Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

service which was presented to Richard after his testimonial in 1876 and his portrait by Frank Miles. The portrait now hangs in the Long Room at Trent Bridge. Some years after Richard’s death, The Dictionary of National Biography did his memory the honour of a contribution: he appears in the 2004 edition, too. In 1923, Ashley-Cooper published his history Nottinghamshire Cricket and Cricketers – he had briefly served the county as Secretary in 1921 – in which his sketch of Richard included this: At mid-off and long-leg, he was seen to the greatest advantage. He covered much ground, was quick and sure in his movements, and had a long, low, swift and accurate throw-in, the wicket-keeper receiving the ball on the first bound. Many will be able to recall his energies whilst running almost on the toes of the ring, and with his straw hat often blowing off – a pleasant reminiscence which, even at this distance of time, makes one experience a thrill of delight. Three years later, the visit of the Australians under Herbie Collins in 1926 produced a small flood of cricket books, including several from the publishers Chapman and Hall. They produced A Cricketer’s Yarns , further cullings from Richard’s reminiscences, and not noticeably less interesting than the earlier production. The introduction contained the family lore which Ashley-Cooper obtained from young Richard. They also published Catton’s book Wickets and Goals . Let him, who had known Richard for so long, have the last word with this assessment: While he had the facility to make money, unfortunately he had not the gift of keeping it. In his later years, he acted as an umpire in first-class cricket. There is nothing incompatible with self-respect in accepting such a position, requiring knowledge, capacity and trustworthiness, but it seemed to me rather derogatory to his dignity – because he was a man who had put himself on a pedestal. 136 Post Mortem