Walter Nelson McBride (27 November 1904 — 30 January 1974) was an English first-class cricketer.

Walter McBride
Personal information
Full name
Walter Nelson McBride
Born(1904-11-27)27 November 1904
Croydon, Surrey, England
Died30 January 1974(1974-01-30) (aged 69)
Ealing, Middlesex, England
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1925–1928Oxford University
1925–1929Hampshire
1938Dorset
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 47
Runs scored 656
Batting average 12.86
100s/50s –/1
Top score 51
Balls bowled 3,506
Wickets 56
Bowling average 31.98
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 5/57
Catches/stumpings 31/–
Source: Cricinfo, 20 February 2010

The son of Walter Sydney McBride, he was born at Croydon in November 1904. McBride was educated at Westminster School,[1] where he captained the school cricket team in 1924 and was singled out for praise by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "the best player in the eleven", and a bowler whose "pace is quite fast".[2] From Westminster, he matriculated to Christ Church, Oxford.[1] There, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University Cricket Club against Middlesex at Oxford in 1925. He would play for Oxford until 1928, making sixteen first-class appearances;[3] he would have likely made more appearances for Oxford, however his final year in 1928 was limited to two appearances by illness.[4] For his appearance in The University Match against Cambridge University in 1926, he gained a blue.[5] Playing in the Oxford side primarily as a right-arm medium pace bowler, he took 32 wickets at an average of 27.81;[6] he took two five wicket hauls, with best figures of 5 for 57 against the Free Foresters in 1926.[7] It was against the Free Foresters the following year that he made his only first-class half century, with a score of 51.[8] For Oxford, he scored 251 runs at a batting average of 11.40.[9] In addition to playing cricket for Oxford, McBride also played football for Oxford University A.F.C. as a goalkeeper. He played in Oxford's 6–2 victory against Cambridge University A.F.C. in 1927, gaining a football blue.[5]

While studying at Oxford, McBride represented Hampshire during the summer holidays, making his debut for Hampshire against Somerset at Taunton in the 1925 County Championship. He was a regular member of the Hampshire side when he was available to play, making 29 appearances for Hampshire while he was still studying at Oxford; following his graduation, he made just two further appearances in the 1929 County Championship.[3] In his 29 matches, he took 24 wickets at an average of 37.54 and took best figures of 3 for 36.[6] With the bat, he scored 405 runs at a batting average of 13.96 and a highest score of 35.[9] McBride later played minor counties cricket for Dorset, making two appearances in the 1938 Minor Counties Championship against Devon and Cornwall.[10] McBride died at Ealing in January 1974.[5] He was survived by his wife, Molly (1927–2006).[11]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b Stenning, Alan Herbert; Barker, George Fisher Russell (1928). The Record of Old Westminsters. Vol. 2. Chiswick Press. p. 603. ISBN 9781785312427.
  2. ^ "Public School Cricket in 1924, Part I". Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (1925 ed.). Wisden. pp. 315–316.
  3. ^ a b "First-Class Matches played by Walter McBride". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Wisden - Obituaries in 1988". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  5. ^ a b c "Wisden - Obituaries in 1974". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  6. ^ a b "First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Walter McBride". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  7. ^ "Oxford University v Free Foresters, University Match 1926". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  8. ^ "First-Class Batting and Fielding Against Each Opponent by Walter McBride". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  9. ^ a b "First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Walter McBride". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  10. ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Walter McBride". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2023.
  11. ^ "McBride Molly". Bournemouth Daily Echo. 4 August 2006. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
edit