Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

38 playing his patient and excellent 94, which included a superb drive for 6 from Flanagan, five 4’s,six 3’s and 28 singles. 61 The following year, 1877, he was selected by W.G.Grace for the Gentlemen-Players match at Prince’s and distinguished himself with 72, an innings described by Cricket as ‘brilliant’ 62 and drawing the comment from Wisden that ‘this was Mr Read’s first Gentlemen and Players match; it is to be hoped it will not be his last for the cricket he played was good enough for any match.’ 63 His highest score to date followed shortly afterwards, 140 against Yorkshire at The Oval in an opening partnership of 206 with his mentor, Henry Jupp. Mr W.W. Read and Jupp making 206 runs before the first Surrey wicket fell, and ten of the Eleven Yorkshiremen taking a bowling turn in that innings, mark this as the most remarkable of the many interesting matches played on the Oval in 1877. 64 In its report on Surrey the following year, Wisden underlined his value to the side the Committee would be wanting in gratitude were they not to make mention of the very valuable services rendered by Mr. W.W.Read during the year. 65 In 1878, selected for an ‘England’ teamwhich played intermittently against county sides, his batting was considered ‘the best on the side’ 66 and a major contributory factor to the defeat of Gloucestershire. Although his commitments at his father’s school prevented his playing regularly, except in the holidays, he continued to impress in the following seasons, in particular with a 93 at Cheltenham in 1880 and, in 1881, his highest to date, 160 against Kent, ‘for hard driving and well-timed hitting one of the best innings we have ever seen. ’67 61 Wisden 1877 p 160 but CricketArchive shows that he was 8 th man out, 62 19 April 1883 63 Wisden 1878 p 27 64 Wisden 1878 p 150 65 Wisden 1878 p 131 66 Cricket 19 April 1883 67 Cricket 19 April 1883 Surrey 1873/80