William Searle
Encyclopedia
William Searle was an English cricket
er in the 19th century. He was right-handed as a bowler and a fielder but he batted left-handed. Searle played mainly for Surrey
. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "steady and scientific" batsman who was rated one of the "cracks" of his day in a relatively short career.
Searle was about 5'10" tall and weighed about 12 stones. In 1820 he moved from Thursley to Godalming where he followed the almost traditional cricketing trade of innkeeper. He is known to have been the landlord of the Three Lions Inn. Later he became a bailiff and then a steward when he moved to East Clandon.
His was a cricketing family. His elder brother Richard (born October 1789 at Lurgashall in Sussex) played three matches for Sussex between 1823 and 1825. Better known was their cousin James Saunders
.
In the 1829 season
, Searle was joint leading runscorer with Jem Broadbridge
. They made 265 apiece but while Broadbridge's average was 18.92, Searle's was 20.38. Searle was second only to the great Fuller Pilch
in 1830.
William Searle made his known debut in the 1821 season
and had 48 known appearances in major matches to the 1833 season
. He scored 1537 runs @ 18.29 with a highest score of 87, which is a creditable record given the prevailing pitch conditions of his time. He only bowled occasionally and took 8 (known) wickets.
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 in the 19th century. He was right-handed as a bowler and a fielder but he batted left-handed. Searle played mainly for Surrey
Surrey county cricket teams
Surrey county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. The first definite mention of cricket anywhere in the world is dated c.1550 in Guildford.-17th century:...
. According to Scores and Biographies, he was a "steady and scientific" batsman who was rated one of the "cracks" of his day in a relatively short career.
Searle was about 5'10" tall and weighed about 12 stones. In 1820 he moved from Thursley to Godalming where he followed the almost traditional cricketing trade of innkeeper. He is known to have been the landlord of the Three Lions Inn. Later he became a bailiff and then a steward when he moved to East Clandon.
His was a cricketing family. His elder brother Richard (born October 1789 at Lurgashall in Sussex) played three matches for Sussex between 1823 and 1825. Better known was their cousin James Saunders
James Saunders (cricketer)
James Saunders was an English cricketer in the 19th century. He was a noted left-handed batsman and an occasional wicket-keeper...
.
In the 1829 season
1829 English cricket season
The 1829 English cricket season saw the earliest known reference to cricket in Worcestershire.-First-class matches:-Leading batsmen:Leading runscorers with 265 apiece were Jem Broadbridge @ 18.92 and William Searle @ 20.38-External sources:*...
, Searle was joint leading runscorer with Jem Broadbridge
Jem Broadbridge
James "Jem" Broadbridge was an English professional cricketer who is widely accounted the outstanding all-rounder in England during the 1820s. He is best remembered for his part in the introduction of roundarm bowling...
. They made 265 apiece but while Broadbridge's average was 18.92, Searle's was 20.38. Searle was second only to the great Fuller Pilch
Fuller Pilch
Fuller Pilch was an English cricketer. Described as "the greatest batsman ever known until the appearance of W. G. Grace", the right-hand batting Pilch played 229 first class cricket matches between 1820 and 1854 for an assortment of counties, including Kent, Hampshire, Surrey and Surrey, as well...
in 1830.
William Searle made his known debut in the 1821 season
1821 English cricket season
In the 1821 English cricket season, the Gentlemen v Players match was ended in controversial circumstances.-Honours:* Most runs – Thomas Beagley 181 * Most wickets – Thomas Howard 13 -Events:...
and had 48 known appearances in major matches to the 1833 season
1833 English cricket season
The 1833 English cricket season saw the first use of Yorkshire as a team name .-First-class matches:-Events:* John Nyren published The Cricketers Of My Time...
. He scored 1537 runs @ 18.29 with a highest score of 87, which is a creditable record given the prevailing pitch conditions of his time. He only bowled occasionally and took 8 (known) wickets.