Walter Aspinall

Walter Aspinall played three games of first class cricket, two of them for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in 1880. A specialist wicket keeper, he found little success as a right handed batsman, scoring just 19 runs in 4 innings with a best of 14.

Picked for his first match against Surrey at the Oval in August 1880, Aspinall made his highest first class score in his first knock from the lowly position of number 10 as Yorkshire completed an impressive 398 thanks to Skipper Ulyett's 141. Surrey were dismissed for 176 and 99, with Aspinall taking a catch in the second innings, to win by a satisfying innings and 123 runs.

Aspinall retained his place for the next match, against Middlesex at Bramhall Lane. Sadly runs eluded him as Yorkshire crashed to a comprehensive 6 wicket defeat and he failed to take a catch or effect a stumping. Yorkshire never selected him again.

He had also appeared for Halifax in a non first class game against 'The Gentlemen of Canada' in a two day game on the 28th and 29th of June 1880. He'd found no greater form at the crease in this game, being bowled by Wright for 3 in Halifax's 114 and again falling to the same bowler in the same manner for a duck second time around. Despite his failures at number 9 in the order, Halifax managed to draw the game.

His final first class appearance was for the 'Under 30' XI against W.G. Grace's 'Over 30' XI at Lord's at the end of May in 1882. Aspinall once again kept wicket and though he scored just 3 runs in his only innings his team enjoyed a comprehensive 10 wicket win over their elders. Aspinall showed his skills behind the timbers by taking 4 catches on his final first class appearance.

Walter Aspinall was born on the 24th March 1858 in Elland, Yorkshire. The date of his death is not currently known.

References

* [http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/8812.html Cricinfo Profile]