Robert Lanchbury
Encyclopedia
Robert John Lanchbury is a former English
cricketer
who played first-class cricket
for Gloucestershire
and Worcestershire
in the early 1970s, as well as making a few one-day appearances.
, Worcestershire
, Lanchbury attended Cheltenham Grammar School, where he played in the First XI. After leaving school, he made a number of appearances for Gloucestershire's Second XI between 1969 and 1971. At the end of July 1971, he was called into the first team to open the batting in the County Championship
match at Worcester
, but although Gloucestershire won by an innings, bowling out their opponents for 58 and 88, Lanchbury failed personally, being bowled
for a duck
by Vanburn Holder
.
Despite this failure, he kept his place in the side for the next few matches, but his highest score from eight further first-class innings (and a solitary appearance in the John Player League) was the 38 he hit in the return encounter against Worcestershire at Cheltenham
, and later in August a run of four successive dismissals for single-figure scores saw him dropped. He left the county at the end of the season and made the short trip to join Worcestershire.
' visit to New Road in late April 1973 to make his senior debut for his new county. Play was possible on only two of the scheduled three days and the game was drawn, but Lanchbury made a handy 46 in the Worcestershire middle order. He ended up playing in another four first-class games that summer, as well as making two nondescript appearances at List A level. However, by the end of the year he was firmly back in the seconds, for whom he hit 132 not out
against Glamorgan
II in late August.
The 1974 season held few highlights for Lanchbury, other than his solitary first-class half-century: 50*
against Oxford University
early in the season. At this point he was scoring consistently for the second team, and in mid-June he was recalled to County Championship action against Warwickshire
, scoring 29 and 27 before being dismissed in each innings by Eddie Hemmings
. He played a couple more first-team matches with little success, but he did make 97 in a minor match against the Canadians
in July.
That was the end of his county career, and in 1975 Lanchbury played in the Lancashire League as Lowerhouse
's professional. Through the late 1970s and 1980s he also played a number of minor games for MCC
against Ireland
and Scotland
, but in 1984 he joined Wiltshire
, and played for them until 1988. He played twice for them at List A level in the NatWest Trophy, as well as representing the Minor Counties representative side in two Benson & Hedges Cup
games. He also made one final first-class appearance, for Minor Counties against the Zimbabweans
at Cleethorpes
in 1985; in this game he bowled the only two overs of his first-class career.
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...
cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
for 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....
and 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...
in the early 1970s, as well as making a few one-day appearances.
Early years
Born in EveshamEvesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, Lanchbury attended Cheltenham Grammar School, where he played in the First XI. After leaving school, he made a number of appearances for Gloucestershire's Second XI between 1969 and 1971. At the end of July 1971, he was called into the first team to open the batting in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
match at Worcester
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
, but although Gloucestershire won by an innings, bowling out their opponents for 58 and 88, Lanchbury failed personally, being bowled
Bowled
Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...
for a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
by Vanburn Holder
Vanburn Holder
Vanburn Alonzo Holder is a former West Indian cricketer who played in forty Tests and twelve ODIs from 1969 to 1979.Holder played in the golden era of West Indian fast bowling...
.
Despite this failure, he kept his place in the side for the next few matches, but his highest score from eight further first-class innings (and a solitary appearance in the John Player League) was the 38 he hit in the return encounter against Worcestershire at Cheltenham
College Ground, Cheltenham
The College Ground is a cricket ground in the grounds of Cheltenham College, England. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club have played more than 300 first-class and more than 70 List A matches there; it also hosted a Women's One Day International between England and Australia in 2005.The College...
, and later in August a run of four successive dismissals for single-figure scores saw him dropped. He left the county at the end of the season and made the short trip to join Worcestershire.
Sitting out
1972 was a frustrating season for Lanchbury as he made no first-team appearances, having to wait until the New ZealandersNew Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
' visit to New Road in late April 1973 to make his senior debut for his new county. Play was possible on only two of the scheduled three days and the game was drawn, but Lanchbury made a handy 46 in the Worcestershire middle order. He ended up playing in another four first-class games that summer, as well as making two nondescript appearances at List A level. However, by the end of the year he was firmly back in the seconds, for whom he hit 132 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
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...
II in late August.
The 1974 season held few highlights for Lanchbury, other than his solitary first-class half-century: 50*
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
early in the season. At this point he was scoring consistently for the second team, and in mid-June he was recalled to County Championship action against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, scoring 29 and 27 before being dismissed in each innings by Eddie Hemmings
Eddie Hemmings (cricketer)
Edward Ernest Hemmings is a former English cricketer, who played in sixteen Tests and thirty three ODIs for England from 1982 to 1991. He made his England debut relatively late in his career, at the age of 33, having predominantly represented Nottinghamshire in the County Championship...
. He played a couple more first-team matches with little success, but he did make 97 in a minor match against the Canadians
Canadian cricket team
The Canada cricket team is the national cricket team representing Canada in men's international competition. It is run by Cricket Canada.While Canada is not sanctioned to play Test matches, the team does take part in One Day International matches and also in first-class games against other...
in July.
That was the end of his county career, and in 1975 Lanchbury played in the Lancashire League as Lowerhouse
Lowerhouse Cricket Club
Lowerhouse Cricket Club is a cricket club in the Lancashire League, which plays its home games at Liverpool Road in Burnley. For the 2011 season its captain is Charlie Cottam, and its professional is South African Francois Hasbroek. The club won the league for the first time in 2005, captained by...
's professional. Through the late 1970s and 1980s he also played a number of minor games 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...
against Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
and Scotland
Scottish cricket team
The Scotland national cricket team represents Scotland in the game of cricket. They compete in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as the Scottish Saltires...
, but in 1984 he joined Wiltshire
Wiltshire County Cricket Club
Wiltshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Wiltshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
, and played for them until 1988. He played twice for them at List A level in the NatWest Trophy, as well as representing the Minor Counties representative side in two Benson & Hedges Cup
Benson & Hedges Cup
The Benson & Hedges Cup was a one-day cricket competition for first-class counties in England and Wales that was held from 1972 to 2002, one of cricket's longest sponsorship deals....
games. He also made one final first-class appearance, for Minor Counties against the Zimbabweans
Zimbabwean cricket team
The Zimbabwean cricket team is a national cricket team representing Zimbabwe. It is administrated by Zimbabwe Cricket...
at Cleethorpes
Sports Ground, Cleethorpes
The Sports Ground is a cricket ground in Cleethorpes, Lincolnshire. The first recorded match on the ground was in 1961, when Lincolnshire Colts played Derbyshire Juniors....
in 1985; in this game he bowled the only two overs of his first-class career.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...