Lives in Cricket No 7 - Richard Daft

for the United he made 30 and 18 at Sutton-in-Ashfield, and then nine versus Dewsbury in the last week in July, but he did not then play an innings of note for another fortnight until Notts travelled South to meet Middlesex at Islington. Though he failed in the first innings, when Notts led Middlesex by two runs, he played a splendid innings of 94 when they went in again. When the Notts County Cricket Club held their general meeting in December, John Johnson resigned as secretary and afterwards entertained a party consisting of Notts supporters and the county eleven to a lavish dinner. George Parr, on behalf of the county side, presented Johnson with a splendid silver goblet on a salver, inscribed by Parr himself, Richard and the other members of the team. Wisden’s Cricketers’ Almanack next year commented on the great increase in the number of matches played during the 1866 season, but Richard’s participation was limited to seven appearances, six of them for Notts, and his form suffered for lack of match play. In Notts matches he scored 229 runs at 22.90 and in all first-class games he reached 255 at 21.25. By contrast, at this time, his bowling colleagues at Notts, some of them MCC professionals, often played for the Club and other sides, and thus kept their skills well-honed throughout the season. Playing even less frequently the next season, he benefited from a number of not-out innings to increase his average to 53.85, but he played only six first-class matches, of which five were for Notts. The reason is easy to see. In addition to his work at the brewery and his family responsibilities, he had set up on his own in Nottingham as a cricket outfitter. His life was further complicated by the death of his brother Thomas in February, 1867 at the comparatively early age of 49. As executor, with his cousin William Wood, Richard proved the will on 9 July and it is notable that before that date, he appeared only three times in first-class cricket. In one of these he scored his celebrated 111 not out against the United, while he was undefeated at Islington for scores of 72 and 18 against Middlesex in June. These games formed Notts’ full programme for the season, with the exception of a match against the North at Trent Bridge, beginning on 26 August. While Richard and the other Northern professionals were disporting themselves in this match, another was being played at The Oval between a combined team of Surrey 42 County Cricket