Obituaries in 1964

EHRENTFRIED, BENJAMIN CHRISTIAN, who died in December, aged 54, played as an amateur for Lincolnshire for 25 years from 1932, being captain in the last six seasons. A hard-hitting batsman, he scored 5,094 runs, with 139 the higher of his two centuries, at an average of 23.40 and with slow left-arm bowling ttok 179 wickets for just over 25 runs each. He was also a first-rate fieldsman close to the wicket.

NAUMANN, JOHN HAROLD, who died in New York on December 6, aged 72, played for Cambridge University before and after the First World War. He did good all-round work when in the Malvern XI in 1911, his slow-medium left-arm bowling enabling him to head the averages with 51 wickets at 18.33 runs apiece. Gaining his Blue as a Freshman, he bore a leading part in a Cambridge win by four wickets over Oxford in 1913, dismissing eight batsmen in the match for 94 runs. In that season he played in one match for Surrey II Eleven. In 1919, when he headed the Cambridge batting figures with an average of 45.88 and hit 134 not out against Sussex at Hove, he lost his bowling skill and achieved little in the University match. His elder brother F. C. G. Naumann--his captain at Malvern--took chief honours in the big game when, with swing bowling, he paved way to victory by 45 runs for Oxford by taking five wickets for 76 runs in the first innings and six for 81 in the second. John was bowled by his brother in the second innings. The match was noteworthy for the fact that two pairs of brothers took part, for F. W. Gilligan appeared for Oxford and A. E. R. Gilligan for Cambridge. John Naumann played in fifteen Championship matches for Sussex in 1925, his highest innings being 74 against Worcestershire at Hove.

OLDROYD, EDGAR, who died in Cornwall on December 27, aged 76, played as a professional batsman for Yorkshire from 1910 to 1931. Generally at No. 3 in the batting order, he scored 15,929 runs during his first-class career at an average of 35.16 and held 115 catches. Strong in defence and possessing seemingly limitless patience, yet capable of powerful hitting, Oldroyd obtained 38 centuries, seven in 1928, the highest being 194 put together in four and a half hours from the Worcestershire bowling at Worcester in 1923. His best season was that of 1922, when his aggregate reached 1,690, average 43.33, and in nine other summers he exceeded 1,000 runs. On ten occasions he shared partnerships of over 200 for his county, the biggest being 333 with P. Holmes against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in 1922--then a record for the Yorkshire second wicket--and in 1927 he took part in ten three-figure stands. Seven times between 1912 and 1931 he helped Yorkshire to carry off the County Championship. His benefit match at Bradford in 1927 realised £1,700.

SANDERSON, GERALD BARRY, who died on October 10, aged 83, was in the Malvern XI as a batsman from 1898 to 1900. His first-class career was both curious and brief. In 1901 he played for Warwickshire against London County at the Crystal Palace ground, being run out 0; in 1923, while serving for many years as a master at Malvern, he turned out for Worcestershire against Northamptonshire at Worcester, again being run out, this time for 16.

WATSON, DARSIE, who died on November 19, aged 75, was a capital all-rounder when in the Rugby XI from 1905 to 1907. He was captain in the last year. Wisden described him as "a natural batsman with no nerves and a wonderful eye". Against Marlborough at Lord's he enjoyed special success, for in his three games against them he scored 357 runs--highest innings 108 in 1907--at an average of 71.40 and took 20 wickets for just over 13 runs apiece. He played in one match for Sussex in 1920, against Essex at Hove.