Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

119 scoring runs as on earth. 192 C.B.Fry described ‘the great WW’ as ‘a burly, heavy-shouldered ex-schoolmaster, with an oblong brown face and quick, rather cunning brown eyes’. 193 Read was clearly a well-rounded sportsman: of international quality as a batsman, he could field anywhere, was more than an occasional wicket-keeper and his lob bowling was not the worst. Writing on ‘Ashes’ captains, for which Read qualifies on the basis of one game when no one knew or cared whether the Ashes were at stake anyway, Gerry Cotter writes, Read was an interesting character, a bluff and dashing extrovert who never worried about whom he upset……His assertive personality had some merits as a captain and he knew his cricket well enough. With other more outstanding players about he was never going to lead England very often but one has the feeling that he might have made quite a good captain had he had more opportunity. 194 Surrey spin paints a rather more mellow character. He was ever a most genial companion, and I can truthfully say that during all the years I was playing with him nothing ever upset his unfailing good temper on the cricket field and nothing occurred to mar our association off it. 195 W.G.Grace, concentrating more on his batting technique, than his character and temperament, summed him up as follows. Mr. Walter WilliamRead was born at Reigate, Surrey, on the 23rd November, 1855. His height is 5ft, 11½ in; weight 14st.5lbs. He will stand out as one of the great batsmen of the age. For excellent defence and vigorous hitting he has had few equals; and today, though in his 36th year, his form is almost up to his best years. As far as I can learn, he had no special training, but his innate love for the game and unwearied perseverance brought him rapidly to the front. He was tried by the Surrey Committee at the early age of 17. His defence was excellent then; and great things were predicted of him when he reached the years of manhood. He always played with a straight bat, and as the years went on and strength came, his hitting 192 Cricket 6 July 1912 193 Fry Life Worth Living p 142 194 Cotter The Ashes Captains p41 195 John Shuter in Surrey Cricket, its History and Associations p 214 Last Years