Thomas Wells (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
Thomas Umfrey Wells was a New Zealand-born cricketer
who played first-class cricket
in England in the early 1950s. All but one of his appearances came for Cambridge University
, but he also played one match for Worcestershire
in 1950.
He made his first-class debut for Cambridge against the touring West Indians at Fenner's
in May 1950, though his part in the match was small, not batting, holding a single catch and bowling three wicketless overs for 28. The game itself was a very high scoring draw: John Dewes
(183) and David Sheppard
(227) put on 343 for Cambridge's first wicket, and the university declared at 594/4. In reply the tourists piled up 703/3, including a career-best 304 not out
by Everton Weekes
.
Wells made more of an impact in his second game, against Leicestershire
. In fact, his unbeaten 77 was to remain the highest score of his first-class career. He also picked up the first of his handful of wickets when he bowled
Leicestershire's Australian batsman Vic Jackson
.
His only other half-century came just a week later when he notched 53 against the Free Foresters
.
Wells' single appearance for Worcestershire was in August 1950, when the county played Somerset
at New Road
. He had a poor match, scoring 0 and 9, and though he did take two catches they were both to dismiss tail-enders. Worcestershire collapsed in their first innings against the leg-spin of Johnny Lawrence
, who took career-best figures of 8-41, and Somerset won the match by four wickets.
Wells played on for Cambridge in 1951, though without any conspicuous success, and made a final first-class appearance for the university against Surrey
at The Oval
in June 1952. Opening the batting in both innings, he scored 26 and 13 as Cambridge went down to an innings defeat.
He did play occasional minor games thereafter, for example appearing for the London New Zealand Club when the New Zealanders toured England in 1958,
and after returning to the country of his birth he played for Wanganui against Nelson
in the 1964-65 Hawke Cup
.
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played first-class cricket
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...
in England in the early 1950s. All but one of his appearances came for Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
, but he also played one match 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...
in 1950.
He made his first-class debut for Cambridge against the touring West Indians at Fenner's
Fenner's
Fenner's is the University of Cambridge's cricket ground.-History:Fenner's has hosted first-class cricket since 1848, and many of the world's great players have graced the wicket. The ground was established on land leased for the purpose by Francis Fenner, after whom the ground is named.Playing for...
in May 1950, though his part in the match was small, not batting, holding a single catch and bowling three wicketless overs for 28. The game itself was a very high scoring draw: John Dewes
John Dewes
John Dewes is a former English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University and Middlesex, and was chosen for five Tests between 1948 and 1950.-Life and career:...
(183) and David Sheppard
David Sheppard
David Stuart Sheppard, Baron Sheppard of Liverpool was the high-profile Bishop of Liverpool in the Church of England who played cricket for Sussex and England in his youth...
(227) put on 343 for Cambridge's first wicket, and the university declared at 594/4. In reply the tourists piled up 703/3, including a career-best 304 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
by Everton Weekes
Everton Weekes
Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes, KCMG, GCM, OBE is a leading former West Indian cricketer. Along with Frank Worrell and Clyde Walcott, he formed what was known as "The Three Ws" of West Indian cricket.-Youth and early career:...
.
Wells made more of an impact in his second game, against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
. In fact, his unbeaten 77 was to remain the highest score of his first-class career. He also picked up the first of his handful of wickets when he bowled
Bowled
Bowled is a method of dismissing a batsman in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is covered by Law 30 of the Laws of cricket.A batsman is out bowled if his wicket is put down by a ball delivered by the bowler...
Leicestershire's Australian batsman Vic Jackson
Vic Jackson
Victor Edward Jackson was an Australian first class cricketer who played for New South Wales and Leicestershire.- From Australia to Cahn's XI :...
.
His only other half-century came just a week later when he notched 53 against the Free Foresters
Free Foresters Cricket Club
Free Foresters Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1856 for players from the Midland counties of England. It is a 'wandering' club, having no home ground....
.
Wells' single appearance for Worcestershire was in August 1950, when the county played 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...
at New Road
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
. He had a poor match, scoring 0 and 9, and though he did take two catches they were both to dismiss tail-enders. Worcestershire collapsed in their first innings against the leg-spin of Johnny Lawrence
Johnny Lawrence
John Lawrence, known as "Johnny", was a diminutive Yorkshire-born all-round cricketer whose middle or lower order batting and leg-break and googly bowling were of great importance to Somerset in the 10 cricket seasons immediately after the Second World War.-Early career and playing style:Born at...
, who took career-best figures of 8-41, and Somerset won the match by four wickets.
Wells played on for Cambridge in 1951, though without any conspicuous success, and made a final first-class appearance for the university against 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...
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 June 1952. Opening the batting in both innings, he scored 26 and 13 as Cambridge went down to an innings defeat.
He did play occasional minor games thereafter, for example appearing for the London New Zealand Club when the New Zealanders toured England in 1958,
and after returning to the country of his birth he played for Wanganui against Nelson
Nelson cricket team
Nelson cricket team is a cricket team representing the Nelson Region of New Zealand and currently competes in the Hawke Cup.Cricket was first reported as being played in Nelson in the Nelson Examiner in March 1844, in a match between the Surveyors of the Land Company and Nelson...
in the 1964-65 Hawke Cup
Hawke Cup
The Hawke Cup is a cricket competition for New Zealand's District Associations. Apart from 1910/11, 1912/13 and 2000/01 the competition has always been on a challenge basis. In order to win the Hawke Cup the challenger must beat the holder on their home ground...
.