Thomas Humphrey (cricketer)

Thomas Humphrey (16 January 1839 3 September 1878) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Surrey between 1862 and 1874.[1]

The England Cricket Team that toured North America 1868–9. Thomas Humphrey standing second from right

Thomas Humphrey
Thomas Humphrey in 1865
Personal information
Full name
Thomas Humphrey
Born(1839-01-16)16 January 1839
Mitcham, Surrey, England
Died3 September 1878(1878-09-03) (aged 39)
Brookwood Hospital, Surrey, England
BattingRight-hand bat
BowlingRound arm right-arm slow
RoleAll-rounder
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1862-1874Surrey
First-class debut12 June 1862 Surrey v Nottinghamshire
Last First-class28 May 1874 Surrey v Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 214
Runs scored 6687
Batting average 18.42
100s/50s 4/31
Top score 144
Balls bowled 4897
Wickets 116
Bowling average 21.58
5 wickets in innings 6
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 6/29
Catches/stumpings 95/0
Source: Cricket Archive, 6 June 2009

A right-hand batsman and a round arm right-armed slow bowler, he featured as an all-rounder for Surrey with four centuries and 116 wickets (though his batting was more significant than his bowling). He was a member of the Surrey side that was generally reckoned as Champion County for 1864. His best season with the bat was 1865, when he reached one thousand runs for the only time: 1223 at 29.82.[2]

After 1873, he played in only four more first-class matches: one final match for Surrey in 1874, two for the South against the North in 1875, and lastly for United South of England Eleven v United North of England Eleven in a match that began on 13 July 1876.[3]

According to David Lemmon, with Harry Jupp he formed the first great opening partnership for Surrey,[4] one which caused "a sensation" with "their bright and attractive cricket, their long partnerships, by their speed between the wickets."[5]

The grave of Thomas Humphrey in Brookwood Cemetery

He was known as the Pocket Hercules,[5] because although short he could hit powerfully. He was particularly strong on the off-side, and appeared to have plenty of time to play his shots.[4]

He umpired in a number of first-class matches between 1872 and 1877, including some Gentlemen v Players and North v South matches.[6] In 1876, a benefit year at Surrey brought him £300, however he died two years later from congestion of the lungs in Brookwood Asylum.[5] His brothers John, William and Richard also played first-class cricket.[1]

He was the landlord of the Cricketers Inn at Westcott and the Ram Inn and the Jolly Butchers Inn, both in Dorking.[7]

He is buried in Brookwood Cemetery.[7]

Notes

  1. "Player Profile: Thomas Humphrey". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  2. "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by Thomas Humphrey". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  3. "First-Class Matches played by Thomas Humphrey". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  4. Lemmon, David (1989). The History of Surrey County Cricket Club. Christopher Helm. p. 34. ISBN 0-7470-2010-8.
  5. Sissons, Ric (1988). The Players. Pluto Press Australia. pp. 148–149. ISBN 0-949138-20-7.
  6. "First-class Matches umpired by Thomas Humphrey". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 6 June 2009.
  7. Clarke, John M. London's Necropolis: A Guide to Brookwood Cemetery, Sutton Publishing (2004), p.52 ISBN 0-7509-3513-8
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