Somerset County Cricket Club in 1885

Last updated

Somerset County Cricket Club
Ted Sainsbury.jpg
Ted Sainsbury, captain
OGRadcliffe.jpg
Octavius Radcliffe
1885 season
Captain Ted Sainsbury
Most runs Octavius Radcliffe (323)
Most wickets Edward Bastard (25)
Most catches Charles Winter (6)
Most wicket-keeping dismissals George Lillington,
Fred Welman (2)

The 1885 season was an annus horribilis for Somerset County Cricket Club. Captained by Ted Sainsbury, who had taken over from Stephen Newton, captain for the previous three seasons, they played six first-class cricket matches. Somerset's only win of the season came in their first match; all the other were lost. Two of the losses, those away against Gloucestershire and Surrey, number among the county's ten heaviest defeats. Somerset were unable to field a full team for their fourth match, which coupled with their poor results and lack of fixtures resulted in the club being stripped of its first-class status at the end of the season.

Contents

At an emergency meeting held in Taunton a new club secretary was appointed and wealthy benefactors were sought, but Sainsbury retained the club captaincy. Somerset played second-class cricket for five seasons, until their readmission to the first-class game for the 1891 season.

In their histories of Somerset County Cricket Club, Peter Roebuck and David Foot mostly gloss over the season; Roebuck includes a scorecard, but provides only two paragraphs of prose, while Foot only mentions the loss of first-class cricket.

Background

Somerset had been granted first-class status in advance of the 1882 season. Their maiden season at the top level was described by Wisden as disastrous, but the publication qualified this statement with mild optimism for 1883. [1] The county failed to live up to this optimism, and although there were a few wins, performances on the whole were poor. Twice between 1882 and 1884 Somerset's opponents scored over 500 runs in an innings against them, and against Lancashire in 1884 they fielded only ten players. [2] Stephen Newton, who had captained the side since 1882, left the club at the end of the 1884 season, and thereafter played all his cricket in London. [3]

Squad

In their six first-class matches in 1885, Somerset fielded 26 different players. Only two appeared in all six matches: the captain Edward Sainsbury, and Charles Winter. [note 1] James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual suggested in 1883 that "professionals not being indigenous to the area [Somerset] it is feared that their advance is only temporary". [4] This prediction was particularly accurate during 1885: only Albert Clapp was a professional. [5] Ten of Somerset's players that year only appeared once during the season, [note 1] and of those, all but George Mirehouse, [6] Crescens Robinson, [7] and Francis Terry, [8] made fewer than five career first-class appearances.

The following players made at least one appearance for Somerset in first-class cricket in 1885. Age given is at the start of Somerset's first match of the season (16 July 1885).

Key
NameBirth dateBatting styleBowling styleAppsRef
Edward Bastard 28 February 1862 (aged 23)Left-handed Slow left-arm orthodox 4 [9]
John Challen 26 March 1863 (aged 22)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium 5 [10]
Albert Clapp 3 May 1867 (aged 18)Right-handedRight-arm medium3 [11]
Thomas Crump 5 July 1845 (aged 40)Right-handed Underarm 1 [12]
Egerton Hall 25 April 1861 (aged 24)UnknownUnknown2 [13]
Henry Hall 24 December 1857 (aged 27)UnknownUnknown1 [14]
Herbie Hewett 25 May 1864 (aged 21)Left-handedUnknown-arm medium4 [15]
Charles Hulls 18 March 1861 (aged 24)Right-handedRight-arm medium1 [16]
George Lillington  Dagger-14-plain.png31 October 1843 (aged 41)Unknown1 [17]
Edward Marsh 7 May 1865 (aged 20)Right-handed2 [18]
George Mirehouse 11 May 1863 (aged 22)Right-handedRight-arm medium-fast 1 [6]
Ernest Murdock  Dagger-14-plain.png14 November 1864 (aged 20)Right-handed2 [19]
Edward Page 6 August 1864 (aged 20)UnknownUnknown1 [20]
James Parfitt 23 December 1857 (aged 27)Right-handedRight-arm fast-medium 2 [21]
George Peake 6 March 1846 (aged 39)Unknown1 [22]
Octavius Radcliffe 20 October 1859 (aged 25)Right-handedRight-arm off break 5 [23]
Farrant Reed 10 September 1865 (aged 19)Right-handedUnknown3 [24]
Crescens Robinson 21 May 1864 (aged 21)Right-handedUnknown1 [7]
Bill Roe 21 March 1861 (aged 24)Right-handedRight-arm off break / medium3 [25]
Edward Sainsbury (captain)5 July 1851 (aged 34)Right-handed Underarm unknown-hand slow6 [26]
Frederick Smith 10 May 1854 (aged 31)Right-handedRight-arm fast 2 [27]
Edward Spurway 4 April 1863 (aged 22)Right-handed1 [28]
Francis Terry 26 October 1860 (aged 24)Right-handedRight-arm medium1 [8]
John Trask 27 October 1861 (aged 23)Right-handedRight-arm medium2 [29]
Fred Welman  Dagger-14-plain.png19 February 1849 (aged 36)Right-handed3 [30]
Charles Winter 9 October 1866 (aged 18)Right-handedRight-arm fast6 [31]

