Harry Lambert
Encyclopedia
Henry 'Harry' Francis Lambert (8 July 1918 – 19 June 1995) was an Australian first-class cricket
er who represented Victoria
in the Sheffield Shield and the Commonwealth XI from 1946 to 1954. He also played Australian rules football
during the 1940s with Collingwood
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Lambert was a footballer originally and in just his second game of VFL football kicked a six goal haul, against Hawthorn
at Victoria Park. Recruited from Abbotsford, he bagged another four the following weekend and finished the 1941 season
with 19 goals from seven games. After managing only five appearances over the next four years, the forward played 11 games in 1946. He had a good finals campaign, kicking three goals in Collingwood's drawn Semi Final with Essendon and two in the Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne
. Lambert ended his career in 1947 with 27 games and 48 goals for Collingwood.
After a couple of first-class fixtures against Tasmania in December 1946, Lambert made his Sheffield Shield debut in the 1947/48 competition. The following season he took 17 wickets at 22.88 with his left-arm fast-medium bowling which earned him a spot in the Commonwealth XI squad to tour India
, Pakistan and Ceylon. He bowled well in India, taking 25 wickets at 32.24, eight of them in four matches against the national team.
Lambert spent the 1949 English summer playing as a Professional with the Ramsbottom Cricket Club
in the Lancashire League.
In 1953/54, his last season, Lambert took career best figures of 6 for 55 against New South Wales, including the scalps of Jim Burke
and Keith Miller
. He also batted well in that match after being promoted to the top order, scoring 29 and 43. His batting had improved over the years and in his final first-class match, against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
, Lambert opened the batting and scored 50. The only other half century of his career came was an innings of 59 in 1950, when he was batting in the lower order for the Commonwealth XI against Bombay.
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
er who represented Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
in the Sheffield Shield and the Commonwealth XI from 1946 to 1954. He also played Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
during the 1940s with Collingwood
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Lambert was a footballer originally and in just his second game of VFL football kicked a six goal haul, against Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
at Victoria Park. Recruited from Abbotsford, he bagged another four the following weekend and finished the 1941 season
1941 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1941.-Premiership season:In 1941, the VFL competition consisted of twelve teams of 18 on-the-field players each, plus one substitute player, known as the 19th man...
with 19 goals from seven games. After managing only five appearances over the next four years, the forward played 11 games in 1946. He had a good finals campaign, kicking three goals in Collingwood's drawn Semi Final with Essendon and two in the Preliminary Final loss to Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
. Lambert ended his career in 1947 with 27 games and 48 goals for Collingwood.
After a couple of first-class fixtures against Tasmania in December 1946, Lambert made his Sheffield Shield debut in the 1947/48 competition. The following season he took 17 wickets at 22.88 with his left-arm fast-medium bowling which earned him a spot in the Commonwealth XI squad to tour India
Commonwealth XI cricket team in India in 1949-50
A Commonwealth XI cricket team toured India and Pakistan in the 1949-50 season and played 17 first-class matches, including five against an All-India XI....
, Pakistan and Ceylon. He bowled well in India, taking 25 wickets at 32.24, eight of them in four matches against the national team.
Lambert spent the 1949 English summer playing as a Professional with the Ramsbottom Cricket Club
Ramsbottom Cricket Club
Ramsbottom Cricket Club is a cricket club in the Lancashire League, which plays its home games at Acre Bottom in Ramsbottom. For the 2011 season its captain is Jon Fielding, and its professional is Shanan Stewart of New Zealand. Usman Khawaja was called up to the Australian test squad and instead...
in the Lancashire League.
In 1953/54, his last season, Lambert took career best figures of 6 for 55 against New South Wales, including the scalps of Jim Burke
Jim Burke (cricketer)
James Wallace Burke was an Australian cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1951 to 1959.- Early years :...
and Keith Miller
Keith Miller
Keith Ross Miller MBE was an Australian Test cricketer and a Royal Australian Air Force pilot during World War II. Miller is widely regarded as Australia's greatest ever all-rounder. Because of his ability, irreverent manner and good looks he was a crowd favourite...
. He also batted well in that match after being promoted to the top order, scoring 29 and 43. His batting had improved over the years and in his final first-class match, against New Zealand at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
, Lambert opened the batting and scored 50. The only other half century of his career came was an innings of 59 in 1950, when he was batting in the lower order for the Commonwealth XI against Bombay.