Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

43 Chapter Five Surrey and England 1881/87 1881 Reigate Priory’s Annual Report for 1881 regretted the loss of Walter Read’s services. But Reigate’s loss was Surrey’s gain. In 1881, now for the first time able to play regularly, Mr W.W. Read was able to play in every match, and proved the mainstay of the Surrey batting, beside showing exceptional form as a wicket-keeper. His brilliant hitting in the fifteen matches in which he took part, place him at the head of all three important batting columns. (total runs, largest innings and average) 74 Against Notts at The Oval, Mr Pontifex played brilliantly for 89; a 5, nine 4’s, six 3’s and six 2’s being his principal hits. Mr Read’s 63 was even a more brilliant performance, his hits taking this extraordinary form: fourteen 4’s, one 3, one 2,and two singles. 75 His highest score of the season, 160 against Kent at Maidstone, while not flawless, was clearly entertaining, Mr W W Read gave three chances while scoring his 160, but it was nevertheless a grand innings, and the severity of his hitting may be judged from the composition of his score – three 6’s, twenty-nine 4’s (134 in 32 hits), four 2’s, and eighteen singles. 76 1882 For the second season, as would be the case for the remainder of his career, he had the opportunity to play almost every day of the summer (or at least, six days a week, the Victorian sabbath prohibiting entertainment of any thoughts of Sunday sport) and 74 Wisden 1882 p 166 75 Wisden 1882 p 175 76 Wisden 1882 p 197