Arthur Roberts (cricketer)

Arthur Wilson Roberts (23 September 1874 – 27 June 1961) was an English cricketer. Roberts was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm fast-medium. He was born in Malegaon, Bombay Presidency and later educated at Rossall School in Lancashire, England.[1]

Roberts made his debut in county cricket for Oxfordshire in the 1896 Minor Counties Championship. He played a further match for Oxfordshire in the following season.[2] He later appeared in 2 Minor Counties Championship matches for Buckinghamshire in 1902.[2]

Roberts made his first-class debut for Gloucestershire against Hampshire in 1908 County Championship. He played 28 first-class matches for Gloucestershire, the last coming against Somerset in the 1913 County Championship.[3] In those 28 first-class matches, he scored 727 runs at a batting average of 17.73, with a 3 half centuries and a high score of 90.[4] His highest score came against Somerset in 1911.[5] A part-time bowler, Roberts took 11 wickets for Gloucestershire at a bowling average of 36.00, with best figures of 2/20.[6]

He also played a single first-class match for an England XI against Hambledon in a commemorative match at the Broadhalfpenny Down ground, home to the original Hambledon Club. In this match he was dismissed for 11 in the England XI's first-innings by Jack Newman, while in their second-innings he scored 69 runs before being dismissed by the same bowler. With the ball he took a single wicket, that of Guy Bignell.[7]

He died in Hastings, Sussex on 27 June 1961. He survived his brother, Francis, who had also played first-class cricket but was killed in the First World War by 45 years.