Fred Huish
Encyclopedia
Frederick Henry Huish was one of the major factors behind Kent's
success in the County Championship in the decade prior to World War I
and arguably the best wicket-keeper
never to play Test cricket
. In fact, Huish only played once in any representative match - for the Players against the Gentlemen at Lord's in 1902 - when he performed so well that had Dick Lilley
not recovered from an injury Huish would probably have had a chance at international level in what is often regarded as the strongest Test series of all time. As it was the sudden emergence of Herbert Strudwick
meant that Huish never gained another look-in at representative level, even though his performances for Kent only improved with age.
Huish first played for Kent at the comparatively advanced age of twenty-five in 1895, and he had a disheartening start to his first-class career. At Old Trafford he was severely concussed facing the controversial Lancashire
speedster Arthur Mold
and it was feared for his life for a time. Huish did not play again that season, but immediately established himself as Kent's first regular wicket-keeper of any ability for many years the following season. Known as a very quiet and undemonstrative figure both on and off the field, Huish let his work on the field do the talking: in 1899 Huish dismissed a then-record seventy-nine men including eight catches in one match at Trent Bridge
against Nottinghamshire
. Such form made Huish regarded as the second-best 'keeper in the game after Dick Lilley, yet, even when Lilley was working in business, Huish did not go on any overseas tour except for a brief trip to Philadelphia in 1903.
By 1902, Huish had maintained his place in the upper echelon of wicket-keepers for so long that it was no surprise when he was picked for the Players. He performed excellently taking the bowling of Len Braund
and William Lockwood
on about the only fiery wicket of a very wet summer and it was thought he was a certainty to one day represent his country. However, Strudwick's emergence put paid to such dreams, and though Huish kept refining his wicket-keeping as well as developing into a useful lower order batsman, he was never to get a chance for an England cap again.
By 1906 his ability to take the swerving deliveries of Arthur Fielder
and the extremely skilful spin of Colin Blythe
on even the most difficult wicket had reached superb levels of precision. Huish beat his 1899 record in 1908 with 86 dismissals and in the dry summer of 1911 - when his skill behind the stumps allowed Kent to win many matches on extremely fast and true wickets even when their bowling was not altogether formidable - he became the first wicket-keeper to dismiss 100 batsmen in a season. In the process on a soft wicket at The Oval
- ironically for his nemesis Strudwick's benefit - Huish achieved his best-known feat in stumping nine men - five off Douglas Carr
and three off Frank Woolley
.
In these days as senior professional Huish had so much authority over his brother professional bowlers on the field that it was said Blythe, Woolley and Fielder would never appeal without his approval! However, he never lost his quiet and modest manner even when he beat his own record for the third time in 1913 with 110 dismissals in all matches, making it remarkable Wisden
overlooked Huish for a Cricketer of the Year place given the service he had given Kent for almost two whole decades and the fact that he was still eligible to be chosen.
After the war was over, Huish, at forty-nine, did not resume his career with Kent. However, it turned out he became the first of a remarkable line of successful wicket-keepers for that county stretching from Les Ames
through to Godfrey Evans
and Alan Knott
.
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
success in the County Championship in the decade prior to World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and arguably the best wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
never to play Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
. In fact, Huish only played once in any representative match - for the Players against the Gentlemen at Lord's in 1902 - when he performed so well that had Dick Lilley
Dick Lilley
Arthur Frederick Augustus Lilley was an English cricketer who played in 35 Tests from 1896 to 1909, more than any other England wicket-keeper in the first sixty years of Test cricket.The conservative cricket establishment of the time was not effusive in its appreciation of this great keeper...
not recovered from an injury Huish would probably have had a chance at international level in what is often regarded as the strongest Test series of all time. As it was the sudden emergence of Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick was an English wicket-keeper...
meant that Huish never gained another look-in at representative level, even though his performances for Kent only improved with age.
Huish first played for Kent at the comparatively advanced age of twenty-five in 1895, and he had a disheartening start to his first-class career. At Old Trafford he was severely concussed facing the controversial Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
speedster Arthur Mold
Arthur Mold
Arthur Webb Mold was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Lancashire County Cricket Club between 1889 and 1901. He played three Test matches for England in 1893 and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1892. A fast bowler, he was one of the most effective bowlers...
and it was feared for his life for a time. Huish did not play again that season, but immediately established himself as Kent's first regular wicket-keeper of any ability for many years the following season. Known as a very quiet and undemonstrative figure both on and off the field, Huish let his work on the field do the talking: in 1899 Huish dismissed a then-record seventy-nine men including eight catches in one match at Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge
Trent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
against Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club
Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Nottinghamshire, and the current county champions. Its limited overs team is called the Nottinghamshire Outlaws...
