returns straight to the wicket, after running hard to the ball, as a pleasure to see.

For some years failing eyesight prevented him reading, but Mr. Bartholomew retained such a keen interest in the game that as recently as the summer of 1939 he listened eagerly while his daughter read the scores and descriptions of matches. He greatly prized the disc from a blotter presented to him when a master at Durham School. It is inscribed: To A. C. B., Durham School, for his score of 166 against Northumberland at Newcastle-on-Tyne, June 3, 1871. At one time he played for his native county, Devon, and he organised a cricket week at Reading, where he owned a private school, and coached E. H. Bray, L. P. Collins and J. F. Ireland before they gained their Blues. He founded a cricket eleven and called them Guinea-pigs--because, he said, they had no tail, One of his scholars was Major-General Sir Walter Kirke, Inspector-General of the Home Forces. His son, Major-General A. W. Bartholomew, was appointed Lieutenant of the Tower of London in March 1939.

BELDAM, MR. CYRIL ASHLAM, who played in a few matches for Middlesex in 1896, died on September 7, aged 70.

BETON, MR. WILLIAM, dressing room attendant at Lord's, known to M.C.C. members and first-class cricketers as Sam, died at his home near the St. John's Wood ground on May 3, aged 69.

BOGER, MR. ALNOD JOHN, who died at Oxford on June 3, aged 68, captained Winchester in his third season in the eleven and, going up to Oxford, got his Blue as a Freshman in 1891. A useful bat, he averaged 20 and took 19 wickets in the matches against Eton. He did not maintain his cricket form, but represented the University at golf in 1893 and 1894, and at cricket for Hertfordshire he showed to some advantage from 1889 to 1897.

BOWRING, MR. CHARLES WARREN, a native of St. John's, Newfoundland, who was educated at Marlborough College, died on November 2, aged 69. He played for Staten Island club in 1907 and 1908 and was well known in American cricket circles. A prominent shipping agent, he was a member of the American Committee of Lloyd's and a director of the British Empire Chamber of Commerce in the United States. He was one of the survivors when the Lusitania was sunk in May 1915.

BREEDEN, MR. FRANK, a medium-paced right-arm bowler, who played for Warwickshire in the early years of the county club when second class, died at his home in Moseley on April 7, aged 81. Playing for Twenty of Walsall and District in 1883, Breeden and Allan Hill, the Yorkshire fast bowler, dismissed the entire United All-England eleven captained by W. G. Grace for 82 and 58. Breeden bowled W. G. round his legs, and his record for the match was ten wickets for 68, while Allan Hill's ten cost 66 runs. Besides the two successful bowlers, Richard Daft and H. B. Daft, famous with Nottinghamshire, and George Pinder, of Yorkshire, a superb Wicket keeper, were in the Walsall side. W. G. Grace took 17 wickets for 135 and scored 23 and 9, but the powerful United eleven were beaten.

BROWN, WILLIAM, a notable Luton sportsman, died in January at the age of 65. For more than 25 years he played cricket for Bedfordshire, being a prolific run-getter and medium-paced bowler. As a professional footballer he played outside-right for Luton Town and Watford.

CHAPLIN, COLONEL REGINALD SPENCER, died on May 12, aged 67. Of powerful physique, he was a capable all-rounder: fast bowler, good fieldsman, especially close to the wicket, and a hard-hitting batsman. He did fairly well in the Harrow XI before joining the Army. He became a Lieut.-Colonel in Remount Services during the 1914-18 war. Among his Harrow contemporaries were F. S. Jackson and A. C. MacLaren.

COMPTON, MR. EDWARD DENISON, who died at Rye on October 11, aged 68, played for Somerset and Oxfordshire. Prominent in games at Lancing, he got his Association football Blue at Oxford in 1895-96.

COODE, MR. ARTHUR TREVENAN, died on December 28, aged 64. A Cambridge Blue in 1898, after playing well in school cricket at Beccles, he did nothing exceptional as opening batsman with C. J. Burnup, but was much more prominent at Association football for the University and for Middlesex. In his one cricket match against Oxford he went in first and was highest scorer with 27 in the second innings of a match which ended in defeat for Cambridge by nine wickets. He played occasionally for Middlesex.

COULSON, HARRY, for many years in charge of the King's and Clare cricket ground at Cambridge, died on March 27, aged 74. He was well known to undergraduates of fully two generations. A prominent local sportsman, he not only did splendid work for Cambridgeshire as a clever medium-paced bowler, but also was much in demand in country-house matches.

COWLEY, CAPTAIN ROBERT BAYNES, who was in the Harrow XI of 1907, died at Lincoln on February 1, aged 57.

CRUTCHLEY, MR. PERCY EDWARD, who died at Ascot on October 16, aged 85, was in the Harrow XI in 1873 and 1874. He played for Cambridge against Oxford in the tennis singles in 1876.

DEVEY, JOHN HENRY GEORGE, died in a Birmingham Nursing Home on October 13, aged 73. If better known as a fine forward for Aston Villa and a director of the club for 33 years, John Devey was a very useful cricketer, doing good service in the Warwickshire Eleven from 1888 to 1907. A hard hitting batsman with plenty of strokes, he helped his County obtain promotion to the first class in 1895. Altogether he scored 7,659 runs for Warwickshire--average 25.31. Particularly good in defence on rain-affected pitches he improved in value with increased experience, excelling in 1906 when he made 1,237 runs--average 41.23. That was his benefit year and, unlike most professionals, he excelled when in the public eye, scoring 106 and taking a prominent part in Warwickshire getting within 52 of Surrey's 562 at Edgbaston. The match brought Devey about £400. Strangely enough he lost his form next season, doing little in a few games. In the highest innings he played, 246 against Derbyshire at Edgbaston in 1900. Devey gave a wonderful display of powerful driving--a characteristic of his batting when set.