County cricket

During 1885 Somerset suffered badly from their lack of a strong bowling attack. Playing six matches, there were a total of 120 wickets on offer, but Somerset's bowlers took only 67. Edward Bastard, a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, was the county's leading wicket-taker, claiming 25 wickets during his four appearances, at an average of 15.32. [note 2] His bowling average was not far below that of George Lohmann, who finished the season as the country's leading wicket taker, with 142 wickets from his 24 matches. [note 2] Unfortunately for Somerset, Bastard was only able to play in four of the county's six matches, and of the other bowlers, the best bowling average was the 25.85 managed by Bill Roe, who took only seven wickets. Charles Winter, who took the next highest total of wickets, only managed to claim 15 in his 6 appearances. [note 2] Batting was the strongest aspect of Somerset's play, but the club lacked the strength-in-depth of other county teams. Herbie Hewett, playing his second season of first-class cricket, finished with the highest batting average for the county with 35.28, a respectable average which exceeded a number of England Test batsmen that season. [note 1] Only four Somerset batsman passed 50 runs in an innings – Hewett, Octavius Radcliffe, Bill Roe, and Charles Winter – and only Radcliffe advanced to reach a century during the season. [note 1]

Herbie Hewett led Somerset's batting averages in 1885, with 35.28. HTHewett1892.jpg
Herbie Hewett led Somerset's batting averages in 1885, with 35.28.

Somerset's first match of 1885 commenced on 16 July 1885, over two months after Nottinghamshire faced Sussex and Surrey travelled to Hampshire to open the first-class county cricket season in England. [32] Somerset began their season at home against Hampshire, and after losing the toss were asked to field. Somerset's bowlers restricted the visitors to 175 runs in the first innings, during which Bastard took a career-best eight wickets in the innings, conceding 54 runs (eight for 54) off his 38 four-ball overs. In reply, Somerset fell short of equalling their opponents and were bowled out for 153, Radcliffe top-scoring with 51 runs. Bastard collected another three wickets in the second innings, granting him one of two career ten-wicket hauls, and Winter took four as Somerset bowled Hampshire out for 111, leaving themselves needing 134 to win. None of Somerset's top four batsmen reached 20 runs, but an unbeaten 50 from Hewett, accompanied by 32 from the number seven, Farrant Reed, helped Somerset achieve a five-wicket victory. [33]

For their next match Somerset travelled to Moreton-in-Marsh, where they faced Gloucestershire. Bastard did not take part in the match, and it fell to Winter to bowl the majority of the overs in his absence. Along with his fellow opener, James Parfitt, Winter claimed three wickets, but both openers conceded over 100 runs for their wickets. Sainsbury tried eight different bowlers in an effort to take wickets, and Gloucestershire were eventually bowled out for 448 after 190 overs. In reply, Somerset conceded their first three wickets for 18 runs, before a brief revival took them to 61 for 3. The last seven wickets then fell for the addition of 39 more runs, and Somerset closed on 100, still trailing their opponents by overs 300 runs. [34] Captain Edward Sainsbury top-scored for Somerset, reaching his highest total of the season, 40, [note 1] and only two other batsmen reached double figures for the county: Parfitt and the professional, Albert Clapp. Five Somerset players fell for ducks. Asked by Gloucestershire to follow on, Somerset batted even more poorly in their second effort, in which Winter's total of 21 was the highest score. [34] A total of 80 meant that they lost the match by an innings and 268 runs, their heaviest defeat in first-class cricket at that point. [35]

