Spencer Austen-Leigh

Spencer Austen-Leigh (17 February 1834 – 9 December 1913) was an English cricketer. Austen-Leigh was a right-handed batsman, although his bowling style is not known. He was born at Speen, Berkshire, and was educated at Harrow School. His name changed from Spencer Austen to Spencer Austen-Leigh in 1837. He was the great-nephew of the author Jane Austen.[1]

Austen-Leigh made his first-class debut for the Gentlemen of England against the Gentlemen of Sussex and Kent at Lord's in 1857. The following season he made a single first-class appearance for the Marylebone Cricket Club against Oxford University at the Magdalen Ground, Oxford.[2] Two years later, he made a first-class appearance for the Gentlemen of the Marylebone Cricket Club against the Gentlemen of Kent at the St Lawrence Ground. In 1862, Austen-Leigh made his debut for Sussex against Kent at the Royal Brunswick Ground. He made nine further first-class appearances for Sussex, the last of which came against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1866.[2] In his ten first-class matches for the county, he scored 155 runs at an average of 11.07, with a high score of 42.[3]

He died at Firle, Sussex, on 9 December 1913. His brothers, Arthur, Cholmeley and Charles, all played first-class cricket. Another brother, Augustus, was a Provost of King's College, Cambridge.