DICKSON, MR. MAURICE RHYND D. S. O., an officer of the Legion of Honour, who died at Arbroath on January 10, aged 58, was prominent cricketer in Scotland.

DOBSON, MR. THOMAS KELL, the most successful amateur who ever played for Durham, and by some good judges considered the best all-rounder that the county has produced, died on October 3, aged 39, after being in indifferent health for three years. During fifteen seasons--1922 to 1936--he scored 3,040 with an average of 24.12, and took 226 wickets at a cost of 16.70 runs each. No other amateur has exceeded 2,000 runs and 200 wickets for the county. A general idea of his ability may be gathered from the fact that he headed the Durham bowling averages three times and twice was the best batsman. In 1928 his bowling averages was 15.37 a wicket and batting average 35.21, while in 1932, when again top of the bowling, his wickets cost only 13.96 runs each, and he came second in the batting with an average of 35.72. He showed special partiality for West Indies bowling, scoring 105 against the 1928 team and in 1933 for Minor Counties at Lord's he put up 126.

Mr. T. A. Bulmer, Durham Secretary, has given this description of T. K. Dobson: He was a left-hand bat and a left-arm slow to medium bowler. He could both swing and spin the ball, and could bowl the chinaman too; height gave him good command of the ball. His drives through the covers and pulls were fierce. When at Lord's he put Martindale to the leg boundary off his eyebrows, as it were, he told me that I should have seen Martindale's eyes roll round. ... He was a great cricketer and a great fellow. His father, three uncles and elder brother, W. L., all played for Durham. I saw his father score 107 against Yorkshire first eleven at Darlington. T. K. Dobson captained the Durham eleven from 1931 until 1937, when ill-health prevented him from leading the side on the field; he then served on the Committee.

DOCKER, MR. LUDFORD CHARLES, of Derbyshire and Warwickshire, died on August 2, aged 79. He played for Derbyshire from 1881 to 1886, being captain for a time, and then went to Warwickshire, for whom he appeared regularly until 1894. He became President in 1915, retiring in 1931. In August 1886 he made 132, 112 and 110 in consecutive innings--the first and third of these centuries for Smethwick in cup-tie matches and the other for Warwickshire against M.C.C. at Edgbaston. His highest score in county cricket was 163 at Edgbaston against Cheshire in 1891, while three years later his average, 37.20, was the best by any gentleman in first-class cricket. He went to Australia in the winter of 1887 with Shrewsbury's team, but met with little success, his best innings being 48 in eleven-a-side matches. Owing to an unfortunate muddle two teams visited Australia during that season. They joined forces to play Combined Australia and won by 126 runs, thanks mainly to the bowling of Peel, ten wickets for 58, and Lohmann, nine wickets for 52. Docker did not take part in that match, but he was in Shrewsbury's eleven twice against Australia, making 21 and being not out 4 when the first ended in a victory by five wickets, while in the second, won by 158 runs, he scored 33 valuable runs, so helping to stop a first-innings collapse caused by C. T. B. Turner.

Powerfully built and over six feet tall, Docker played a strong, lively game, with special freedom in driving; he bowled fast, fielded well, and generally was a valuable member of any side.

DOWSON, MR. AUBREY OSLER, who died on October 5, at Salisbury, was in the Rugby XI of 1892 and 1893. Earning more fame at Rugby football, he played for Oxford in 1896, and three years later was in the England XV against Scotland. Powerfully built, he represented his University in Athletics against Cambridge--putting the weight and throwing the hammer--for three years 1895-1897.

FORD, MR. FRANCIS GILBERTSON JUSTICE, the youngest of seven brothers, all good cricketers at Repton, and nephew of G. J. Ford, who played for Oxford at Lord's a hundred years ago, died on February 7, aged 73, at Burwash, Sussex. After four years in the Repton XI, being captain in the last two seasons, Francis Ford was the third of the brothers who played for Cambridge, receiving his Blue as a Freshman. In his first year Oxford won by seven wickets, the next match was drawn, and then he took part in two handsome victories. When captain, he led his side to a great triumph by an innings and 105 runs, and, playing again, he helped Cambridge to win by seven wickets, this being the sixth time in nine consecutive seasons on which that margin settled the trial of strength between the Universities at Lord's.

Standing 6 feet 2½ inches, he used his height with such effect that despite spare physique he put exceptional force into his left-hand strokes. Elegant in style, standing upright, he made many good-length balls into half volleys, and when the bowler pitched shorter he forced the ball away at a great rate on either side of the wicket. He failed to show his best form in the University match except in 1890, when on a treacherous pitch ruined by rain he made the highest score, not out 32, which won the game. Under similar conditions he took Middlesex to victory over Yorkshire at Headingley in 1898. With Hirst, Rhodes and F. S. Jackson in their prime, 60 in the last innings meant a difficult task, but Ford, going in number four with the total 26, hit up 29, finishing the match by driving Haigh over the far away off boundary--as Sir Pelham Warner, the first batsman to fall, has described.

Probably Francis Ford never gave a more brilliant display than in scoring 191 at Hove against Sussex in 1890. Gregor McGregor, the Cambridge captain, 131, and C. P. Foley, 117, also contributed centuries to the Cambridge second innings total of 703 for nine wickets--then a record score in English first-class cricket. Ford, going in when the bowling was mastered, scored almost as he pleased. His drives, either kept down or lifted over the bowler's head, were dazzling, and his cuts the perfection of timing. He revelled in these strokes when fast bowlers lost their length because of his punishment, and at Lord's the crowds grew enthusiastic over the way he scored from the best fast bowlers--Arthur Mold of Lancashire, Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood of Surrey, suffered specially at his hands.

