Reg Sinfield
Encyclopedia
Reginald Albert Sinfield (24 December 1900, Benington, Hertfordshire
– 17 March 1988, Ham Green, Bristol
) was an Gloucestershire
cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s.
Sinfield played one Test
in the twilight of his career in 1938, where he is best remember for having Don Bradman as his first Test victim. However, he had a long career with Gloucestershire prior to achieving higher representative honours, during which his steadiness provided a contrast with the attacking style of cricket provided by batsmen like Hammond
and Barnett
or bowlers like Goddard
.
Originally from Hertfordshire, Sinfield played his initial first-class match for MCC
as early as 1921 but his potential was not noticed until 1924 when he began qualifying by residence for Gloucestershire. he was able to play for them in County Championship matches in 1926 and showed ability as a solid opening batsman for them in two innings of over a hundred. In the following years Sinfield established himself as Gloucestershire's regular opening bat with Alf Dipper and after that player retired in a well-contrasted partnership with Barnett. He also developed as an accurate bowler of slow-medium off-cutters, much quicker and less flighty than Goddard. Though he did not accomplish anything remarkable, Sinfield was very consistent and reached a thousand runs every year from 1927 until 1935, in the process carrying his bat through an innings on five occasions - the most significant being when he scored 161 not out in a total of 374 against Oxford University in 1931.
Sinfield's skill as a bowler was slower to blossom because Charlie Parker
and Goddard could do almost everything that was required up until the end of 1931. Although he took ninety wickets for under twenty apiece in 1930, it was not until 1934 that Sinfield became recognised as a bowler of class. In that year he headed the Gloucestershire averages and when the pitch helped him could be formidable indeed, as he showed with thirteen wickets against Nottinghamshire and eight for 40 against Leicestershire
. The following year, despite the county's other batsmen declining, Sinfield had his best season with the bat, largely because he increased his range of scoring strokes without losing his defensive strength. In August that year he made his highest score, 209 not out against Glamorgan
at Cardiff - and followed that up with a haul of nine wickets for 103.
1936 saw Sinfield develop so much as a bowler that he bowled considerably more overs than anyone else in the country. So consistent was he until he fractured a finger in the second last match against Essex
that he took 160 first-class wickets and was considered, owing to his accuracy, a strong candidate for the winter's Ashes tour. His most notable feat was nine wickets for 111 against some extremely aggressive Middlesex batting at Lord's - according to Wisden that record "fully demonstrated his steadiness" - and only Goddard's return prevented Sinfield taking all ten. However, very much a natural opening bat, Sinfield was never comfortable when placed lower in the order and he fell well short of 1,000 runs. The following year he was again tireless and recovered some form with the bat, just reaching four figures, but in 1938 his work as a bowler affected his batting so much that he was frequently as low as No. 10 and did not once reach forty in an innings. In bowling, however, Sinfield worked so well in the frequent absence of Goddard that he was chosen for the First Test at Trent Bridge
. Though he was not successful apart from capturing Bradman's wicket and failed to retain his place, Sinfield did have a number of notable bowling feats, including 14 for 110 on a rain-affected wicket against Worcestershire
.
1939 saw Sinfield asked to do much less bowling with Goddard fully fit and devastating on the helpful Bristol turf, but Sinfield did recapture some of his old skill with the bat. Though, since his record was only 835 runs and 66 wickets it could hardly be said he was in his best form. When first-class cricket resumed in 1946 Goddard continued his devastating form for several years, but Sinfield took immediately to coaching at Clifton College
and Colston's School. During this period, he championed a number of future Test players, notably Chris Broad
, and only retired in his mid-eighties, two years before his death.
Benington, Hertfordshire
Benington is a village and civil parish in the East Hertfordshire district of Hertfordshire, England, about four miles east of Stevenage and 35 miles north of London...
– 17 March 1988, Ham Green, Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
) was an Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s.
