Richard Fielder (cricketer)

Richard Fielder (1758–1826) was an English cricketer who played in 20 matches between 1790 and 1801 which are now regarded as having first-class cricket status.[2]

Richard Fielder
Personal information
Born1758
East Malling, Kent
Died1826 (aged 67–68)
Gravesend, Kent
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1792–1796Kent XI
FC debut7 September 1790 West Kent v East Kent
Last FC20 July 1801 Surrey v England XI
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 20
Runs scored 281
Batting average 7.59
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 35
Balls bowled [a]
Wickets 1[b]
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/?
Catches/stumpings 13/–
Source: CricketArchive, 24 January 2023

Fielder was born at East Malling in Kent in 1758.[3] He is first known to have played cricket in 1790, playing in a first-class match for East Kent against West Kent at Bourne Paddock near Canterbury. He played regularly for Kent sides and for England teams[c] between 1792 and 1796. A total of 18 of his 20 first-class matches were played during these seasons, 11 for Kent, six for England as well as one for a team organised by Richard Leigh, an influential organiser of matches who lived in the Dartford area of Kent.[3]

From 1801 to 1803 Fielder played for Surrey teams, including in one match which has been awarded first-class status.[3] Writing in 1862, Arthur Haygarth recorded that he has been considered "a very fine field and catch".[5] In his 20 matches considered to be first-class, Fielder scored 281 runs with a highest score of 35. He took at least one wicket.[b]

Fielder worked as a horse trainer and is thought to have eloped with one of his riding pupils. Afterwards they kept the Woolpack Inn at Tenterden.[5] He died at Gravesend in 1826.[3]

Notes

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  1. ^ In the period Fielder played, the number of balls delivered by a bowler and the runs conceded from them were generally not recorded. As a result, it is impossible to know how many balls he delivered, his best bowling figures or his bowling average.
  2. ^ a b In the period Fielder played, wickets taken by bowlers were normally only recorded if they were bowled. Other means of dismissal were not credited to any bowler.[1]
  3. ^ During the time Fielder played, England sides were not representative of the country. Instead, they were sides composed of players from a range of locations brought together to play against another side.[4]

References

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  1. ^ Carlaw D (2020) Kent County Cricketers A to Z. Part One: 1806–1914 (revised edition), p. 31. (Available online at The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 2020-12-21.)
  2. ^ Richard Fielder, CricInfo. Retrieved 2023-01-24.
  3. ^ a b c d Richard Fielder, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2019-12-10. (subscription required)
  4. ^ Birley D (1999) A Social History of English Cricket, p. 364. London: Aurum Press. ISBN 978 1 78131 1769
  5. ^ a b Arthur Haygarth (1862) Scores & Biographies, vol. 1 (1744–1826). Lillywhite.[page needed]
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