In 1893 he was second to A. E. Stoddart in the Middlesex averages when scoring generally was moderate, and in the winter of 1894 was in the first team captained by Stoddart which won the test match at Sydney by 10 runs. He scored 48 when England followed-on in face of Australia's 586, so helping Albert Ward and J. T. Brown to pull the game round and set their rivals to get 177, a task which Peel and Briggs rendered impossible of achievement.

He headed the first class batting in 1897, when he averaged 53 for an aggregate of 805. He excelled for the Gentlemen at Lord's, playing two grand not-out innings of 50 and 79. The second, on worn turf, was superb, only W. G. Grace and G. L. Jessop of the other batsmen doing much.

Poor health compelled Francis Ford to give up county cricket at the finish of the 1899 season, with an aggregate of 7,293 runs, average 27.21. A good slow left-handed bowler, he often caused trouble by dropping the ball an accurate length from a great height with plenty of spin and curl; in first-class cricket he took 198 wickets, average 22 runs. A capable goalkeeper, he got his Blue, captained the Cambridge Association XI, and played sometimes for the Corinthian club. Always closely in touch with cricket, Francis Ford held strong views regarding leg before, and his influence was largely responsible for bringing about the recent addition of the last phrase to Law 24.

FOSTER, MR. MAURICE KERSHAW, sixth of the seven brothers who played for Worcestershire, died at Lichfield on December 3. All these sons of the Rev. H. Foster, of Malvern college, in turn were prominent in school games and stepped, naturally, into the atmosphere of University and county cricket. When promoted to first class in 1899, Worcestershire included three Fosters in the eleven and promptly the new addition to the front rank of the game became known as Fostershire. Maurice first played for the county in 1908, but business abroad permitted only occasional appearances until 1923, when he became captain and led the side for three season. In 1926 he was available still, and in each of these four years his aggregate in Championship matches exceeded 1,300 runs. Of good height and well proportioned, M. K. was typical of his famous family in the strength of stroke play produced by the powerful wrists and forearms always associated with those proficient at racquets--and all the brothers excelled also at this game. His forcing stokes on either side of the wicket were brilliant. Invariably reliable, he enjoyed periods of special success. In June 1924 he came out strongly with 157 not out against Sussex, 128 against Kent, and 125 against Somerset; he finished that season with 111 and 42 not out at Taunton off the Somerset bowlers.

He enjoyed special success in 1926, when he scored 141 and 106 at Worcester against Hampshire, and in the whole season made 1,615 runs with an average of 32.95. After appearing for the county occasionally in 1927 and 1934, he turned to Birmingham League cricket, helping Walsall win the championship three times, and he played for the team in 1940. M. K. Foster could field anywhere, saving many runs and holding the most difficult catches. Chosen for the Gentlemen against Players at the Oval and Lord's, in 1924, he failed to do himself justice in either match. He died within a month of completing 52 years.

FRANK, MR. JOSEPH, a Yorkshireman, who did not fulfil expectations, died on October 22, aged 82. When playing for Eighteen of Scarborough against W. L. Murdoch's first Australian team in 1880, his very fast right-hand bowling received strong criticism for doubtful action, and he appeared only once for the County--at Scarborough in 1881 against I Zingari. Two seasons later he played at Kennington Oval in the Gentlemen and Players match, which ended in a tie. He used his height and strength in left-handed batting and was a useful slip fieldsman.

GALE, MR. PERCIVAL GEORGE, who played with W. G. Grace in the London County team, died on September 7, aged 75. As captain of Walham Green he made a name in club cricket. For the powerful Wanderers club he showed to advantage, and became a Vice-President. After the last war, during which he rose to the rank of Chief Inspector in the Special Constabulary, he took up golf. He was Chairman of the Tooting Bec Club which bought the course and renamed it South Lodge Club.

GILES, SIR CHARLES TYRRELL, K. C., who died at Wimbledon on January 16 in his 90th year, was in the Harrow Elevens of 1868 and 1869. In the first of the matches at Lord's, Giles took four Eton wickets for 29, and it is on record that one drive off him by C. I. Thornton went over the pavilion--a considerably lower building than the present one, which Albert Trott cleared with a great straight drive off M. A Noble in 1899.

Sir Charles married a sister of Sir Jeremiah Colman, so well known in cricket in connection with the Surrey County Club, of which he was President from 1916 to 1922.

GREATOREX, MR. JOSEPH EDWARD ALFRED, died on December 16, aged 78. A sound batsman, he went in first for Harrow in his only match against Eton in 1881. His scores were modest--9 and 20--but when tried as the fifth bowler in the last innings of the match he took five wickets for 35 runs with his slows, and Harrow won by 112 runs. He did not maintain this form and never became prominent in the game.

GREEN-PRICE, REV. ALFRED EDWARD, died at Presteign on June 29, aged 80. In the Repton XI of 1877 and 1878, when the Fords were prominent he failed to get his cricket Blue at Cambridge, but was in the 1882 Association football eleven.

HARINGTON, GENERAL SIR CHARLES, K.C.B., G.C.B., D.S.O., died on October 22 at Cheltenham, aged 68. A useful player in the Cheltenham college XI, he did well at Sandhurst; also for I Zingari and Free Foresters. At the time of his death he was on the M.C.C. Committee. Very zealous for the good of cricket, his influence increased the value of the game in the Army. Evidence of his popularity came in an invitation to become President of the Marylebone Club, but Army duties in an important command compelled General Harington to decline the highest honour in the world of cricket.

