Arthur Dolphin

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = Eng
name = Arthur Dolphin
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style =
tests = 1
test runs = 1
test bat avg = 0.50
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 1
test balls = 0
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = N/A
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = N/A
test catches/stumpings = 1/0
FCs = 449
FC runs = 3,402
FC bat avg = 11.30
FC 100s/50s = 0/7
FC top score = 66
FC balls = 66
FC wickets = 1
FC bowl avg = 28.00
FC 5s = 0
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 1/18
FC catches/stumpings = 610/272
debut date = 11 February
debut year = 1921
last date = 16 February
last year = 1921
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/389/389.html

Arthur Dolphin (24 December 1885 in Wilsden, Yorkshire, England – 23 October 1942 in Lilycroft, Heaton, Bradford, Yorkshire, England) was a cricketer, who kept wicket for Yorkshire County Cricket Club between 1905 and 1927. He also played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club. He is part of a proud tradition of Yorkshire wicket keepers, stretching back to Ned Stephenson, George Pinder, Joe Hunter and David Hunter before him and Arthur Wood, Jimmy Binks, David Bairstow and Richard Blakey after his day. The worthy successor to David Hunter as Yorkshire's wicket keeper he gave loyal service to the county for 22 years. His ability behind the stumps was considered almost equal to that of his contemporary Surrey's Herbert Strudwick, and in his long career he was an internal part of eight Championship winning Yorkshire sides.

The first Bradford League player chosen to represent Yorkshire. Dolphin was 14 when he first played for Wilsden Britannia and 19 when he made his county debut. After serving his time in the seconds he eventually took over as Yorkshire's first choice wicket keeper in 1910 and retained his position for 17 years. A short lively cricketer, like most good keepers, he kept to some of the greatest bowlers of his day including Wilfred Rhodes and George Hirst. If the deliveries were often too good for the batsman, few eluded Dolphin's sure grasp. With that minimum of fuss which defines the best keepers he dealt with them all. Herbert Sutcliffe observed Dolphin's true skill and wrote: "His quick brain and exceptionally keen eyesight were responsible for disposing of large numbers of batsmen from chances which many keepers would have missed without even affecting their reputations " His speed standing up to the wicket is underlined by the fact that nearly a third of his dismissals were stumpings. When Hampshire famously flogged Yorkshire for 456 for two in a day, Dolphin retained his concentration throughout and conceded just two byes in the innings.

He played in an era when the skills of pure keeping, often standing up to medium paced bowlers on uncovered, rain affected wickets, were prized above batting skills. His lack of runs probably hampered his chances of test match cricket though. His one Test match came in 1920-21 in the Fourth Test against Australia. The tour was a catastrophe from start to finish and Dolphin could do nothing to stem the Australian advance. He could defend with a straight bat when needed however, as exemplified by his vigil against Essex at Leyton in 1919, the season of two-day matches. He scored a gritty 62 not out, and with E. Smith put on 103 for the last wicket, so saving their side from following-on when Yorkshire were in danger. He had previous form against Essex, in 1914, going into bat as the night watchman. he added 124 for the second wicket with B. B. Wilson.

He was remarkably consistent once he'd won his first team place but when he was injured it came about in unusual circumstances. Playing against Middlesex at Lord's, he fell off a chair in the dressing-room as he reached for his clothes and broke his wrist, missing the remainder of the summer. His benefit match in 1892 against Kent in Leeds raised the heady sum of £1,891 and he hit the winning runs, after scoring 20 or the 24 required to win, to secure victory by ten wickets. He suffered from sciatica in the latter part of his career, his back stressed with so many hundreds of hours spent bent behind the timers. He served alongside his county colleagues. Roy Kilner and Major Booth, with the Leeds Pals during World War I but returned to Yorkshire's ranks in 1919 and enjoyed his most successful season with the gloves claiming 82 dismissals in the first post-war summer.

His benefit season in 1922 brought him £1,891. At various times during his career he suffered from sciatica and he played his last match for Yorkshire in 1927. After retiring as a player, Dolphin became a popular and well respected cricket umpire for a decade and officiated in six Tests. He was noted for never wearing a hat, not even on the hottest summer days.

References

* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/389/389.html CricketArchive page on Arthur Dolphin]
* [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/11919.html Cricinfo page on Arthur Dolphin]
* [http://www.leedspals.co.uk/dolphin.htm Sportsmen Soldiers]