Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

47 One version is that, feeling himself to be out of form, he asked to be put down the order. That may be the ‘establishment’ spin, but it looks hardly likely. Mr. Read had been rather out of form before the match commenced, and had for this reason insisted, when the batting order was being drawn up, that he was not entitled to occupy a higher position than No.10. 81 If he were so out of form it is unlikely that he would have been selected in the first place and his record coming in to the match, while not brilliant, was hardly indicative of one who was out of form. Since the Lord’s Test, he had had 21 against Yorkshire, 43 and 29 against Nottinghamshire and his sole single figure innings of nine against Kent was top score in a total of 44 all out. 82 The more likely version is that he had had words with captain Lord Harris earlier, aristocracy and autocracy had prevailed and he had been demoted,‘…ostensibly he had had a row with Harris and had been relegated in the hope that he would cool down.’ 83 It is recalled in one of his Obituaries as ‘the innings of his life’. England had a magnificent eleven and Mr Read, though he ought to have gone in earlier was tenth in the batting order. In ordinary circumstances he would not have had much chance of distinction, but Scotton who had gone in first and was firmly set, kept up such an impressive defence that the tenth [sic] wicket added over 150 runs…the way in which Mr Read punished the bowling of Spofforth, Palmer, Giffen and Boyle will never be forgotten by those fortunate enough to be present. His innings ranks among the finest ever played in Test matches, and after the lapse of 22 years it is still talked about. 84 More than a hundred years later, Gerry Cotter sees the innings in the context of Read’s sometimes choleric temperament. ‘His character is epitomized by his famous innings at the Oval in 1884 when he struck 117 furious (and match-saving) runs because he was annoyed with Lord Harris at being left until number ten.’ 85 81 F S Ashley-Cooper in Surrey Cricket: its History and Associations p 375 82 What goes around comes around. Read was bowled by Frank Lipscomb whose father he had defied on his début for Reigate Priory in 1868. Lipscomb jr’s 5-19 were his best figures in first-class cricket. 83 Coldham Lord Harris p 60 84 Surrey Mirror 11 January 1907 85 The Ashes Captains p 41 Surrey and England 1881/87