William Knightley-Smith

William Knightley-Smith (1 August 1932 – 31 July 1962) was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket between 1952 and 1961.[1]

William Knightley-Smith
Personal information
Born(1932-08-01)1 August 1932
West Smithfield, London, England
Died31 July 1962(1962-07-31) (aged 29)
Edinburgh, Scotland
BattingLeft-handed
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1952Middlesex
1953–1955Cambridge University
1955–1957Gloucestershire
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 87
Runs scored 2530
Batting average 17.44
100s/50s 0/11
Top score 95
Balls bowled 41
Wickets 0
Bowling average
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling
Catches/stumpings 30/–
Source: Cricinfo, 24 June 2020

Life and career

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Bill Knightley-Smith was educated at Highgate School in North London, where he was captain of the cricket, football and fives teams.[2][3] After Highgate he went to St John's College, Cambridge, where he won blues for cricket and football.[1][3]

He played a full season for Middlesex in 1952 and was awarded his county cap, then played for Cambridge University from 1953 to 1955, and for Gloucestershire, where he was also Assistant Secretary, from 1955 to 1957.[1][4] His highest first-class score was 95, the highest score in the match, for Cambridge against Essex in 1955.[5]

Knightley-Smith left first-class cricket after the 1957 season to take a teaching position at Highgate, his old school.[6] He later became an insurance executive in Liverpool and Edinburgh.[7] He collapsed and died on the eve of his 30th birthday while playing tennis in Edinburgh.[7]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Bill Knightley-Smith". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  2. ^ Highgate School Register 7th Edn 1833-1988, Ed. Patrick Hughes & Ian F Davies 1989
  3. ^ a b Barry Norman, "The Last Days of August", in County Champions, Heinemann/Quixote Press, London, 1982, pp. 127–38.
  4. ^ "William Knightley-Smith". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 August 2013.
  5. ^ "Cambridge University v Essex 1955". Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Obituary", The Cricketer, 18 August 1962, p. 448.
  7. ^ a b Wisden 1963, pp. 1034–35.
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