Lives in Cricket No 21 - Walter Read

89 1896 saw his last appearance in a Gentlemen v Players fixture. Appropriately it was at The Oval; appropriately too, he signed off with a fifty and was dismissed by Surrey colleagues Richardson in the first innings and Lohmann in the second – the future and the past of Surrey’s attack. The Gentlemen scraped home by one wicket after the ninth wicket had fallen with the scores level. It was, said Cricket , not the best season for captain Kingsmill Key. Neither was it for Surrey who after a sound start lost seven Championship matches and finished fourth in the table. Nor was it for Walter Read – The same remark applies to Mr Read, who though he was making runs all through the season, seldom showed his true form. 158 His first-class batting average of 22.71 was the lowest since his appointment as Assistant Secretary enabled him to become a regular member of the Surrey team fifteen years earlier. Lillywhite’s , however, edited by Charles Alcock, remained politely complimentary. Plays very straight, and hits all round with great freedom; a fine field anywhere and can also keep wicket. 159 158 Cricket 3 September 1896 159 1897 edition p 259 Surrey and England 1888/97 The Surrey team in 1896. [Surrey County Cricket Club]