Frederick Bell (cricketer)

Frederick William Bell (2 January 1830 – 18 September 1871) was an English first-class cricketer and umpire.

Bell was born at St Neots in Huntingdonshire in January 1830. He made his debut in first-class cricket for Cambridge Town and County Club against Cambridge University in 1846 at Parker's Piece. Bell played first-class cricket for teams representative of Cambridgeshire until 1864, making 24 appearances.[1][2] He also played ten first-class matches for a United England Eleven between 1854–64 and the same number of matches for the North between 1855–59.[1] In addition to playing for the aforementioned teams, Bell also represented an England XI on six occasions, the Marylebone Cricket Club three times, the Players in the Gentlemen v Players fixture twice and once for an All England Eleven.[1] Playing as a roundarm medium pace bowler, Bell took a total of 79 wickets in his 58 matches at an average of 16.20. He took five wickets in an innings on four occasions and took ten wickets in a match once.[3] His best innings figures of 6 for 25 came for Cambridgeshire against Surrey at The Oval in 1857.[4] As a batsman, he scored a total of 921 runs at a batting average of 11.23 and a high score of 50 not out.[3] A professional cricketer, he played for a number of clubs at non first-class level and stood as an umpire in ten first-class matches between 1860–68.[5] He coached cricket at Eton College, in addition to coaching the sons of Queen Victoria.[6] He was the victim of an assault by fellow cricketer George Muncey in July 1869, following a disagreement over goods received; Muncey admitted the offence and paid a fine.[7] Bell died at Cambridge in September 1871.