John Udal

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = John Udal
country = Fiji
fullname = John Symonds Udal
dayofbirth = 10
monthofbirth = 11
yearofbirth = 1848
placeofbirth = West Bromwich, Staffordshire
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 13
monthofdeath = 3
yearofdeath = 1925
placeofdeath = London
countryofdeath = England
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right-handed
role = Batsman
club1 = MCC
year1 = 1871-1875
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Fiji
year2 = 1895
type1 = First-class
debutdate1 = 24 July
debutyear1 = 1871
debutfor1 = MCC
debutagainst1 = Sussex
lastdate1 = 22 February
lastyear1 = 1895
lastfor1 = Fiji
lastagainst1 = Taranaki
deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = First-class
matches1 = 9
runs1 = 215
bat avg1 = 13.43
100s/50s1 = 0/1
top score1 = 50
deliveries1 = 6
wickets1 = 0
bowl avg1 = -
fivefor1 = -
tenfor1 = -
best bowling1 = 0/5
catches/stumpings1 = 3/0
date = 11 October
year = 2007
source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/24/24532/24532.html Cricket Archive

John Symonds Udal (born 10 November 1848 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England; died 13 March 1925 in London) was an English-born cricketer who later represented the Fiji national cricket team. [ [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/22151.html Cricinfo profile] ]

Career

A right-handed batsman and bowler, John Udal played minor cricket for Dorset, Somerset and the Free Foresters.Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1926, [http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/233311.html Obituaries] ] He made his first-class debut for the MCC against Sussex in July 1871. [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/24/24532/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by John Udal] at Cricket Archive]

He played a match against "Surrey Club" in July 1873 which was evidently enough to persuade WG Grace to invite him on a tour to Australia, though he was unable to go. He played one final first-class match for the MCC, against Cambridge University in June 1875.

In 1895, whilst attorney general of Fiji, he captained the Fiji national cricket team on a tour of New Zealand. He played six further first-class matches on the tour, during which he scored his only first-class half-century against Wellington. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/24/24532/f_Batting_by_Opponent.html First-class batting against each opponent for John Udal] at Cricket Archive] He did much to encourage the game in Fiji, doing the same whilst serving as Chief Justice of the Leeward Islands. He later returned to England, dying suddenly in London in 1925, aged 76.

Family

Udal left somewhat of a cricketing dynasty. His son Nicholas played first-class cricket for Oxford University and the MCC, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/33/33483/33483.html Nicholas Udal] at Cricket Archive] his grandson Geoffrey played for Middlesex and Leicestershire, [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/33/33482/33482.html Geoffrey Udal] at Cricket Archive] whilst his great-great-grandson Shaun has played Test cricket for England. [ [http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/2/2154/2154.html Shaun Udal] at Cricket Archive]

References