The county had just four days to rest and recover from their loss before facing Surrey at The Oval. Bastard was again unavailable for Somerset, and after losing the toss once more, Somerset spent the whole of the first day in the field. Surrey accumulated 564 runs during that day, and reached 635 before Somerset claimed the tenth wicket to close the innings. At that stage, Maurice Read remained at the crease, having scored 186 not out, his highest score in first-class cricket. The Somerset opening bowlers, Winter and Parfitt, had both conceded in excess of 100 runs for the second match in a row. Sainsbury had utilised one less bowler than against Gloucestershire in his search for wickets, and claimed four of the wickets himself, recording a career-best four for 74. Hewett, whom he asked to bowl 30 overs, finished with 11 maiden overs. The 30 overs he bowled in the match accounted for over a quarter of all his bowling in first-class cricket. In reply to Surrey's total, Somerset were bowled out for 83 in their first innings, in which only John Challen and Crescens Robinson reached double figures, scoring 29 and 12 respectively. Clapp is recorded as "absent hurt" in both of Somerset's innings. In the second innings, Somerset were much improved, reaching 251, their highest batting total of the season. Radcliffe scored the county's only century of the season, scoring 101, and he shared a partnership of 129 with Hewett for the fourth wicket. Hewett reached his own highest score of the season, totalling 85. Nevertheless, Somerset's loss was even heavier than that suffered a week earlier, losing by an innings and 301 runs. [36] As of March 2011, both of these back-to-back losses remain among the ten heaviest experienced by the county in first-class cricket. [35]

Somerset had just over a week off before their next match, for which they travelled to the County Ground, Southampton to face Hampshire once more. Possibly due to their losses in the previous two matches, Somerset could only field nine men in the fixture, a situation which Roebuck described as shameful. [2] For the first time that season, Somerset batted first. [37] They scored 117, and a contemporary match report praised the batting of Winter and Radcliffe, who scored 22 and 34 respectively in the first innings. Bastard "did a capital performance in the first innings of Hants, taking eight of the ten wickets at a cost of only 59 runs", according to the same report. [2] Despite his efforts, Hampshire exceeded Somerset's total, opening up a 45-run lead from the first innings. Winter top-scored for Somerset in their second innings, reaching his highest total in first-class cricket, 62, after opening the batting. [31] Scores in the 20s from Radcliffe and Egerton Hall helped take Somerset to 166, but Hampshire reached the total required for victory with a day of the match remaining, winning by eight wickets. [37]

Surrey visited the County Ground, Taunton a few days later for the counties' second meeting of the season. In a repeat of their previous fixtures, Surrey won the toss and chose to bat. Bastard, who had not played in their earlier clash, opened the bowling for Somerset alongside John Challen. Bastard, presumably due to the weakness of the rest of the county's attack, bowled 50 overs, but he could not repeat the successes he had achieved against Hampshire, toiling to take two for 99. All of Somerset's six bowlers in that innings claimed a wicket as Surrey were bowled out for 292. In reply, Radcliffe occupied the crease as the batsmen at the other end came and went, scoring exactly half of Somerset's 164. Roe, Sainsbury and Hewett all reached double figures, but four Somerset batsmen were dismissed for ducks. Requested to follow on, Somerset fared less well in their second innings: Roe reached 43, but no other batsman passed 20, and Somerset were all out for 123, five runs short of forcing Surrey to bat again. [38]