HARRISON, GEORGE PICKERING, a typical Yorkshireman of the old school, died, aged 78, at Scarborough, his home, in September. He came to the front when first given a trial in 1883, and his career ended almost as suddenly in 1892 from the effects of injury. A right-handed fast bowler, he appeared for colts of the North at Lord's and clean bowled nine Colts of the South--five of them in six balls--at the low cost of 14 runs. Chosen for the Yorkshire XI without delay, he excelled in his first county match at Dewsbury against Kent; he bowled unchanged through both innings with Ted Peate, the slow left-hander. Harrison came out with eleven wickets for 76 runs as his share in disposing of the visitors for totals of 65 and 79, so surpassing the work of his England colleague. The distinction of being chosen for Players against Gentlemen at Lord's followed, and in the whole season he took 100 wickets at an average cost of 13 runs, his Yorkshire record being 88 at less than 12 runs each.

After such an exceptional start, Harrison suffered an injury when throwing in from the deep field. This accident occurred when he was acting as substitute, and it necessitated the abandonment of fast bowling. Reducing his speed, he met with some success, but could not retain his place in the County eleven.

In Yorkshire Council cricket for Bowling Old Lane he took 878 wickets, and in three seasons for Idle 215 fell to him, the average cost for all this effective work being about 9 runs a wicket. He enjoyed a day of great success for the North and East Ridings of Yorkshire touring in the South, taking 15 Chiswick Park wickets for 38 runs.

Known familiarly as Shoey, an abbreviation of his trade as shoemaker, Harrison often umpired in first-class cricket, and at every Scarborough Festival in recent years his favourite corner in the pavilion was alive with humour and reminiscence. Of many tales told of him, one mentioned in The Cricketer goes back to his first match at Lord's. When accepting the invitation to play for the Colts he asked Mr. Henry Perkins, the M.C.C. Secretary, to meet him at king's Cross as he had never been to London.

HIDDLESTON, MR. JOHN SYDNEY, one of the ablest all-round cricketers Wellington and New Zealand have produced, died suddenly at Wellington on October 30 in his fiftieth year. In Plunket Shield matches he created several records: he scored for Wellington, 2,523 runs in 46 innings with an average of 56; in each of the seasons 1923-24 and 1925-26, when he played innings of 204 and 212, his aggregate exceeded 500 runs. This double performance and also his eight centuries--three each against Auckland and Otago, and two against Canterbury--are New Zealand records. Hiddleston also played for Otago, and his complete aggregate falls only 30 short of the 2,597 scored by Roger Blunt, who represented both Canterbury and Otago and holds the New Zealand record in Plunket Shield games. An able slow break bowler, Hiddleston was also an excellent fieldsman. By many Wellington cricketers he was compared favourably with C. S. Dempster. He played in representative sides against teams visiting New Zealand from 1920 to 1925.

HOWELL, MR. WILLIAM P., the Australian bowler, died on July 14, aged 70, at Sydney. No one has made a more sensational first appearance in England than did Bill Howell when, in the third match of Darling's team in 1899, he dismissed the whole Surrey eleven. His analysis, 23.2 overs, 14 maidens, 28 runs, 10 wickets, indicates this exceptional performance as being quite out of the ordinary, no matter what the state of the pitch. As the natural effect of this achievement, Howell, after being left out of the first two engagements, became a regular member of the side. He did little in the five tests, taking only eight wickets at 43 runs apiece, but if unable to live up to such a start, Howell for the whole season came out with a record of 117 wickets at 20.35 apiece, his average placing him between Hugh Trumble and Ernest Jones, who each dismissed more batsmen.

Visiting England with the next two Australian, Howell took fewer wickets but at smaller cost--68 for 17.86 each and 79 for 19.34 each.

He began test cricket by bowling A. C. MacLaren in both the Adelaide matches in the season of 1898-99, when the Lancashire amateur averaged 54. Altogether Howell appeared on sixteen occasions for Australia without accomplishing anything exceptional, though bowling wonderfully well at Melbourne in 1904. At a time when the Australian attack was very strong, his Test record showed 35 wickets at an average cost of 35.57. For New South Wales in Sheffield Shield matches he claimed 159 wickets, Average 23.55.

Of good height and heavily built, Howell made full use of his strong wrist and fingers in spinning the ball at medium pace. Usually, command of length gave him special ability, and he was deadly against batsmen unaware that his simple-looking delivery imparted unexpected life from the pitch. Howell showed this merit for New South Wales in November 1894, when he clean bowled five of A. E. Stoddart's team, including the captain and J. T. Brown, the Yorkshireman, while yielding only 44 runs--a happy introduction to his experiences against English cricketers.

A left-handed batsman, he sometimes startled the bowlers and the crowd by tremendous hitting. A notable case was at Sydney against Stoddart's team in 1898. Going in last for New South Wales, he hit up 48 in three-quarters of an hour and eclipsed this in the second innings with 95 in less than an hour, 76 of these runs coming in boundaries. For the most part in England, as well as in all Test matches, Howell did little with the bat, but in Sheffield Shield matches he averaged 22.86 for an aggregate of 1,029 runs with 128 his best score.

In Test matches against South Africa, Howell took 14 wickets at 12.42 runs apiece. He turned the ball a lot on the matting pitches.

A bee farmer in Penrith, New South Wales, Howell was a local celebrity alike for his cricketing ability and genial character.

HUGHES, MR. THOMAS BRIDGES, a useful batsman with good style, who played for Winchester from 1868 to 1870, died on August 10 his 90th year. He did little in two matches against Eton. Going up to New College, he played in the Oxford Freshmen's match of 1871; in very strong company he failed to get his blue, but took part in the first University Association football match in 1874, when Oxford won at Kennington Oval by the only goal scored.

