Cricket's Historians

Roy Webber and the Society of Cricket Statisticians any of them to be accepted as trustworthy records.’ The author of this letter, Antony Weigall of Cheam in Surrey, goes on to suggest the formation of a society of statisticians, who could band together and systematically check seasonal figures for players, as well as agree a standard list of first-class matches. Weigall had been writing letters on statistical matters to The Cricketer since 1932 and the magazine had also published correspondence on the same subject from both Gustard and Roberts as well as other lesser lights. In view of the criticism of previous statistical compilations noted by Weigall, it is rather ironic that The Cricketer , in its first summer edition following Weigall’s letter, should commence Part One of a series detailing the career records of the principal players during the inter-war period. This new statistical series runs right through the 1946 issues of the magazine. The author was L.C.Fielding. Tony Weigall was born in Rochester in 1902 and educated at Tonbridge – he was not in the XI, indeed his cricket playing ability was described as ‘minimal’. However he had a very keen interest in the statistics and history of the game. A chartered accountant, being latterly a partner in the firm of Deloittes, Plender and Griffiths, his letter spurred similar minded enthusiasts to contact him. His dream of a statistical society was realised much more quickly than he might have hoped and he became the Editor of the society’s statistical annual for its first six issues. Weigall died at his home in July 1977. ‘The Society of Cricket Statisticians’ was officially founded at a meeting in London on November 17, 1945. The initial membership was just under 60; the annual subscription was agreed at five shillings; the main objects were, as Weigall had sought, to compile complete and accurate records for first-class cricket from 1870 and the publication of a Year Book. S.Canynge Caple was elected as Hon Secretary. In June 1946 Weigall added to the new society’s aim the publication of a cricket bibliography. The monopoly of this new society was broken before anything concrete had been published. In May 1946, The Cricketer carried a letter from Roy Webber of Old Hunstanton in Norfolk. This letter proposed the formation 127