Somerset were the hosts once more for their final match of the season, played with just a single day off after the Surrey match, [32] and that only because the scheduled three-day match was concluded in two days. [38] The home side won the toss and elected to bat first against Gloucestershire, who opened the bowling with W. G. Grace and William Woof. The pair bowled unchanged for 30 overs each, and claimed five wickets apiece as Somerset were dismissed for 105. Only Frederick Smith and Challen reached double figures, scoring 37 and 39. In response, Gloucestershire totalled 242, during which Bastard claimed four wickets, three of them from the tail. Somerset batted admirably in their second innings, with Roe and Hewett both scoring half-centuries (76 and 66 respectively), and they reached 246, six of the wickets falling to Woof, who collected eleven in the match. Gloucestershire achieved victory for the loss of just one wicket in their second innings, subjecting Somerset to their fifth successive loss. [39]

Season record

PlayedWonLostWin%
61516.67

Match log

No.DateOpponentsVenueResultRef
116–17 July Hampshire County Ground, Taunton Won by 5 wickets [33]
23–5 August Gloucestershire Moreton-in-Marsh Cricket Club Ground, Moreton-in-Marsh Lost by an innings and 268 runs [34]
310–12 August Surrey The Oval, LondonLost by an innings and 301 runs [36]
420–21 August Hampshire County Ground, Southampton Lost by 8 wickets [37]
524–25 August Surrey County Ground, Taunton Lost by an innings and 5 runs [38]
627–28 August Gloucestershire County Ground, Taunton Lost by 9 wickets [39]

Batting averages

PlayerMatches Innings Runs Average Highest Score 100s 50s
Herbie Hewett 4824735.288503
Octavius Radcliffe 51032332.3010112
Bill Roe 3615525.837601
John Challen 51016316.304000
Charles Winter 61114215.776201
Edward Sainsbury 6121199.914000
Qualification: 100 runs. Source: CricketArchive. [note 1]

Bowling averages

PlayerMatches Balls Wickets Average BBI 5wi 10wm
Edward Bastard 48662515.328/5411
Bill Roe 3407725.852/3700
Edward Sainsbury 6255626.334/7400
Charles Winter 68601529.334/2000
John Challen 5441557.202/6800
Qualification: 5 wickets. Source: CricketArchive. [note 2]

Aftermath

Somerset were stripped of their first-class status for three reasons: they had not organised and played enough first-class fixtures during the season, their performances were not what was expected from a first-class county, and they had not succeeded in fielding a full side of eleven players in all their matches. [42] An emergency meeting was held in Taunton during which a new club secretary was appointed, rules were altered, and wealthy benefactors were sought. Despite these widespread changes, Sainsbury retained the club captaincy. [43] Somerset played second-class cricket for five seasons, finishing as "second-class county champions" in 1890, after which they were readmitted to the first-class game. [42]

Notes and references

Notes
  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Statistics collated from the national batting averages, [40] and for those players who appeared for more than one side, their individual record for that season: Octavius Radcliffe, Fred Welman, Edward Bastard, and George Mirehouse.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Statistics collated from the national bowling averages, [41] and for those players who appeared for more than one side, their individual record for that season: Octavius Radcliffe, Fred Welman, Edward Bastard, and George Mirehouse.
References
  1. Foot (1986), p. 19.
  2. 1 2 3 Roebuck (1991), p. 30.
  3. "Teams Stephen Newton played for". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. Roebuck (1991), p. 29.
  5. Foot (1986), p. 29.
  6. 1 2 "Player Profile: George Mirehouse". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  7. 1 2 "Player Profile: Cres Robinson". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  8. 1 2 "Player Profile: Francis Terry". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  9. "Player Profile: Edward Bastard". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  10. "Player Profile: John Challen". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  11. "Player Profile: Albert Clapp". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  12. "Player Profile: Thomas Crump". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  13. "Player Profile: Egerton Hall". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  14. "Player Profile: Henry Hall". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  15. "Player Profile: Herbie Hewett". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  16. "Player Profile: Charles Hulls". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  17. "Player Profile: George Lillington". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  18. "Player Profile: Edward Marsh". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  19. "Player Profile: Ernest Murdock". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  20. "Player Profile: Edward Page". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  21. "Player Profile: James Parfitt". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  22. "Player Profile: George Peake". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  23. "Player Profile: Octavius Radcliffe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  24. "Player Profile: Farrant Reed". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  25. "Player Profile: Bill Roe". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  26. "Player Profile: Edward Sainsbury". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  27. "Player Profile: Frederick Smith". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  28. "Player Profile: Edward Spurway". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  29. "Player Profile: John Trask". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  30. "Player Profile: Fred Welman". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  31. 1 2 "Player Profile: Charles Winter". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  32. 1 2 "County Match 1885". CricketArchive. Archived from the original on 4 May 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  33. 1 2 "Somerset v Hampshire in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  34. 1 2 3 "Gloucestershire v Somerset in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  35. 1 2 "Largest Margin of Innings Defeat". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  36. 1 2 "Surrey v Somerset in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  37. 1 2 3 "Hampshire v Somerset in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  38. 1 2 3 "Somerset v Surrey in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  39. 1 2 "Somerset v Gloucestershire in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  40. "First-class Batting and Fielding in England for 1885 (Ordered by Average)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  41. "First-class Bowling in England for 1885 (Ordered by Average)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 March 2011.
  42. 1 2 Foot (1986), pp. 23–28.
  43. Roebuck (1991), pp. 30–32.