JONES MR. RICHARD TYRRELL, died on August 30, aged 69. A good all-round cricketer at Eton, he played at Lord's against Harrow in 1888 and in 1889. A capable batsman and useful bowler he was unsuccessful in the big games, but at Oxford he got his Blue in 1892. Though on the wining side, he did little against Cambridge in a match made famous by M. R. Jardine scoring 140, then the second highest innings in the University series. In county cricket he showed useful form for Shropshire and Staffordshire.

KEMP, MR. ARTHUR FITCH, a slow bowler and sound batsman, one of four brothers who were in the Harrow XI during the period 1874 to 1885, died on February 14 at Virginia Water, aged 76. Twice he was on the winning side against Eton. In 1880, when Manley C. Kemp was captain, Harrow won by 95 runs, and next season A. F. Kemp led the eleven to victory at Lord's by 112 runs. In the first match Arthur Kemp, opening the innings, scored 33 and took five wickets for 61 runs. When captain he made 28 runs, but did not meet with any success as bowler. He played for Kent, the county of his birth, three times in 1884. In partnership with E. M. Hadow, he won the public Schools Racquets Championship in 1881.

KENNAWAY, REV. CHARLES LEWIS, who died on April 23 at the advanced age of 92, was probably the last survivor of the Norfolk team which in 1885 made 695 against M.C.C. at Lord's, the record score up to that time. With Jack Hansell, Mr. Kennaway put on 155 for the third wicket. Another notable occasion in his cricket career was the victory of Norfolk at Norwich in 1882 over the professional side run by Shaw and Shrewsbury. His highest score for the county was 147 against Free Foresters at Norwich in 1882. Besides being a sound, attractive batsman he was an excellent cover-point. For many years he played at Garboldisham, where he was Rector until 1914. He then went as Vicar to Tarrant Crawford in Dorset.

LAIDLEY, MR. JOHN ERNEST, a prominent Scottish cricketer, died on July 15, aged 69.

LEADBEATER, MR. W. W., well known in connection with Yorkshire cricket, especially as secretary of the Scarborough club, died in July.

LINDLEY, MR. TINSLEY, died on March 30, aged 74. A barrister living in Nottingham, Tinsley Lindley was known in sport chiefly as an outstanding centre-forward for England and Corinthians besides his local clubs. A very useful cricketer, he made 40 and 7 for Nottinghamshire against Surrey at Trent Bridge in the Whitsuntide match of 1888, and he was in the county eleven which beat the Australians by ten wickets.

MCKIBBEN, Mr. Thomas Robert, died at the close of 1939, aged 69. He came to England with Harry Trott's team in 1896, and his delivery raised such criticism that it was written there can be little doubt that he continually threw when putting on his off-break--an opinion often expressed in Australia also. Very powerfully built, of medium height, he accomplished deadly work with his right-hand slow to medium bowling when he kept a length. Perhaps most remarkable was his performance against Lancashire on the Aigburth ground, Liverpool, where he took 13 wickets at a cost of only 38 runs. The county fell for 28 in their second innings, McKibben's analysis being seven wickets, including the hat-trick, for 11 runs. Frank Sugg did not attempt to play one ball that came back a prodigious amount on to the stumps. In the two innings McKibben and Trumble were unchanged.

Playing in two of the three matches against England, McKibben took eleven wickets at 14.8 apiece, and his season's record showed 101 at 14.27--figures that put him at the top of the Australian averages above Hugh Trumble, Ernest Jones and George Griffen, who all claimed over a hundred wickets. A left-handed batsman, he made few runs. In Sheffield Shield matches for New South Wales 136 wickets fell to him at 20.50 runs each. Twice he took fourteen wickets in a match, and once fifteen--at Adelaide in 1896. He was seldom needed in Test matches, and altogether in five such encounters his tally showed seventeen victims, average 29.17. A visitor with the team captained by Don Bradman in 1938, McKibben renewed many friendships in England, where his frank, happy character made him deservedly popular.

MARR, MR. ALFRED P., who died at Sydney in March, aged 77, played for the Combined XI of Australia in one of four such matches against Arthur Shrewsbury's side in 1885. A useful batsman and bowler for New South Wales, he was chosen three times to come to England, but was never able to accept the invitation. So well did he maintain his ability that when 67 years of age, in grade competition match at Sydney, he scored 101.

MAUL, MR. HENRY COMPTON, died on October 10, aged 90, at his home Bunbury, Oxfordshire. A free-hitting batsman, he played several innings of over 200, the most praiseworthy being 267 for Warwickshire against Staffordshire on August 17, 1888. He was then captain of the county side, seven years before Warwickshire became first class, and he headed the averages with 42. He want to Australia in the winter of 1878 in the team captained by Lord Harris, but did not take part in the one representative match, which Australia won by ten wickets. Of that side F. A. MacKinnon now alone survives him. Mr. Maul was a Major in the Oxfordshire Militia. Three of his sons are serving in the present war.

MAW, MR. PERCIVAL TRENTHAM, who died on January 30, aged 62, finished three seasons in the Harrow XI as captain in 1897, when he set a particularly good example in fielding. In his three matches against Eton he scored 91 runs, making eleven or more in each innings until the last of these games. He appeared a few times for Herefordshire in 1898, playing very well for 91 runs against I Zingari, but poor health prevented a full development of his batting skill. He cut and drove in attractive style. His family used to put a complete eleven in the field at Nutfield, Surrey.

OATES, WILLIAM, who played a few times for Yorkshire in 1874 and 1875, died on December 9, aged 88.

O'HANLON, MR. WILLIAM J., who died at Sydney in July, aged 77 years, kept wicket for New South Wales from 1884 to 1886, showing good form in inter-colonial matches.