. Such form made Huish regarded as the second-best 'keeper in the game after Dick Lilley, yet, even when Lilley was working in business, Huish did not go on any overseas tour except for a brief trip to Philadelphia in 1903.
By 1902, Huish had maintained his place in the upper echelon of wicket-keepers for so long that it was no surprise when he was picked for the Players. He performed excellently taking the bowling of Len Braund
Len Braund
Leonard Charles Braund, born October 18, 1875, at Clewer, Berkshire, and died December 23, 1955, Putney Common, London, was a cricketer who played for Surrey, Somerset and England....
and William Lockwood
William Lockwood
William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood (William Henry Lockwood; born 25 March 1868, Radford, Nottingham; died 26 April 1932, Radford, Nottingham was a fast bowler and the unpredictable, occasionally devastating counterpart to the amazingly hard-working Tom...
on about the only fiery wicket of a very wet summer and it was thought he was a certainty to one day represent his country. However, Strudwick's emergence put paid to such dreams, and though Huish kept refining his wicket-keeping as well as developing into a useful lower order batsman, he was never to get a chance for an England cap again.
By 1906 his ability to take the swerving deliveries of Arthur Fielder
Arthur Fielder
Arthur Fielder was the leading fast bowler in English cricket for the decade before World War I and one of the key contributors to Kent's four County Championship successes between 1906 and 1913.In some ways the founder of modern fast bowling, Fielder was the first fast bowler to rely on swing...
and the extremely skilful spin of Colin Blythe
Colin Blythe
Colin Blythe , also known as Charlie Blythe, was a Kent and England left arm spinner who is regarded as one of the finest bowlers of the period between 1900 and 1914 - sometimes referred to as the "Golden Age" of cricket.-Career:Blythe first played...
on even the most difficult wicket had reached superb levels of precision. Huish beat his 1899 record in 1908 with 86 dismissals and in the dry summer of 1911 - when his skill behind the stumps allowed Kent to win many matches on extremely fast and true wickets even when their bowling was not altogether formidable - he became the first wicket-keeper to dismiss 100 batsmen in a season. In the process on a soft wicket at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
- ironically for his nemesis Strudwick's benefit - Huish achieved his best-known feat in stumping nine men - five off Douglas Carr
Douglas Carr
Douglas Ward Carr was an English amateur cricketer.Carr went to Brasenose College at Oxford University and while there played both football and cricket...
and three off Frank Woolley
Frank Woolley
Frank Edward Woolley was an English cricketer, one of the finest all-rounders the game has seen. In a career lasting more than thirty years, he scored more first-class runs than anyone but Sir Jack Hobbs, and took over 2,000 wickets at an average of under 20...
.
In these days as senior professional Huish had so much authority over his brother professional bowlers on the field that it was said Blythe, Woolley and Fielder would never appeal without his approval! However, he never lost his quiet and modest manner even when he beat his own record for the third time in 1913 with 110 dismissals in all matches, making it remarkable Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
overlooked Huish for a Cricketer of the Year place given the service he had given Kent for almost two whole decades and the fact that he was still eligible to be chosen.
After the war was over, Huish, at forty-nine, did not resume his career with Kent. However, it turned out he became the first of a remarkable line of successful wicket-keepers for that county stretching from Les Ames
Les Ames
Leslie Ethelbert George Ames, CBE was an outstanding wicket-keeper and batsman for the England cricket team and Kent County Cricket Club. In his obituary, the Wisden of 1991 described him as the greatest wicket-keeper-batsman of all time...
through to Godfrey Evans
Godfrey Evans
Thomas Godfrey Evans CBE was an English cricketer who played for Kent and England.Described by Wisden as 'arguably the best wicket-keeper the game has ever seen', Evans collected 219 dismissals in 91 Test match appearances between 1946 and 1959 and a total of 1066 in all first-class matches...
and Alan Knott
Alan Knott
Alan Philip Eric Knott is a former Kent County Cricket Club and English cricketer, as a wicket-keeper-batsman....
.