Bibliography

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">E. W. Bastard</span> English amateur cricketer (1862–1901)

Edward William Bastard was an English first-class cricketer who played for Oxford University and Somerset. Bastard was a slow left-arm orthodox bowler, described in his Wisden obituary as Somerset's best bowler during his time with the club. Bastard was also part of the Oxford team often said to be the university's best ever.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset County Cricket Club</span> English county cricket club

Somerset County Cricket Club is one of eighteen first-class county clubs within the domestic cricket structure of England and Wales. It represents the historic county of Somerset. Founded in 1875, Somerset was initially regarded as a minor county until official first-class status was acquired in 1895. Somerset has competed in the County Championship since 1891 and has subsequently played in every top-level domestic cricket competition in England. The club's limited overs team was formerly named the Somerset Sabres, but is now known only as Somerset.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sammy Woods</span> Australian sportsman

Samuel Moses James Woods was an Australian sportsman who represented both Australia and England at Test cricket, and appeared thirteen times for England at rugby union, including five times as captain. He also played at county level in England at both soccer and hockey. At cricket—his primary sport—he played over four hundred first-class matches in a twenty-four-year career. The majority of these matches were for his county side, Somerset, whom he captained from 1894 to 1906. A. A. Thomson described him thus: "Sammy ... radiated such elemental force in hard hitting, fast bowling and electrical fielding that he might have been the forerunner of Sir Learie Constantine."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Fothergill</span> English cricketer

Arnold James Fothergill was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club and the MCC in a career which spanned from 1870 until 1892. A left-arm fast-medium pace bowler, he appeared for England in two Test matches in 1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lionel Palairet</span> English cricketer

Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset and Oxford University. A graceful right-handed batsman, he was selected to play Test cricket for England twice in 1902. Contemporaries judged Palairet to have one of the most attractive batting styles of the period. His obituary in The Times described him as "the most beautiful batsman of all time". An unwillingness to tour during the English winter limited Palairet's Test appearances; contemporaries believed he deserved more Test caps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Herbie Hewett</span> Amateur cricketer and lawyer

Herbert Tremenheere "Herbie" Hewett was an English amateur first-class cricketer who played for Somerset, captaining the county from 1889 to 1893, as well as Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. A battling left-handed opening batsman, Hewett could post a large score in a short time against even the best bowlers. Capable of hitting the ball powerfully, he combined an excellent eye with an unorthodox style to be regarded at his peak as one of England's finest batsmen.

Variations in published cricket statistics have come about because there is no official view of the status of cricket matches played in Great Britain prior to 1895 or in the rest of the world prior to 1947. As a result, historians and statisticians have compiled differing lists of matches that they recognise as (unofficially) first-class. The problem is significant where it touches on some of the sport's first-class records, especially in regards to the playing career of W. G. Grace.