ORR, MR. HERBERT, RICHARD, perhaps the most prominent personality connected with Bedfordshire cricket, passed away on May 22, at the age of 75. Getting into the School XI when fifteen, Herbert Orr finished five years in the side as captain in 1884, and actually played his first game for the county in 1882. From that time his interest in the Bedfordshire Club remained undiminished.

His devotion to the game found lasting proof in his will, by which he left the cricket picture, Sussex versus Kent, to his friend, Dr. Alfred F. Morcom, of Belgrave Square, S.W., in memory of many pleasant days spent together in the cricket field, £100 to the Bedfordshire County Cricket Club, and £50 to the Bedford Town Cricket Club, in memory of my dear friend Reginald William Rice, with which clubs we have enjoyed so many pleasant games together. Also in his gift of a fielding trophy to Bedford School, for award in the First XI. Appropriately enough, this was won two years ago by the son of Mr. Frank Crompton, the present Honorary Secretary of the Bedfordshire County Club. He was a Member of M.C.C.

After leaving Cambridge, where he just failed to get his Blue, Herbert Orr went to Australia. His ability was recognised very soon; he played for the Melbourne Club and captained the first Western Australia team in 1892. Returning to England in 1899, he resumed his association with Bedfordshire and captained the side until 1915. With him at one period was A. F. Morcom, a fast bowler, the Cambridge Blue 1905 to 1907. In the match against Suffolk at Luton in 1908 Morcom created a record, which still stands in English cricket, by sending a bail 70¼ yards. Also in the Bedfordshire eleven at that time was R. W. Rice, the former Oxford University and Gloucestershire batsman.

After the last war Herbert Orr invariably visited Australia to see the Test matches, and on one return trip of England with the Australian team he won The Ashes at deck quoits. A small silver urn containing cigarette ash was inscribed with the names of the players--W. H. Ponsford and W. A. Oldfield were of the party.

PIPER MR. W. J., who died in July, combined his duty as cricket correspondent of the Derby Daily Telegraph with that of honorary scorer when Derby re-entered the first-class championships in 1895. For many years he attended all the Derbyshire matches at home and when on tour, earning wide popularity by his uniform and obliging manner in giving information required by colleagues. When journalistic work confined him largely to the office, he had to give up scoring for the county club, but he always retained a keen interest in the game and seldom missed a home match.

RADCLIFFE, MR. OCTAVIUS GOLDNEY, a contemporary of W. G. Grace in the Gloucestershire XI, died at Cherwell, near Colne, on April 13, aged 81. A very steady batsman, he often opened the innings and could force the game when in the mood. At the Oval in 1884 he made 101 for Somerset before throwing in his lot with the neighbouring county. Another fine display was 104 not out at Lord's against Middlesex, and in 1889 he scored 101 not out against Kent at Canterbury. Equally good was his 116 against Lancashire at Old Trafford in 1891. In 1888 at Clifton he played specially well in scoring 99 off the Australian bowlers, and during these seasons he was so dependable that W. G. Grace took him to Australia with the side organised by Lord Sheffield in the autumn of 1891. Unfortunately Radcliffe failed to find his form at any period of the tour and did not play in one of the three matches against Australia. He appeared for Gentlemen against Players at the Oval in 1886 and at Hastings in 1889. Altogether in first-class cricket he averaged 22 runs an innings for an aggregate of 5,496 runs, and met with considerable success as a rather slow bowler. To such an extent could he adapt himself to the needs of the occasion that for Wiltshire against M.C.C. at Swindon in 1894 he batted 55 minutes without scoring, while in a match of less importance he hit four 6's and a 4 off an over of lobs from E. M. Grace at Alverton. He played for Wiltshire, the county of his birth, in 1884, and captained that county after giving up first-class cricket. At Dunstable against Bedfordshire in 1895 he did one of his best bowling performances--five wickets for 11 runs.

RAPHAEL, MR. F. C., who died in June, took a prominent part on the legislative side of the game in New Zealand, being, in turn, honorary secretary of the Canterbury Cricket Association and of the New Zealand council during a period extending over 21 years until 1914, the game improving rapidly in the country during his tenure of office.

RICHARDSON, HENRY, who died in March, aged 83, was a prominent bowler for Nottinghamshire some fifty years ago. He shared the honours in attack with Attewell, Shacklock and Flowers in 1889, when Nottinghamshire, Lancashire and Surrey were bracketed at the top of the Championship competition. Richardson took 53 wickets at 11.41 in thirteen matches, the full programme consisting of fourteen fixtures. Medium-paced, with both off and leg break, he kept an accurate length, seldom yielding runs readily. Occasionally he batted well when going in late, and at the Oval in 1887 he made 54 not out.

Before appearing first for his county in 1887, Richardson played for Gloucester, Newport (Mon.) and Liverpool clubs. In 1886 he took 149 wickets at 7 runs apiece for Liverpool, and so earned a place in the North and South match at Lord's on the following Whit-Monday, when the chief bowlers were engaged with their counties. He and J. T. Rawlin dismissed the South twice for an aggregate of 143. Richardson, bowling throughout both innings, disposed of nine batsmen for 64 runs, and the North Eleven won by six wickets in a day. This performance secured Richardson a place in the Nottinghamshire eleven. Altogether for the county Richardson dismissed 139 batsmen at an average cost of less than 14 runs. He joined the ground staff at Lord's in 1889, and received a benefit in 1919.

ROFFEY, SIR GEORGE WALTER, K. B., who died at Templecombe on March 13, aged 70, was in the Harrow XI of 1888 with F. S. Jackson and A. C. MacLaren.