Sinfield played one Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
in the twilight of his career in 1938, where he is best remember for having Don Bradman as his first Test victim. However, he had a long career with Gloucestershire prior to achieving higher representative honours, during which his steadiness provided a contrast with the attacking style of cricket provided by batsmen like Hammond
Wally Hammond
Walter Reginald "Wally" Hammond was an English Test cricketer who played for Gloucestershire in a career that lasted from 1920 to 1951. Beginning his career as a professional, he later became an amateur and was appointed captain of England...
and Barnett
Charlie Barnett (cricketer)
Charles John Barnett was an English cricketer, who played in 20 Tests from 1933 to 1948...
or bowlers like Goddard
Tom Goddard
Tom Goddard was the fifth highest wicket taker in first-class cricket....
.
Originally from Hertfordshire, Sinfield played his initial first-class match for MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
as early as 1921 but his potential was not noticed until 1924 when he began qualifying by residence for Gloucestershire. he was able to play for them in County Championship matches in 1926 and showed ability as a solid opening batsman for them in two innings of over a hundred. In the following years Sinfield established himself as Gloucestershire's regular opening bat with Alf Dipper and after that player retired in a well-contrasted partnership with Barnett. He also developed as an accurate bowler of slow-medium off-cutters, much quicker and less flighty than Goddard. Though he did not accomplish anything remarkable, Sinfield was very consistent and reached a thousand runs every year from 1927 until 1935, in the process carrying his bat through an innings on five occasions - the most significant being when he scored 161 not out in a total of 374 against Oxford University in 1931.
Sinfield's skill as a bowler was slower to blossom because Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker (cricketer)
Charles Warrington Leonard "Charlie" Parker was an English cricketer, who stands as the third highest wicket taker in the history of first-class cricket, behind Wilfred Rhodes and Tich Freeman.-Life and career:Parker took no serious attention to cricket in his childhood, preferring to concentrate...
and Goddard could do almost everything that was required up until the end of 1931. Although he took ninety wickets for under twenty apiece in 1930, it was not until 1934 that Sinfield became recognised as a bowler of class. In that year he headed the Gloucestershire averages and when the pitch helped him could be formidable indeed, as he showed with thirteen wickets against Nottinghamshire and eight for 40 against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
. The following year, despite the county's other batsmen declining, Sinfield had his best season with the bat, largely because he increased his range of scoring strokes without losing his defensive strength. In August that year he made his highest score, 209 not out against Glamorgan
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
at Cardiff - and followed that up with a haul of nine wickets for 103.
1936 saw Sinfield develop so much as a bowler that he bowled considerably more overs than anyone else in the country. So consistent was he until he fractured a finger in the second last match against Essex
Essex County Cricket Club
Essex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Essex. Its limited overs team is called the Essex Eagles, their team colours this season are blue.The club plays most of its home games...
that he took 160 first-class wickets and was considered, owing to his accuracy, a strong candidate for the winter's Ashes tour. His most notable feat was nine wickets for 111 against some extremely aggressive Middlesex batting at Lord's - according to Wisden that record "fully demonstrated his steadiness" - and only Goddard's return prevented Sinfield taking all ten. However, very much a natural opening bat, Sinfield was never comfortable when placed lower in the order and he fell well short of 1,000 runs. The following year he was again tireless and recovered some form with the bat, just reaching four figures, but in 1938 his work as a bowler affected his batting so much that he was frequently as low as No. 10 and did not once reach forty in an innings. In bowling, however, Sinfield worked so well in the frequent absence of Goddard that he was chosen for the First Test at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
. Though he was not successful apart from capturing Bradman's wicket and failed to retain his place, Sinfield did have a number of notable bowling feats, including 14 for 110 on a rain-affected wicket against Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire...
.
1939 saw Sinfield asked to do much less bowling with Goddard fully fit and devastating on the helpful Bristol turf, but Sinfield did recapture some of his old skill with the bat. Though, since his record was only 835 runs and 66 wickets it could hardly be said he was in his best form. When first-class cricket resumed in 1946 Goddard continued his devastating form for several years, but Sinfield took immediately to coaching at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Colston's School. During this period, he championed a number of future Test players, notably Chris Broad
Chris Broad
Brian Christopher Broad, usually known as Chris Broad is a former England Test cricketer and current Test official. An opening batsman, Broad had a 25-match long international Test career during which he hit six centuries, together with 34 One Day International matches with a respectable over 40...
, and only retired in his mid-eighties, two years before his death.