Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

117 Cambridge player, now qualified for Surrey, was one. He was described by Cricket as ‘promising’, 187 a shrewd judgment given that the young man in question was to score more first-class centuries than anyone else in the history of the game Read’s reports, detailed and conscientious, reflect the approach of one who took his duties seriously. In accordance with instructions I have seen the following Colts and beg to report as follows: J.W. Hitch Born in Lancashire, Age 19. Fast right hand bowler and distinctly good. I would strongly recommend that he be taken on the Ground Staff for the purpose of qualifying. Jacobs, age 19. Qualifiedbyresidence,adecidedlygoodrighthandmediumpaced bowler and capable of much improvement. I would recommend that he be taken on the ground staff for the purpose of 2nd XI and C & G matches. Gamble, born in Leics, is a really good medium pace left hand bowler and will, I think. be invaluable in C & G matches and well worth qualifying. Meads [sic] so far as I have seen him appears to be a good bat and bowler and should be played as often as possible… Stagg is a good bat and a steady bowler. Crossley a good right hand bowler. Henderson a poor bat and bowler left hand medium. Abel jr a decidedly good bat and fair bowler etc …etc …These I would advise playing as often as possible…. There were no other Colts that had any pretensions to become first-class cricketers… In accordance with instructions I have attended matches at Leatherhead and Epsom…with regard to the staff generally I may safely say they are improving. 188 Abel jr and Hitch played first-class cricket, but none of the others did, except of course Battersea-born Philip Mead who went off to carve himself a career with Hampshire. Sadly, the appointment lasted just two seasons. Walter Read died of pneumonia at his home in Addiscombe Park after a period of indifferent health at the young age of 51 on Sunday 6 January 1907. Charles Alcock and Edward Pooley, both distinguished servants of the club in different ways were to follow later in the year. The President and Henry Leveson-Gower made the necessary 187 Cricket 27 April 1905 188 4 & 18 May 1905 Last Years