Walter Lees
Encyclopedia
Walter Scott Lees was a Surrey
and English
cricket
er who played in 5 Tests
against South Africa
in 1906.
Lees, originally from Yorkshire but having learned his cricket in London began his career with Surrey in 1896 but was regarded as merely promising until the following year when he took a regular place from the out-of-form William Lockwood
and took 75 wickets despite being utterly overshadowed by the incomparable Tom Richardson
. On two occasions his bowling was nonetheless a vital factor in Surrey winning or turning around matches.
The following few years, however, were very patchy and Lees struggled to maintain his place in the side against competition from the rejuvenated Lockwood and Bill Brockwell
. He lost his place very early in 1898 and did not become a regular again until 1900, when performances like eight for 31 and nine wickets in a superb win over Lancashire showed he had the potential to be a major force. However, Lees was again disappointing in 1901 and almost completely lost his place in 1902 despite Surrey being dreadfully short of bowlers.
However, in the following year a performance of thirteen wickets for 75 runs against Cambridge University saw Lees finally establish himself as an integral part of the Surrey eleven. Although he only twice took five wickets in a County Championship
innings, Lees not only took 102 wickets but developed his hard hitting sufficiently to be often valuable as a batsman for a team weakened immensely by the loss of Abel
and Brockwell. 1904 saw Lees raised except on sticky wickets to the status of Surrey's chief bowler by the dropping out of Lockwood and Richardson, but he was very expensive in most matches.
However, in 1905 Lees, if aided by some fiery pitches at the Oval in July and August, rose far beyond what his previous doings would suggest. With improved accuracy, spin and life from the fast pitches he was the leading wicket-taker in England, falling only seven short of 200 first-class wickets at a price far below any he had previously managed. This earned Lees a Wisden Cricketer of the Year nomination in 1906 and he was chosen for a tour to South Africa. His batting remained on the same level as previous years, but he did hit a maiden century in fifty minutes against Hampshire
, something he was to repeat a year later against Sussex
. In 1906, though he took 168 wickets, Lees was overshadowed by the tremendous speed of Neville Knox
on the dry but very true Oval pitches, he was seen as just as good as in 1905. In a famous match for the Players, Lees put on more pace than usual and took six wickets, whilst with 51 he proved better able to play Knox and Walter Brearley
than most of the recognised professional batsmen.
1907 was unfortunately affected by a strain that cost Lees a month's cricket and any chance of representative honours, whilst from 1908 inconsistency began to plague his bowling and his batting was no longer of value. Though he had some deadly days in 1909, it was clear Lees was on the way down, and by the end of 1910 he had lost his place in the Surrey side to Bill Hitch
and Tom Rushby. After a few games in 1911, Lees was not re-engaged. He died in 1924 still short of his fiftieth birthday.
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...
and English
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 who played in 5 Tests
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...
against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1906.
Lees, originally from Yorkshire but having learned his cricket in London began his career with Surrey in 1896 but was regarded as merely promising until the following year when he took a regular place from the out-of-form 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...
and took 75 wickets despite being utterly overshadowed by the incomparable Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson was an English cricketer. A fast bowler, Richardson relied to a great extent on the break-back , a relatively long run-up and high arm which allowed him to gain sharp lift on fast pitches even from the full, straight length he always bowled...
. On two occasions his bowling was nonetheless a vital factor in Surrey winning or turning around matches.
The following few years, however, were very patchy and Lees struggled to maintain his place in the side against competition from the rejuvenated Lockwood and Bill Brockwell
Bill Brockwell
William Brockwell was an English cricketer. Although primarily remembered as a batsman, he began his career as a fast-medium bowler. With George Lohmann, Tom Richardson and William Lockwood carrying all before them, Brockwell had few opportunities until they declined...
. He lost his place very early in 1898 and did not become a regular again until 1900, when performances like eight for 31 and nine wickets in a superb win over Lancashire showed he had the potential to be a major force. However, Lees was again disappointing in 1901 and almost completely lost his place in 1902 despite Surrey being dreadfully short of bowlers.
However, in the following year a performance of thirteen wickets for 75 runs against Cambridge University saw Lees finally establish himself as an integral part of the Surrey eleven. Although he only twice took five wickets in a County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
innings, Lees not only took 102 wickets but developed his hard hitting sufficiently to be often valuable as a batsman for a team weakened immensely by the loss of Abel
Bobby Abel
Robert Abel , nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey and England opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship...
and Brockwell. 1904 saw Lees raised except on sticky wickets to the status of Surrey's chief bowler by the dropping out of Lockwood and Richardson, but he was very expensive in most matches.
However, in 1905 Lees, if aided by some fiery pitches at the Oval in July and August, rose far beyond what his previous doings would suggest. With improved accuracy, spin and life from the fast pitches he was the leading wicket-taker in England, falling only seven short of 200 first-class wickets at a price far below any he had previously managed. This earned Lees a Wisden Cricketer of the Year nomination in 1906 and he was chosen for a tour to South Africa. His batting remained on the same level as previous years, but he did hit a maiden century in fifty minutes against Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
, something he was to repeat a year later 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 1906, though he took 168 wickets, Lees was overshadowed by the tremendous speed of Neville Knox
Neville Knox
Neville Alexander Knox was an English fast bowler of the late 1900s and effectively the successor to Tom Richardson and William Lockwood in the Surrey team...
on the dry but very true Oval pitches, he was seen as just as good as in 1905. In a famous match for the Players, Lees put on more pace than usual and took six wickets, whilst with 51 he proved better able to play Knox and Walter Brearley
Walter Brearley
Walter Brearley, born March 11, 1876, at Bolton, Lancashire; died January 30, 1937, at the Middlesex Hospital, Marylebone, London was a cricketer who played for Lancashire and England....
than most of the recognised professional batsmen.
1907 was unfortunately affected by a strain that cost Lees a month's cricket and any chance of representative honours, whilst from 1908 inconsistency began to plague his bowling and his batting was no longer of value. Though he had some deadly days in 1909, it was clear Lees was on the way down, and by the end of 1910 he had lost his place in the Surrey side to Bill Hitch
Bill Hitch
John William "Bill" Hitch, born Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on 7 May 1886, and died at Cardiff on 7 July 1965, was a cricketer who played for Surrey and England....
and Tom Rushby. After a few games in 1911, Lees was not re-engaged. He died in 1924 still short of his fiftieth birthday.