William Hayes (New Zealand cricketer)

William Hugh James "Chattel" Hayes (26 April 1890 – 30 June 1972) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played in 24 first-class matches for Canterbury from 1909 to 1928.[2]

William Hayes
Hayes in 1928
Personal information
Full name
William Hugh James Hayes
Born(1890-04-26)26 April 1890
Christchurch, New Zealand
Died30 June 1972(1972-06-30) (aged 82)
Christchurch, New Zealand
NicknameChattel[1]
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium pace
RoleOccasional wicket-keeper
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1909-10 to 1927-28Canterbury
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 24
Runs scored 708
Batting average 16.85
100s/50s 1/4
Top score 125
Balls bowled 490
Wickets 7
Bowling average 30.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 2/25
Catches/stumpings 18/2
Source: Cricinfo, 19 September 2021

Life and career

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Hayes began his career as a batsman and brilliant fieldsman, then took up medium-pace bowling, and then wicket-keeping.[1] He kept wicket for so long at such a high standard in Christchurch that the award for most wicket-keeping dismissals in a Christchurch cricket season is named the Chattel Hayes Memorial Trophy.[3] He was still keeping wicket in the lower grades in Christchurch into his late sixties.[1]

When Canterbury successfully challenged Auckland for the Plunket Shield in January 1913, Hayes scored 125, the only century in the match. His captain, Dan Reese, said after the match that Hayes was regarded in Christchurch as a "steady, sturdy batsman, difficult to dismiss", but his century showed he was a "finished" batsman, particularly adept at back cutting.[4] Hayes scored 61 when Canterbury defended the Shield in their next match, defeating Otago by an innings. He and Rupert Hickmott (77 runs) added 131 for the second wicket, but no one else in the match reached 40.[5] He was the highest-scoring batsman in the short New Zealand first-class season, with 265 runs in three matches at an average of 66.25 and the only century.[6] Hayes was unable to reproduce this good form in later seasons; however, for a Canterbury B team against Hawke's Bay in January 1920 he scored 103 in 100 minutes.[7]

Hayes was also a boxer, an athlete who specialised in the mile, and a rugby union five-eighth.[8] He served overseas in the first New Zealand Expeditionary Force in World War I. In 1921, he married Alice Maude Ongley, the older sister of the cricketer Arthur Ongley and the geologist Mont Ongley.[9] She died in September 1956;[10] he died in June 1972.[8]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "'Chattel' Hayes Still a Notable Cricketer". Press: 5. 9 November 1957.
  2. ^ "William Hayes". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 October 2020.
  3. ^ "New Zealand: All-rounders honoured". Cricinfo. Retrieved 17 October 2021.
  4. ^ "The Victors". Lyttelton Times: 12. 5 February 1913.
  5. ^ "Canterbury v Otago 1912-13". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  6. ^ "First-class Batting and Fielding in New Zealand for 1912/13". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Heavy Scoring: Canterbury B v Hawke's Bay". Sun: 11. 3 January 1920.
  8. ^ a b Brittenden, R.T. (5 July 1972). "'Chattel' Hayes was a remarkable sportsman". Press: 10.
  9. ^ "New Zealand, Cemetery Records, 1800-2007, Canterbury". Ancestry.com.au. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  10. ^ "Deaths". Press: 1. 12 September 1956.
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