Lionel Palairet
Encyclopedia
Lionel Charles Hamilton Palairet (27 May 1870 in Grange-over-Sands
, Lancashire
– 27 March 1933 in Exmouth
, Devon
) was a famous cricket
er of the so-called "Golden Age" of English cricket before the First World War. An opening batsman, he was famed for the elegance of his cover driving, but he also had the skilful footwork.
Palairet played for Oxford University
for four years, two of them as captain, but his main cricket was for Somerset
. During his time aft Oxford, Palairet had already acquired enough of a reputation to be one of Wisden's Five Batsmen of the Year in 1893, a forerunner of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
. After Herbie Hewett
refused to play for the county from 1894 onwards Lionel Palairet was always the mainstay of Somerset's batting, and though his form did vary somewhat he reached many notable heights, such as when he scored 292 against Hampshire or when he averaged 56 for the season in 1901. During that year he made 173 to inflict Yorkshire's
first defeat for a year and a half.
This performance, along with an innings of 90 against the formidable Australian side the following year, caused Palairet - for so long overshadowed by Ranjitsinhji, Fry
, F.S. Jackson
, Archie MacLaren and others - to leap to the top of the amateur batting ranks. He played his only two Test match
es for England in 1902. They were two of the tightest games ever: the defeat by three runs at Old Trafford
and the victory by one wicket at The Oval
. Palairet was captain of Somerset in 1907 when Sammy Woods
was clearly becoming too old to continue, but was having trouble by this time because it cost him more to spend a full summer away from business than he could afford: in 1905 and 1906, Palairet had been able to spare time only for three county matches out of thirty-six. He played his last match for Somerset in 1909 and it is perhaps surprising that in the following years, when Somerset was close to the weakest side ever to play in the County Championship
, that Palairet was never invited to turn out again even at over forty.
His brother Richard
was a lesser cricketer for Somerset, but an influential cricket administrator at Surrey
.
Grange-over-Sands
Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish by the sea – with a wide tidal range, hence the "sands" name – in Cumbria, England. Historically, Grange-over-Sands was part of the County of Lancashire until 1974, when Cumbria was created under Local Government re-organisation which absorbed the area...
, Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
– 27 March 1933 in Exmouth
Exmouth, Devon
Exmouth is a port town, civil parish and seaside resort in East Devon, England, sited on the east bank of the mouth of the River Exe. In 2001, it had a population of 32,972.-History:...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
) was a famous 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 of the so-called "Golden Age" of English cricket before the First World War. An opening batsman, he was famed for the elegance of his cover driving, but he also had the skilful footwork.
Palairet played for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
for four years, two of them as captain, but his main cricket was for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
. During his time aft Oxford, Palairet had already acquired enough of a reputation to be one of Wisden's Five Batsmen of the Year in 1893, a forerunner of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year
Wisden Cricketers of the Year
The Wisden Cricketers of the Year are cricketers selected for the honour by the annual publication Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, based primarily on their "influence on the previous English season"...
. After Herbie Hewett
Herbie Hewett
Herbert Tremenheere "Herbie" Hewett was an English amateur cricketer who played for Somerset, captaining the county from 1889 to 1893, as well as Oxford University and the Marylebone Cricket Club. A battling left-handed opening batsman, Hewett could post a large score in a short time against even...
refused to play for the county from 1894 onwards Lionel Palairet was always the mainstay of Somerset's batting, and though his form did vary somewhat he reached many notable heights, such as when he scored 292 against Hampshire or when he averaged 56 for the season in 1901. During that year he made 173 to inflict Yorkshire's
Yorkshire County Cricket Club
Yorkshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Yorkshire as one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure....
first defeat for a year and a half.
This performance, along with an innings of 90 against the formidable Australian side the following year, caused Palairet - for so long overshadowed by Ranjitsinhji, Fry
Charles Fry
Charles Anthony Fry, born 14 January 1940, Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire is an ex-First Class cricketer and now a cricket administrator. He is the grandson of the legendary C B Fry – his father Stephen Fry also played First Class cricket for Hampshire....
, F.S. Jackson
Stanley Jackson
Sir Francis Stanley Jackson, GCSI, GCIE, PC, KStJ , known as the Honourable Stanley Jackson during his playing career, was an English cricketer, soldier and Conservative Party politician.-Early life:...
, Archie MacLaren and others - to leap to the top of the amateur batting ranks. He played his only two Test match
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...
es for England in 1902. They were two of the tightest games ever: the defeat by three runs at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (cricket)
Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
and the victory by one 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...
. Palairet was captain of Somerset in 1907 when Sammy Woods
Sammy Woods
Samuel Moses James "Sammy" Woods was an Australian sportsman who represented both Australia and England at Test cricket, and appeared thirteen times for England at rugby union, including five times as captain. He also played at county level in England at both soccer and hockey...
was clearly becoming too old to continue, but was having trouble by this time because it cost him more to spend a full summer away from business than he could afford: in 1905 and 1906, Palairet had been able to spare time only for three county matches out of thirty-six. He played his last match for Somerset in 1909 and it is perhaps surprising that in the following years, when Somerset was close to the weakest side ever to play in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
, that Palairet was never invited to turn out again even at over forty.
His brother Richard
Richard Palairet
Richard Cameron North Palairet, born 25 June 1871 at Grange-over-Sands, then in Lancashire and died 11 February 1955 at Budleigh Salterton, Devon was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Oxford University and Somerset...
was a lesser cricketer for Somerset, but an influential cricket administrator at Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
.