William Evans (English cricketer)
Encyclopedia
William Henry Brereton Evans (29 January 1883 - 7 August 1913) was a South Africa
n-born English
all-round
cricketer
who played 66 times in first-class cricket
in the early 20th century. He played county cricket
for Worcestershire
and Hampshire
, as well as representing the Gentlemen against the Players
, but he appeared most for Oxford University
, whom he represented on 31 occasions. It is said in Wisden in 1913 that he was "one of the best all-round amateurs of his day." and that if he played more regularly, it is "quite likely" he would have played for England.
In the Malvern College
First Eleven from 1898 to 1901, being captain in his last year, Wisden states that "he must have been about the best public school cricketer in 1901, as he headed the Malvern batting with an average of 51, and took 53 wickets."
He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Sussex
in 1901 and took two wickets, his first victim being C. B. Fry. Evans' second-innings 53 also proved important, as the game ended in a draw with Worcestershire nine wickets down. In five further matches for the county he took only one more wicket, but he scored 107 against Gloucestershire
at the end of August. Worcestershire's 342-run victory in that game remains (as of April 2007) their largest ever in terms of runs.
In 1902 Evans played mostly for Oxford, hitting his career best of 142 against Sussex
in June, but he also appeared several times for his new county of Hampshire. In all he made 609 first-class runs at 29.00
and took 18 wickets at 28.44
. The following season his batting was less productive (he averaged only 19 and did not score a century) but he took 50 wickets, his highest season's aggregate, at 18.08, including hauls for Oxford of 7-41 (his career best) against Somerset
and 7-43 against MCC
.
He also made the first of his five appearances in Gentlemen v Players matches.
1904, when he captained Oxford, was Evans' best season with the bat, as in 19 innings he hit 861 runs at 47.83 including two hundreds and seven fifties. He took 34 wickets at a shade under 32 runs apiece, and returned nearly identical figures the following season, although this time his batting was slightly less productive. After that he did not play first-class cricket at all for three seasons, having entered the Egypt
ian Civil Service.
He made something of a return to the game in 1909, still with Hampshire, and claimed 32 first-class wickets at 18.59, including figures of 7-59 for his county against Gloucestershire. (His batting was less good: 360 runs at 24.) He played twice for the Gentlemen in July, but was then absent for more than a year, returning only at the end of the 1910 season for two final County Championship
matches, in which he could manage only 55 runs and four wickets in total. This marked the end of Evans' first-class career.
A fine all-round sportsman, Evans also distinguished himself at football, playing for Malvern's First Eleven and Association Football, representing Oxford First Eleven for three seasons from 1902 where he played with another Old Malvernian, James Balfour-Melville. In company with Mr. B. S. Foster, he also won the Public School Racquets Championship in 1900.
He died in Farnborough, Hampshire
in a flying accident, aged only 30.
On 7 August 1913 he was a passenger of Samuel Franklin Cody when he was test flying his latest design, the Cody Floatplane
, when it broke up at 500 ft and he and Cody were both killed.
A number of his relatives played cricket to a high standard. His cousin John Evans
played one Test
for England; while his brothers Alfred
and Dudley
, another cousin Ralph
and his uncle Alfred Henry Evans
all played for Hampshire.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n-born English
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...
all-round
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
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 66 times in 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...
in the early 20th century. He played county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
for 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...
and Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, as well as representing the Gentlemen against the Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
, but he appeared most for 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...
, whom he represented on 31 occasions. It is said in Wisden in 1913 that he was "one of the best all-round amateurs of his day." and that if he played more regularly, it is "quite likely" he would have played for England.
In the Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
First Eleven from 1898 to 1901, being captain in his last year, Wisden states that "he must have been about the best public school cricketer in 1901, as he headed the Malvern batting with an average of 51, and took 53 wickets."
He made his first-class debut for Worcestershire against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
in 1901 and took two wickets, his first victim being C. B. Fry. Evans' second-innings 53 also proved important, as the game ended in a draw with Worcestershire nine wickets down. In five further matches for the county he took only one more wicket, but he scored 107 against 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....
at the end of August. Worcestershire's 342-run victory in that game remains (as of April 2007) their largest ever in terms of runs.
In 1902 Evans played mostly for Oxford, hitting his career best of 142 against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
in June, but he also appeared several times for his new county of Hampshire. In all he made 609 first-class runs at 29.00
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
and took 18 wickets at 28.44
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
. The following season his batting was less productive (he averaged only 19 and did not score a century) but he took 50 wickets, his highest season's aggregate, at 18.08, including hauls for Oxford of 7-41 (his career best) against Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
and 7-43 against 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...
.
He also made the first of his five appearances in Gentlemen v Players matches.
1904, when he captained Oxford, was Evans' best season with the bat, as in 19 innings he hit 861 runs at 47.83 including two hundreds and seven fifties. He took 34 wickets at a shade under 32 runs apiece, and returned nearly identical figures the following season, although this time his batting was slightly less productive. After that he did not play first-class cricket at all for three seasons, having entered the Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian Civil Service.
He made something of a return to the game in 1909, still with Hampshire, and claimed 32 first-class wickets at 18.59, including figures of 7-59 for his county against Gloucestershire. (His batting was less good: 360 runs at 24.) He played twice for the Gentlemen in July, but was then absent for more than a year, returning only at the end of the 1910 season for two final County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
matches, in which he could manage only 55 runs and four wickets in total. This marked the end of Evans' first-class career.
A fine all-round sportsman, Evans also distinguished himself at football, playing for Malvern's First Eleven and Association Football, representing Oxford First Eleven for three seasons from 1902 where he played with another Old Malvernian, James Balfour-Melville. In company with Mr. B. S. Foster, he also won the Public School Racquets Championship in 1900.
He died in Farnborough, Hampshire
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
in a flying accident, aged only 30.
On 7 August 1913 he was a passenger of Samuel Franklin Cody when he was test flying his latest design, the Cody Floatplane
Cody Floatplane
-References:NotesBibliography...
, when it broke up at 500 ft and he and Cody were both killed.
A number of his relatives played cricket to a high standard. His cousin John Evans
John Evans (cricketer)
Alfred John Evans was a cricketer who played for Oxford University, Hampshire, Kent and England. He was also an all-round sportsman who enjoyed success in golf and racquets.Evans was born in Newtown, Hampshire...
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...
for England; while his brothers Alfred
Alfred Evans (cricketer, born 1884)
Vice-Admiral Sir Alfred Englefield Evans, KBE, CB was an English cricketer and Royal Navy admiral. Evans was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace....
and Dudley
Dudley Evans
Dudley MacNeil Evans was an English cricketer. Evans was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium....
, another cousin Ralph
Ralph Evans (cricketer)
Ralph du Boulay Evans was an English cricketer. Evans was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace.Evans made a single first-class appearance for Hampshire during the 1912 County Championship against Essex....
and his uncle Alfred Henry Evans
Alfred Evans (cricketer, born 1858)
Alfred Henry Evans was an English cricketer. Evans was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium.-Early life:...
all played for Hampshire.
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...