2nd not 1st: Essex 1899-1914 (6th ed)

Introduction In the late 1890s, Essex were enjoying a level of success on and off the field that was not to be surpassed for eighty years. To build on these achievements, in 1899 they established a 2nd XI which became a blend of leading amateur club cricketers and up-and-coming professionals. Over the next five years, the 1st XI declined but the 2nd XI had a fine record. Of 33 matches, they won 17, drew 14, and lost two. But then atrocious weather led to a financial crisis and one of the economies was the reluctant dropping of the 2nd XI. By 1910 things had improved enough for the team to be revived, but another crisis meant that it only lasted one season. In 1912 Essex’s performances and finances matched the dismal weather and the committee resigned en masse. The new regime was determined to revive the 2nd XI again and in 1914 the team entered the Minor Counties Championship for the first time, but war brought these plans to an end. This piece gives short pen-portraits of the 32 men who played for the 2nd XI but never attained to the 1st. A full account of the Essex 2nd XI in this period will be published as one of the research papers of Essex CCC’s Peter Edwards Museum and Library. I’m grateful to Harry Watton whose suggestions regarding Hunt and Nie, whom I had not previously identified, proved to be spot-on, and for his help with Robertson. I also agree with Harry that ‘H Clarke’, who played two matches in 1914, was probably Horace George Clark who played twice for Essex 1st XI in 1923 and therefore is ineligible for this project! Clarke, Edwin Charles Kaye (1890-1918) Born 29 October 1890, Loughton, Essex. Died 31 August 1918, France. Played 1910. Edwin Clarke was the only child of Charles Sydney Clarke, a self-employed produce broker, and Elizabeth Kaye. I could not trace Edwin on the 1901 census but in 1911 he was an insurance clerk, living with his parents and a servant in St John’s Wood. Clarke attended Westminster School. His Wisden obituary says that he headed the school batting averages in 1909 and the bowling in 1910, and The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News for 16 June 1917 that he headed the bowling averages in both years, but whichever was correct he was certainly a talented all-round cricketer. He was also captain of the football 1st XI, for which he read the game well but was ‘a trifle lacking in pace’. On 1 and 2 August 1910 he played for the Public Schools in an exciting match at Lord’s, which MCC won by two wickets. He top-scored with 79 in the Schools’ first innings and took two wickets. Memorial at the Institute of Actuaries Ten days later Clarke made his only appearance for Essex Second XI, at Hythe against Kent Second XI. Kent batted first and scored 474. Clarke’s seven overs cost 51 runs but he had Kent’s top scorer, Wally Hardinge, stumped. Clarke’s 32 was the highest by any of the six Essex amateurs. Essex followed on but batted out time and he was not needed again. This is

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