STREATFEILD-MOORE, MR. ALEXANDER MCNEILL, a member of the Streatfeild family, so well known in Kent, died on December 30, aged 77. Elder brother of E. C. Streatfeild--a splendid all-round cricketer--he assumed by royal licence the name of Streatfeild-Moore in 1885. After two years in the Charterhouse XI, he became in 1883 captain of Sandhurst, and against R. M. A., Woolwich, he scored 118 not out. He played for Kent occasionally in the years 1885 to 1888. A free-hitting bat with good style, he was a useful slow bowler and a brilliant fieldsman.

TINDALL, THE REV. HENRY CHARLES LENOX, a great runner and well-known cricketer, died on June 11 at Peasmarsh, Sussex, aged 77. Although a good all-round cricketer--useful bat with sound style, fast bowler and dashing fieldsman-- Tindall failed to get his blue at Cambridge at a time when University cricket was very strong. He appeared occasionally for Kent without doing much, but was prominent in Sussex club cricket. Among many good performances, especially for South Saxons, he took all ten wickets at a cost of only 25 runs for Hasting Rovers against Rye in 1906. In the Hastings Festival of 1894 he appeared for Gentlemen against Players. He set up a quarter-mile record in 1889 by winning the Amateur Championship in 48½ seconds, and also won the half-mile in 1 minute 56? seconds. In 1886 he won the 100 yards and quarter-mile in the University sports, and for several years was prominent at all distances from 100 to 1,000 yards. At the private schools at Hurst Court, Ore, and High Croft he found many cricketers of promise. An originator of the Rye Golf Club, he became Chairman of the Committee.

TUFNELL, MR. CARLETON FOWELL, died on May 26, aged 84. He left Eton when sixteen without a chance of getting into the Eleven, but played for Cooper's Hill from 1876 to 1878, being captain in the last two seasons. A useful batsman and medium-paced bowler, he played in a few matches for Kent in 1878 and 1879 before going to India. In May 1884 a report reached England of his death at Simla.

TYSON, CECIL, appeared at a somewhat advanced age--32--in the Yorkshire XI, and met with startling success. In his opening match he set up a record for the county by scoring a century on his first appearance--exactly 100 not out. He followed with 80, also not out, in Yorkshire's second innings, but such a phenomenal feat did not prove the forerunner of big things. In fact, Tyson played in only two more first-class matches after his triumph at Southampton against Hampshire in 1921, making 29 against the Australians and 23 off the Lancashire bowlers after failure in the first innings. Yorkshire were then, as usual, very powerful, and Tyson was not young enough to fill occasional vacancies whilst training for a permanent place in the side. He joined a South Wales club with the idea of qualifying for Glamorgan, but in 1926 he returned to Yorkshire club cricket. He died at his home at Whitwood, near Leeds, on April 4, aged 51.

WALKER, MR. LIVINGSTON, died on October 10, aged 61. A good club cricketer, he showed to such advantage with the London County XI under W. G. Grace that he twice found a place in the 1900 Surrey team, and became captain in 1903 at a time when high-class amateurs were scarce at Kennington Oval. Very popular and familiarly known as Livy, he went to Shanghai and so was lost to county cricket.

WARD, REV. EDWARD EWER HARRISON, of Cambridge, prominent in the Cobden match of 1870, died on March 25 at his home at Gorleston, Norfolk, aged 92. His death five days before that of A. C. Bartholomew, of Oxford, left F. A. MacKinnon, Chief of the Scottish Clan of Morayshire, the oldest living Cambridge blue. Mr. MacKinnon, who also played in the 1870 match, now holds seniority among University as well as International cricketers. He went to Australia in 1878 with the team captained by Lord Harris, and took part in the only representative match for the tour, which Dave Gregory's eleven won by ten wickets. H. C. Maul, who died on October 10, aged 90, was another member of that side, but did not play in the game which long afterwards was classed as a Test. Mr. A. J. Webbe, number three for England in that match, was 86 in January this year; he passed away in February.

Born on July 16, 1847, at Timworth Hall, Suffolk, in the family of Harrison, E.E. adopted the surname Ward after leaving Bury St. Edmund's School, when Mr. J. H. Marshall, a Cambridge Blue of 1859, taught him spin and length.

So well did young Harrison master control of his left-hand medium-paced bowling that, despite somewhat moderate physique and indifferent health, he accomplished long spells of successful bowling in University and county cricket. Making the ball go with his arm, he often pitched well to the off and hit the leg stump, delivery from little higher than the shoulder helping this natural flight--so awkward for right-handed batsmen--quite different to imparted swerve with high delivery.

When talking of his University experiences. Mr. Ward used to say: I was never robust, and knew my own strength and weakness, and always wanted to be my own captain. During Oxford's second innings in the `Cobden' match there was a stand after I had taken the second and third wickets, and I asked to be given a rest. My captain agreed, and when I was put on again I soon took four more wickets.

In an interview at Mulbarton Rectory with an Eastern Daily Press representative some twenty years ago, Mr. Ward fully described Cobden's feat, about which many varying descriptions have appeared. This may be accepted as authentic.

From the first ball a run was made by Hill, and the match stood two to tie, three to win, and three wickets to go down. One hundred pounds to one on Oxford was offered and taken. The second ball Butler hit to cover point, a hard catch which Bourne managed to hold. Two more wickets were left--Stewart's and Belcher's. Cobden's third ball bowled Belcher off his pads. Stewart, the last man, was deadly pale and nervous when he walked past me, padded and gloved. A dead silence came over the players and spectators. Cobden crammed his cap on his head, rushed up to the bowling crease, and bowled what I have always thought was a plain long hop. Anyhow, the bails flew, and amid a scene of the wildest excitement Cambridge won by two runs!

