Charles Winter (cricketer, born 1866)

Winter played his first match for Somerset in 1879 aged just 12 in a match against Wells Cricket Club. His next matches for the then second-class county came in 1881 when he claimed three wickets against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC),[2] and five against Hampshire.[3] Somerset were awarded first-class status in 1882,[4] and it was in this season that Winter made his debut first-class appearance, playing for the county against Hampshire.[5] By the time of his first-class debut, Winter was still only aged 15, making him among the youngest debutants to have played first-class cricket for Somerset. Coming on to bowl at the first change of bowling, Winter claimed a wicket in his first innings, with the Hampshire captain Russell Bencraft being caught off his bowling. He was dismissed for six in both of Somerset's innings.[5] In his second match, against the MCC, Winter claimed four wickets for 49 runs in the second-innings, achieving a return that would remain his best until 1885.[6] It was another match against Hampshire in which Winter improved his bowling figures, taking four wickets for 20 runs.[7] Playing the same opposition later that season, Somerset had only travelled to Southampton for the match with nine players. After scoring 22 in the first-innings, Winter was promoted to open the second for Somerset, and scored his highest total, and only half-century, making 62 runs.[8]

His son, also named Charles Winter, subsequently also played for Somerset.

• Foot, David (1986). Sunshine, Sixes and Cider: The History of Somerset Cricket (1986 ed.). David & Charles. ISBN 0-7153-8890-8.