John Walford
Encyclopedia
John Erskine Scott Walford (14 August 1899 – 22 August 1961) was an English
cricket
er. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium
bowler, he played 11 first-class
matches between 1923 and 1932, six for Worcestershire
and five for the British Army cricket team
. He also represented the Egypt national cricket team
.
, Worcestershire
, Walford made his debut for Worcestershire against Sussex
in July 1923, although he did not get to bowl and made only 11 and 5 with the bat. Indeed, he played largely as a batsman that season, bowling only half a dozen overs in five matches and gaining no reward. He did however manage what was to remain his highest score when he hit 31 against Northamptonshire
in his second match.
There then followed six years in which Walford played no first-class cricket, before he returned to play for the Army against the RAF
at The Oval
in July 1930. In the first innings of this match he claimed his first wicket, that of Ronald Sugden, and went on to take five more to finish with what would remain his career best of 6–27. (He also took two wickets in the second innings.)
In the next two years, he played four more times for the Army, and consistently took wickets, a notable performance being his 6–31 against the MCC
in August 1931. He also turned out one more time for Worcestershire, against Nottinghamshire
in 1930.
His last first-class match was for the Army against the RAF in June 1932, after which he continued to play at lower levels. He played for the MCC against the Netherlands in 1937 and 1939 and against Ireland in 1939. Earlier that year, he played twice for Egypt against HM Martineau's XI
. He died at Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith
, London
a few days after his 62nd birthday.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er. A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
bowler, he played 11 first-class
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...
matches between 1923 and 1932, six for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire 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 Worcestershire...
and five for the British Army cricket team
British Army cricket team
The Army cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Army. The team played a number of first-class matches between 1912 and 1939, although a combined "Army and Navy" side had played two games against a combined Oxford and Cambridge team in 1910 and 1911...
. He also represented the Egypt national cricket team
Egypt national cricket team
The Egypt national cricket team was the team that represented the country of Egypt in international cricket matches. They were active from 1909 until World War II.-Early years:...
.
Biography
Born in Hanbury MountHanbury
Hanbury may refer to:* Hanbury, Staffordshire* Hanbury, Worcestershire* Giardini Botanici Hanbury , Liguria* Hanbury Island, Nunavut, Canada* Hanbury Manor, Hertfordshire, a hotel and country club* Hanbury Hall, Worcestershire...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
, Walford made his debut for Worcestershire against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
in July 1923, although he did not get to bowl and made only 11 and 5 with the bat. Indeed, he played largely as a batsman that season, bowling only half a dozen overs in five matches and gaining no reward. He did however manage what was to remain his highest score when he hit 31 against Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire 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 Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
in his second match.
There then followed six years in which Walford played no first-class cricket, before he returned to play for the Army against the RAF
Royal Air Force cricket team
The Royal Air Force cricket team is a cricket side representing the British Royal Air Force. The team played 11 first-class matches: nine between 1922 and 1932, mostly against other branches of the Services, and another two in 1945 and 1946. Their home ground is the Royal Air Force Sports Ground,...
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...
in July 1930. In the first innings of this match he claimed his first wicket, that of Ronald Sugden, and went on to take five more to finish with what would remain his career best of 6–27. (He also took two wickets in the second innings.)
In the next two years, he played four more times for the Army, and consistently took wickets, a notable performance being his 6–31 against the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
in August 1931. He also turned out one more time for Worcestershire, 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...
in 1930.
His last first-class match was for the Army against the RAF in June 1932, after which he continued to play at lower levels. He played for the MCC against the Netherlands in 1937 and 1939 and against Ireland in 1939. Earlier that year, he played twice for Egypt against HM Martineau's XI
Hubert Martineau
Hubert Melville Martineau was an English patron of cricket and organiser of his own team. He also played three first-class matches between 1931 and 1932...
. He died at Ravenscourt Park, Hammersmith
Hammersmith
Hammersmith is an urban centre in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in west London, England, in the United Kingdom, approximately five miles west of Charing Cross on the north bank of the River Thames...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
a few days after his 62nd birthday.