William Greenstock
Encyclopedia
William Greenstock was a cricketer
. Born in Keiskammahoek, Cape Province
, South Africa
he nevertheless played all his cricket in England
. A right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Greenstock appeared only seven times in first-class cricket
, but these matches spanned a period of well over thirty years.
Educated at Fettes College
he won an exhibition
to St John's College, Cambridge
in 1884 and made his first-class debut for Cambridge University
against Yorkshire
on 3 June 1886. Cambridge won the game by 26 runs
, but Greenstock's personal contribution was forgettable as he made only 4*
and 6. He appeared twice more for the university the following season
, making what was to prove his career-best innings of 49 against CI Thornton
's XI.
On graduating in 1887 Greenstock embarked on a career as a schoolmaster
holding positions at Clifton College
(1888-1892), Malvern College
(1892-1928) and in retirement as an assistant housemaster at Harrow School
.
Twelve years after graduating, Greenstock reappeared in the first-class game in 1899
when he appeared twice for Worcestershire
, who were in their first season of county cricket
. Scores of 16, 8, 11 and 13 were not impressive, however, and he again dropped out of the side for a long period. Recalled for a match against Somerset
in August 1914
, he was bowled
for 1 in the first innings and not required to bat in the second; again he was dropped and World War I
put paid to any chance of a speedy return to the side.
Greenstock's final outing in the first-class game was to come in a game against HK Foster's XI at New Road
in August 1919
. By now Greenstock was 54 years old, yet still managed a creditable 37 runs in the match, 33 of these coming in the first innings. That was to mark the end of his career, and he died in Pilcot, Dogmersfield
, Hampshire
at the age of 79.
Greenstock was the brother-in-law
of the famous Foster brothers
. His nephews Christopher
and Peter also had short first-class careers, while his son John
played for Worcestershire in the 1920s.
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"....
. Born in Keiskammahoek, Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
he nevertheless played all his cricket in England
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...
. A right-handed batsman and occasional off-spinner, Greenstock appeared only seven times in 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...
, but these matches spanned a period of well over thirty years.
Educated at Fettes College
Fettes College
Fettes College is an independent school for boarding and day pupils in Edinburgh, Scotland with over two thirds of its pupils in residence on campus...
he won an exhibition
Exhibition (scholarship)
-United Kingdom and Ireland:At the universities of Dublin, Oxford and Cambridge, and at Westminster School, Eton College and Winchester College, and various other UK educational establishments, an exhibition is a financial award or grant to an individual student, normally on grounds of merit. The...
to St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College, Cambridge
St John's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge. The college's alumni include nine Nobel Prize winners, six Prime Ministers, three archbishops, at least two princes, and three Saints....
in 1884 and made his first-class debut 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...
against Yorkshire
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....
on 3 June 1886. Cambridge won the game by 26 runs
The result in cricket
The result in a game of cricket may be a win for one of the two teams playing, a draw or a tie. In the case of a limited overs game, the game can also end with no result...
, but Greenstock's personal contribution was forgettable as he made only 4*
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...
and 6. He appeared twice more for the university the following season
1887 English cricket season
-External sources:* -Annual reviews:* James Lillywhite's Cricketers' Annual , Lillywhite, 1888* Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1888...
, making what was to prove his career-best innings of 49 against CI Thornton
Charles Thornton (cricketer)
Charles Inglis Thornton , nicknamed "Buns", was an English cricketer who played more than 200 first-class matches in the later 19th century, for no fewer than 22 different teams....
's XI.
On graduating in 1887 Greenstock embarked on a career as a schoolmaster
Schoolmaster
A schoolmaster, or simply master, once referred to a male school teacher. This usage survives in British public schools, but is generally obsolete elsewhere.The teacher in charge of a school is the headmaster...
holding positions at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
(1888-1892), Malvern College
Malvern College
Malvern College is a coeducational independent school located on a 250 acre campus near the town centre of Malvern, Worcestershire in England. Founded on 25 January 1865, until 1992, the College was a secondary school for boys aged 13 to 18...
(1892-1928) and in retirement as an assistant housemaster at Harrow School
Harrow School
Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...
.
Twelve years after graduating, Greenstock reappeared in the first-class game in 1899
1899 English cricket season
In the 1899 English cricket season, Surrey won the County Championship for the first time in four years, and the title turned out to be their last until 1914. Surrey's season was dominated by draws, with fourteen out of 26 games drawn, just like the season in general - especially the Australian...
when he appeared twice 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...
, who were in their first season of county cricket
County cricket
County cricket is the highest level of domestic cricket in England and Wales. For the 2010 season, see 2010 English cricket season.-First-class counties:...
. Scores of 16, 8, 11 and 13 were not impressive, however, and he again dropped out of the side for a long period. Recalled for a match against 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...
in August 1914
1914 English cricket season
The 1914 English cricket season was called off at the end of August because of the outbreak of the First World War. The last four matches to be played all finished on 2 September and the remaining five scheduled fixtures were cancelled....
, he was 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...
for 1 in the first innings and not required to bat in the second; again he was dropped and World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
put paid to any chance of a speedy return to the side.
Greenstock's final outing in the first-class game was to come in a game against HK Foster's XI 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 :...
in August 1919
1919 English cricket season
The 1919 English cricket season was the first to stage first-class cricket since 1914. Yorkshire won the title but in their team as in everyone else's, the sense was of overwhelming loss. The county matches in this season were played over a course of two days...
. By now Greenstock was 54 years old, yet still managed a creditable 37 runs in the match, 33 of these coming in the first innings. That was to mark the end of his career, and he died in Pilcot, Dogmersfield
Dogmersfield
Dogmersfield is a small and peaceful village between the towns of Fleet and Hartley Wintney located in Hampshire, England.Places of interest include the village church, the Queen's Head pub and a mansion house known variously as Dogmersfield House or Dogmersfield Park...
, Hampshire
Hampshire
Hampshire is a county on the southern coast of England in the United Kingdom. The county town of Hampshire is Winchester, a historic cathedral city that was once the capital of England. Hampshire is notable for housing the original birthplaces of the Royal Navy, British Army, and Royal Air Force...
at the age of 79.
Greenstock was the brother-in-law
Brother-in-law
A brother-in-law is the brother of one's spouse, the husband of one's sibling, or the husband of one's spouse's sibling.-See also:*Affinity *Sister-in-law*Brothers in Law , a 1955 British comedy novel...
of the famous Foster brothers
Fostershire
"Fostershire" was a name jocularly applied to Worcestershire County Cricket Club in the early part of the 20th century, shortly after the county had achieved first-class status and admission into the English County Championship...
. His nephews Christopher
Christopher Foster
Christopher Knollys Foster was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman, he played first-class cricket for Worcestershire in 1927.-Biography:...
and Peter also had short first-class careers, while his son John
John Greenstock
John Wilfrid Greenstock was an English cricketer who played 46 first-class matches in the 1920s, the bulk of these for Oxford University and Worcestershire....
played for Worcestershire in the 1920s.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...