Sir David Maurice Serjeant (18 January 1830 – 12 January 1929) was an English-born cricketer who played two first-class cricket matches in Australia for Victoria. Described as a "very good batsman" with a defence that was "neat to a fault",[1] he opened the batting for Victoria in both intercolonial matches, including in the very first against New South Wales, held in March 1856 on the newly-opened Melbourne Cricket Ground. The first ball of the match, bowled by George Gilbert, was driven by Serjeant for two.[2]
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 18 January 1830 Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England |
| Died | 12 January 1929 (aged 98) London, England |
| Domestic team information | |
| Years | Team |
| 1856-1857 | Victoria |
Source: Cricinfo, 13 February 2015 | |
He played for Peterborough in England, and in an 1850 match against the touring All-England Eleven, he top-scored in the second innings before being bowled by John Wisden of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack fame.[3] Educated at Cambridge University, Serjeant moved to Australia in 1852 and had a varied career. At club level, he made appearances for Richmond, and served as secretary of the Sandhurst Cricket Club. He returned to England in 1859 to continue his studies.[4] He worked as a physician and surgeon, and was knighted in 1922.[4]
Serjeant's brother and nephews were also cricketers.[5]
He was the author of Australia: Its Cricket Bat and Kangaroo.[6]
Serjeant was the last-surviving member of the cricketers who played in the first intercolonial match between Victoria and New South Wales. He died in London in 1929.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Victorian Eleven" (7 October 1857), The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
- ^ "David Serjeant". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 13 February 2015.
- ^ Peterborough v All England Eleven, Cricket Archive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ a b "Sir David Serjeant" (12 November 1928), The Advertiser.
- ^ David Serjeant, Cricket Archive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ "Early Interstate Cricket: A Nonagenarian's Memories" (15 November 1924), The Argus.