William Shirley (cricketer)

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = William Shirley
country = England
fullname = William Robert de la Cour Shirley
dayofbirth = 13
monthofbirth = 10
yearofbirth = 1900
placeofbirth = Marylebone, London
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 23
monthofdeath = 4
yearofdeath = 1970
placeofdeath = Bognor Regis, Sussex
countryofdeath = England
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right-arm fast-medium
role = All-rounder
club1 = Hampshire
year1 = 1922-1925
club2 = Cambridge University
year2 = 1924
club3 = Free Foresters
year3 = 1922
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 10 June
debutyear1 = 1922
debutfor1 = Free Foresters
debutagainst1 = Cambridge University
lastdate1 = 23 May
lastyear1 = 1925
lastfor1 = Hampshire
lastagainst1 = Lancashire
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = First-class
matches1 = 62
runs1 = 1458
bat avg1 = 17.78
100s/50s1 = 0/3
top score1 = 90
deliveries1 = 3433
wickets1 = 81
bowl avg1 = 23.60
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 4/10
catches/stumpings1 = 31/0
date = 21 June
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/6849.html CricketArchive

William Robert de la Cour Shirley (13 October 1900–23 April 1970) was an English cricketer. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20555.html Cricinfo profile] ] A right-handed batsman and right-arm fast-medium bowler, he played first-class cricket between 1922 and 1925, primarily for Hampshire. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/6849.html CricketArchive profile] ] He also played first-class cricket for Cambridge University and the Free Foresters [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/all_teams.html Teams played for by William Shirley] at CricketArchive] in addition to representing the Nigeria national cricket team.

Biography

Born in Marylebone in 1900, William Shirley was educated at Eton and Cambridge University, playing cricket for both institutions. He made his first-class debut in 1922, playing for Free Foresters against Cambridge University. He made his debut for Hampshire in a County Championship match against Warwickshire, [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by William Shirley] at CricketArchive] a match that was described by Wisden as "extraordinary". In the match, Hampshire were bowled out for just 15 in their first innings and were forced to follow on 203 runs behind. They then scored 521 and won the match by 155 runs.

He played ten more County Championship matches for Hampshire that season, and played a further 19 the next season. The 1924 season started with him playing for Cambridge University against various county sides, the MCC, the Army, the Free Foresters and South Africa. He gained his blue when he played against Oxford University at Lord's in July. In addition to his matches for the university, he also played 14 County Championship matches for Hampshire.

His last season in first-class cricket was in 1925, when he played four County Championship matches for Hampshire in May, the last coming against Lancashire. This was not the end of his cricket career though, as he played five times for Nigeria against the Gold Coast whilst living there between 1928 and 1938. He died in Bognor Regis in 1970, aged 69.

Cricket statistics

In his 62 first-class matches, Shirley scored 1458 runs at an average of 17.78 with a top score of 90 made for Hampshire against Glamorgan in his first season. He took 81 wickets at an average of 23.60, with best innings bowling figures of 4/10 for Cambridge University [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/f_Bowling_by_Team.html First-class bowling for each team by William Shirley] at CricketArchive] against Lancashire [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/6/6849/f_Bowling_by_Opponent.html First-class bowling against each opponent by William Shirley] at CricketArchive] in 1924.

In his five matches for Nigeria against the Gold Coast, he scored 350 runs at an average of 43.75 and took 21 wickets at an average of 15.00.

References