Richard Fielder (cricketer)

Richard Fielder (1758–1826) was an English cricketer who played in 20 matches between 1790 and 1801 which are now regarded as having first-class cricket status.[2]

For the writer, see Richard Fielder (writer).

Richard Fielder
Personal information
Born1758
East Malling, Kent
Died1826 (aged 67–68)
Gravesend, Kent
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1792–1796Kent XI
FC debut7 September 1790 West Kent v East Kent
Last FC20 July 1801 Surrey v England XI
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 20
Runs scored 281
Batting average 7.59
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 35
Balls bowled –[lower-alpha 1]
Wickets 1[lower-alpha 2]
Bowling average –
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/?
Catches/stumpings 13/–
Source: CricketArchive, 24 January 2023

Fielder was born at East Malling in Kent in 1758.[3] He is first known to have played cricket in 1790, playing in a first-class match for East Kent against West Kent at Bourne Paddock near Canterbury. He played regularly for Kent sides and for England teams[lower-alpha 3] between 1792 and 1796. A total of 18 of his 20 first-class matches were played during these seasons, 11 for Kent, six for England as well as one for a team organised by Richard Leigh, an influential organiser of matches who lived in the Dartford area of Kent.[3]

From 1801 to 1803 Fielder played for Surrey teams, including in one match which has been awarded first-class status.[3] Writing in 1862, Arthur Haygarth recorded that he has been considered "a very fine field and catch".[5] In his 20 matches considered to be first-class, Fielder scored 281 runs with a highest score of 35. He took at least one wicket.[lower-alpha 2]

Fielder worked as a horse trainer and is thought to have eloped with one of his riding pupils. Afterwards they kept the Woolpack Inn at Tenterden.[5] He died at Gravesend in 1826.[3]

Notes
  1. In the period Fielder played, the number of balls delivered by a bowler and the runs conceded from them were generally not recorded. As a result, it is impossible to know how many balls he delivered, his best bowling figures or his bowling average.
  2. In the period Fielder played, wickets taken by bowlers were normally only recorded if they were bowled. Other means of dismissal were not credited to any bowler.[1]
  3. During the time Fielder played, England sides were not representative of the country. Instead, they were sides composed of players from a range of locations brought together to play against another side.[4]

References
  1. Carlaw D (2020) Kent County Cricketers A to Z. Part One: 1806–1914 (revised edition), p. 31. (Available online at The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 2020-12-21.)
  2. Richard Fielder, CricInfo. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. Richard Fielder, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-12-10. (subscription required)
  4. Birley D (1999) A Social History of English Cricket, p. 364. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978 1 78131 1769
  5. Arthur Haygarth (1862) Scores & Biographies, vol. 1 (1744–1826). Lillywhite.
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