Michael Burns is an English first-class list cricket umpire and former first-class cricketer who played county cricket for Warwickshire and Somerset in a first-class career which spanned from 1992 until 2005. He also played Minor Counties cricket for Cumberland and Cornwall. An adaptable cricketer, he appeared for Cumberland and Warwickshire as a wicket-keeper, but when he moved to Somerset he developed into an aggressive batsman who bowled at medium-pace when needed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Roe (cricketer)</span> English cricketer (1861–1937)

William Nichols Roe was an English first-class cricketer who played for Somerset County Cricket Club and Cambridge University in the late 19th century. A right-handed batsman who could play aggressively, but with a sound defensive method, Roe was considered one of Somerset's leading batsmen of the era. He played without merit for Cambridge, and only achieved his Blue during his final year at the university.

Stephen Cox Newton was an English cricketer who represented, and captained, Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. During a 14-year first-class cricket career, he also represented Cambridge University, Middlesex and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ted Sainsbury</span> English cricketer

Edward ("Ted") Sainsbury was an English cricketer who represented, and captained, Somerset County Cricket Club in the late 19th century. During a 10-year first-class cricket career, he also represented Gloucestershire and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">George Nichols (cricketer)</span>

George Benjamin Nichols was a professional first-class cricketer who played 134 matches for Somerset, after starting his career with five first-class appearances for Gloucestershire. He was a key part of the Somerset team that won the 'Second-class County Championship' in 1890 by winning twelve of their thirteen matches, tying the other with Middlesex. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he was known for being able to bowl long, accurate spells.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Newton (cricketer)</span>

Arthur Edward Newton was an English cricketer who played for Somerset in the county's pre-first-class days and then for more than 20 years after the team entered the County Championship in 1891. He also played for Oxford University and for a variety of amateur teams. As a cricketer, he was known as "A. E.", not by his forename.

Albert Edward Clapp was an English professional cricketer who played for Somerset and Shropshire between 1885 and 1895. He played most of his career in the second tier of county cricket, but did appear ten times for Somerset in first-class cricket. A right-handed batsman, Clapp began his career playing first-class cricket with Somerset in 1885, and from 1891 he alternated between both Somerset and Shropshire. He made his final county appearance in 1896, while his final recorded match was two years later. He achieved his highest first-class score of 60 not out against Hampshire in his penultimate first-class match.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Challen</span> Welsh footballer (1863–1937)

John Bonamy Challen was a Welsh amateur sportsman who played first-class cricket and association football during the late 19th century. He played football for Corinthian F.C., and was selected to play for Wales four times between 1887 and 1890. As a cricketer, he made over 50 first-class appearances, all for Somerset County Cricket Club. His availability in both sports was limited by his career in education; he was headmaster at a number of schools across southern England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">James Parfitt</span> English amateur cricketer and lawyer

James John Alexander Parfitt KC was an English judge who was called to the bar in 1887, and served as a County Court judge from 1918 until his death eight years later. He did not approve of verbose counsel, and would often succinctly summarise their arguments. He was known as a compassionate but businesslike judge.

Jack Martin Robert Taylor is an English cricketer, a right-handed batsman and right-arm leg-break bowler who currently plays for Gloucestershire County Cricket Club. He made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Derbyshire in August 2010. Taylor signed a two-year contract with Gloucestershire in February 2009. Taylor's younger brother, Matthew Taylor is also a professional player and has played more than 100 games for Gloucestershire.

Somerset County Cricket Club made their debut in first-class cricket in the 1882 English cricket season. They were captained by Stephen Newton, and played eight first-class matches, five against county opposition, two against the Marylebone Cricket Club and one against the touring Australian team. They only won one of the eight contests, that against Hampshire at Taunton. Of the other matches, one was drawn and the other six were all losses for Somerset. Wisden Cricketers' Almanack described the season as "disastrous", but the publication qualified this statement with mild optimism for 1883.

In 1883, Somerset County Cricket Club played their second season of first-class cricket. They were captained by Stephen Newton, and played in seven matches, winning only one of them.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2020 Bob Willis Trophy</span> 2020 cricket tournament

The 2020 Bob Willis Trophy was a first-class cricket tournament held in the 2020 English cricket season, and the inaugural edition of the Bob Willis Trophy. It was separate from the County Championship, which was not held in 2020 due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom. The eighteen county cricket teams were split into three regional groups of six, with the two group winners with the most points advancing to a final held at Lord's. The maximum number of overs bowled in a day was reduced from 96 to 90, and the team's first innings could be no longer than 120 overs.