Description
Mill Road, Cambridge born Herbert Carpenter made his Essex debut in 1888 and his consistent batting helped the County achieve first class status in 1894. Carpenter scored 1,000 runs in a season on six occasions. In 1900, he amassed 1,468 runs including four centuries. His career at Essex spanned the length of the First World War and he played his last first class match in 1920, scoring 13,403 runs in 264 matches for Essex at an average of 29.50. In all he played in 310 first class matches, with a highest score of 199 and scored 14,939 runs at an average of 28.45, with 25 centuries in his career. A sometime right-arm offbreak bowler, he took 50 wickets in first class cricket at 44.92 a piece with a best bowling performance of 4-57. He also took 257 catches in his first class career.
He was the son of Robert Carpenter, the famous batsman of the 1850’s and 1860’s, and his nephew was Jack O’Connor, who played for Essex and England in the 1920’s and 1930’s.