The Hon. Robert Lyttelton, in the Badminton Library account of the match, did justice to Ward's share in the victory. He wrote: The unique performance of Cobden has unduly cast in the shade Mr. Ward's performance in the second innings. It was a good wicket and Oxford had certainly on the whole a good batting eleven. Yet Mr. Ward bowled 32 overs for 29 runs and got six wickets, and of these five were certainly the best batsmen in the side. He clean bowled Messrs. Fortescue, Pauncefote, and Tylecote, and got out in other ways Messrs. Ottaoay, Townshend, and Francis. It is hardly too much to say that in this innings Mr. Ward got the six best wickets and Mr. Cobden the four worst. In the whole match Mr. Ward got nine wickets for 62 runs, and this again, let it be said, on an excellent ground.

Ward was doubtful about playing in the 1871 match, which, curiously enough, made further University cricket history. S. E. Butler took all ten wickets in the Cambridge first innings, another record. The Dark Blues won by eight wickets. Owing to illness Ward wanted to stand down, but his captain, Bill Yardley, of high renown, would not hear of this. That Ward's knowledge of himself was sound came true, for, though bowling 36 overs (four balls each) at a cost of only 38 runs, he did not get a wicket

When playing for Suffolk, Ward met with much success. At Bury he once scored 46 out of 60 for the last wicket after dismissing six men cheaply, and in 1872 he took 13 M.C.C. Wickets for 46 runs. He became Secretary of the Suffolk County Club on its revival in 1876, and, as a prominent member of the side, excelled against Norfolk that year, taking 11 wickets at Bury.

Thirteen I Zingari wickets once fell to him for 47.

Mr. Ward gave 59 years of service to the Church of England, holding appointments in Suffolk, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Norkfolk, his last living being at Mulbarton, where he ministered for 24 years before resigning in 1931.

WHALLEY-TOOKER, MR. E., died on November 23, aged 77, and his passing removed a link with the old Hambledon club, renowned as a cradle of cricket some 150 years ago. The Broad Halfpenny ground had been ploughed up for farm land, and Whalley-Tooker, a descendant of a member of the original Hambledon club, set about the task of securing the field for cricket again. It was got into condition for a match in July 1925 between Winchester College, then given the possession of the land, and Hambledon. Mr. Whalley-Tooker captained the side representing Hambledon and led his team to victory.

WOOD, MR. LIONEL CHARLES KINGSLEY, who died on December 30 in his 62nd year, was secretary of the Staten Island club from 1928 to 1940. A sound opening batsman with strong defence, he showed to some advantage when at Oxford University, but did not reach good enough form for a Blue. A useful Rugby football player, he acted for a time as secretary of the Pilgrims Club, New York. He was born in Leicestershire.

WRIGHT, WALTER, one of the first bowlers capable of swerving the ball to an appreciable extent, died at Leigh, Lancashire, on March 22, aged 84. Born at Hucknell, he played for Nottinghamshire from 1879 to 1886, for Kent from 1888 to 1899, and finished a long and varied career on the first-class cricket field as umpire. Bowling left-hand above medium pace, with good control of length, he used to trouble most batsmen at the start of an innings. His swerve, then almost a novelty, and speed from the turf rendered him extremely difficult, and he accomplished some remarkable performances. At Trent Bridge he once dismissed six Yorkshiremen for ten runs, and five M.C.C. wickets fell to him for one run on the same ground. During eight seasons when comparatively few first-class county matches were played, he took 193 wickets for Nottinghamshire at 18 runs apiece. His association with the county of his birth ended through some dispute over remuneration for a match with the Australian team of 1886. He then qualified for Kent, and for twelve years enjoyed much success, chiefly when sharing the attack with Nutty Martin, another left-hander of less pace. Before the ground was levelled, these two went through many sides at Moat Park, Maidstone. Wright, with the slope favouring his swerve, made the ball go very fast down-hill; Martin, using the left-hander's natural break-back, afforded a marked contrast--a leg-break to the right-handed batsman. Altogether for Kent, Walter Wright took 725 wickets at less than 20 runs each. Two notable performances against Middlesex, at Canterbury and Lord's, were identical--thirteen wickets for 106 runs in each match. On a third occasion thirteen wickets fell to him, this time at a cost of 150 runs, when Nottinghamshire visited Maidstone in 1895.

In 1880 a team of Canadians lost their best man, a deserter from the Horse Guards, and Wright was engaged to play for them. In his first match he scored 80 runs and took 14 wickets, but payment being uncertain in an ill-starred venture, Wright soon left the team and the tour broke down in mid-season. His ability as a right-handed batsman was shown in 1883, when, in the match with Gloucestershire, he was sent in shortly before time on the first evening, withstood the attack throughout the next day, and when the innings closed on the third morning he remained unbeaten with 127 runs to his credit. For Mote Park in 1887 he scored 237 against Free Foresters.

During his period as umpire, Wright officiated in the match at Taunton when James Phillips, standing at square leg, no-balled Tyler for doubtful delivery. Disagreeing with his colleague, Wright would not allow more than the regulation number of balls (four) to the over. At a time when single-wicket matches were popular, Wright in 1885 opposed eleven men and won very easily; he made 61 runs and dismissed his opponents in each innings for six.

In his young days, thanks to his quickness off the mark, he was an excellent field. His sprinting powers were demonstrated when he won the Sheffield Handicaps in 1880 and 1881--races which were stopped eventually because of the extensive betting with which they were associated. At one time he was considered to be the second fastest runner in the world at 130 yards.

After his long spell in first-class cricket, Walter Wright turned out for Berkshire in 1904, and for some years was coach at Radley College. He also acted as trainer to Association football clubs.