Arthur Walker Richardson
Encyclopedia
Arthur Walker Richardson (4 March 1907 - 29 July 1983) was an English
cricket
er who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
between 1928 and 1936. He captained the Derbyshire team between 1931 and 1936, concluding with Derbyshire's first victory in the County Championship
table.
Richardson was born at Quarndon
, Derbyshire
. He was educated at Winchester College
and in a match against Harrow School
scored 117 for the Winchester XI in a partnership of 295. At the start of the 1928 season
he made his debut for Derbyshire against the West Indies. In his first three seasons he managed a highest score of 70 and his best seasonal average was 25. He became Derbyshire captain in the 1931 season
and led his team to 7th in the points table. In the 1932 season
he scored 1,258 runs with an average of 29.95 and made his highest score of 90 against Nottinghamshire
, although the team fell back to 10th in the Championship. He led the team progressively up to sixth in the 1933 season
, third in the 1934 season
, and second in the 1935 season
with 16 wins. In the 1936 season
the club won the County Championship
winning 13 matches. He was supported by batsmen Stan Worthington
, Leslie Townsend
, Denis Smith
and Albert Alderman
each of whom scored over a thousand runs and several centuries. Bill Copson
, Thomas Mitchell
, Alf Pope
and Leslie Townsend
accounted for most of the wickets taken. Richardson finished his cricket career at the end of the 1936 season. Wisden stated that he achieved much by his own enthusiasm and warm personality.
Richardson was a right-handed middle order batsman and played 239 innings in 159 matches with an average of 19.05 and a top score of 90. As a batsman, he was considered rather ungainly but solid and he scored mainly on the leg. As a fielder he was a good mid-off. He only bowled 34 balls in his first class career taking no wickets.
Richardson died at Ednaston, Derbyshire at the age of 76. His son William Richardson and grandson Alastair Richardson
also played for Derbyshire.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played first-class cricket for Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
between 1928 and 1936. He captained the Derbyshire team between 1931 and 1936, concluding with Derbyshire's first victory in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
table.
Richardson was born at Quarndon
Quarndon
Quarndon is a linear village in the English county of Derbyshire.It is due north of, and essentially contiguous with, the City of Derby's suburb of Allestree. Formerly it was notable for its chalybeate springs that were at the well and in the grounds of neighbouring Kedleston Hall...
, Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and in a match against Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
scored 117 for the Winchester XI in a partnership of 295. At the start of the 1928 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1928
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1928 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for fifty seven years. It was their thirtieth season in the County Championship and they won six matches to finish tenth in the County Championship..-1928 season:Derbyshire played 26...
he made his debut for Derbyshire against the West Indies. In his first three seasons he managed a highest score of 70 and his best seasonal average was 25. He became Derbyshire captain in the 1931 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1931
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1931 represents the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for sixty years. It was their thirty-third season in the County Championship and they won seven matches to finish seventh.-1931 season:...
and led his team to 7th in the points table. In the 1932 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1932
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1932 represents the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for sixty one years. It was their thirty-fourth season in the County Championship and they won six matches to finish tenth-1932 season:...
he scored 1,258 runs with an average of 29.95 and made his highest score of 90 against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
, although the team fell back to 10th in the Championship. He led the team progressively up to sixth in the 1933 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1933
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1933 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for sixty two years. It was their thirty-fifth season in the County Championship and they won eleven matches to finish sixth.-1933 season:...
, third in the 1934 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1934
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1934 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire had been playing for sixty-three years. It was their thirty-sixth season in the County Championship and they won ten matches in the County Championship, to finish third.-1934 season:Derbyshire played...
, and second in the 1935 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1935
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club' in 1935 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire were runners up in the County Championship for the first time, as a prelude to winning the Championship in the 1936 season. They had been playing for sixty four years and it was their thirty-seventh...
with 16 wins. In the 1936 season
Derbyshire County Cricket Club in 1936
Derbyshire Country Cricket Club in 1936 was the cricket season when the English club Derbyshire won the County Championship for the first and only time. They had been playing for sixty five years and it was their thirty-eighth season in the County Championship....
the club won the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
winning 13 matches. He was supported by batsmen Stan Worthington
Stan Worthington
Thomas Stanley "Stan" Worthington, , was a cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1923 and 1947 and for England between 1930 and 1937. He was an all-rounder scoring over 19000 runs and taking over 600 first class wickets....
, Leslie Townsend
Leslie Townsend
Leslie Fletcher Townsend was an English cricketer who played for England between 1929 and 1934, for Derbyshire between 1922 and 1939 and also for Auckland New Zealand between 1934 and 1936....
, Denis Smith
Denis Smith (cricketer)
Denis Smith was a cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1927 and 1952 and in two Test matchs for England in 1935. He scored over 21,000 runs in first class cricket.Smith was born in Somercotes, Derbyshire...
and Albert Alderman
Albert Alderman
Albert Edward Alderman was an English cricketer and footballer. He played cricket for Derbyshire between 1928 and 1948 and scored over 12,000 runs for the club. As a footballer, he played as an inside forward for Derby County and Burnley between 1928 and 1935.-Early life:Alderman was born in...
each of whom scored over a thousand runs and several centuries. Bill Copson
Bill Copson
Bill Copson was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1932 and 1950, and for England between 1939 and 1947. He took over 1,000 wickets for Derbyshire, and was prominent in their 1936 Championship season...
, Thomas Mitchell
Thomas Mitchell (cricketer)
Thomas Bignall Mitchell was an English cricketer who played for Derbyshire between 1928 and 1939....
, Alf Pope
Alf Pope
Alfred Vardy Pope was an English cricketer who played first class cricket for Derbyshire between 1930 and 1939. He was in the club's championship winning team of 1936 and took 555 wickets overall....
and Leslie Townsend
Leslie Townsend
Leslie Fletcher Townsend was an English cricketer who played for England between 1929 and 1934, for Derbyshire between 1922 and 1939 and also for Auckland New Zealand between 1934 and 1936....
accounted for most of the wickets taken. Richardson finished his cricket career at the end of the 1936 season. Wisden stated that he achieved much by his own enthusiasm and warm personality.
Richardson was a right-handed middle order batsman and played 239 innings in 159 matches with an average of 19.05 and a top score of 90. As a batsman, he was considered rather ungainly but solid and he scored mainly on the leg. As a fielder he was a good mid-off. He only bowled 34 balls in his first class career taking no wickets.
Richardson died at Ednaston, Derbyshire at the age of 76. His son William Richardson and grandson Alastair Richardson
Alastair Richardson
Alastair William Richardson is an English former cricketer. He was a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler who played for Derbyshire between 1992 and 1993....
also played for Derbyshire.