Lives in Cricket No 44 - LCH Palairet

of the total for a completed innings; only Peter Wight (twice) has achieved this more than once for Somerset. Lionel scored 1,000 runs in a season for Somerset six times, a record until Frank Lee registered his seventh in 1938; it must be noted though that after the First World War, Somerset played considerably more matches. Lionel’s record of 1,906 runs in 1901 was not beaten until Frank Lee scored 2,019 in 1938. On ten occasions Lionel topped the Somerset batting averages; this remains a record. His record of reaching 10,000 runs for Somerset (in 151 matches), was not beaten until Viv Richards achieved this feat in 137 matches in 1982. Lionel’s 346 for the first wicket with HT Hewett against Yorkshire in 1892 remains the county record; Lionel also shared in four other 200-plus partnerships for the first wicket. He also added 249 with RCN Palairet against Sussex in 1896 for the second wicket, not beaten until 1923. With CA Bernard he added 262 against Hampshire in 1900; this stand for the third wicket remained the club record until 1960. His presence and weight of runs remains impressive to this day. As a bowler he generally bowled under-hand lobs, though occasionally he would bowl the odd right-arm off break. He took 143 wickets; he twice took five wickets in an innings, both for Oxford University. His favourite victims were GR Baker (Lancashire) and PF Warner (Middlesex), both four times. He dismissed on three occasions CB Fry, AW Mold, Hylton Phillipson and TC O’Brien. Some other notable scalps included Bobby Abel (twice), TW Hayward, GH Hirst, KS Ranjitsinjhi and AE Stoddart. As a fielder he took 284 catches and made 14 stumpings. He was generally a deep fielder often at mid-on or long on but on occasions would field in the slips. If Somerset were struggling for a wicket-keeper, he did on occasions keep wicket and generally did a competent job. He caught John Tunnicliffe of Yorkshire six times behind the wicket and Bill Brockwell five times; he also caught WG Grace twice and stumped him; and stumped Ted Wainwright of Yorkshire twice. As a stylist he left an undiminished mark on the game. HS Altham wrote: His cricketing legacy 125