Humphreys Edward “Punter” Image 4 Kent 1912

Description

Ditton, Kent born all rounder Edward “Punter” Humphreys was a right-handed batsman and slow left-arm orthodox bowler was one of the first young players to be accepted into Kent’s Tonbridge Nursery when it opened in 1897, initially as a bowler. Humphreys made his debut at age 17 for Kent in 1899, playing against Surrey at The Oval. He developed into a right-handed opening batsman who bowled well enough to take over 350 wickets in his career. He was a regular as a professional in the Kent sides which won four County Championships between 1906 and 1913 before the First World War at a time when the County had very strong batting. His highest first class score of 208 was made against Gloucestershire at Catford in 1909, at the time the highest individual score made by a Kent batsman in an innings. He made a further double century, the only other one of his career, the following season.

Humphreys was described as a highly skilled batsman, especially strong back player, he showed particular skill when the ball was turning. and was also noted as a “magnificent” fielder at mid-on and short-leg. He put on 248 runs with Arthur Day for the seventh wicket against Somerset at the County Ground, Taunton in 1908, a Kent record for the seventh wicket partnership which still stands as of 2017.

As well as playing for Kent, Humphreys played for and coached the Canterbury cricket team in New Zealand, making three first class appearances for them in 1908-09. He also coached young players in Jamaica five times and was part of the M.C.C. side which toured the West Indies in 1912-13 captained by A.F. Somerset and enjoyed a successful tour with 461 runs at an average of 40.07, and 40 wickets for 16.75 runs each, although he never managed selection for England, albeit he was undoubtedly unlucky to be denied international honours.

During the First World War Humpreys served in The Royal Navy. He enlisted in the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve in 1915 before being posted as an Ordinary Seaman to HMS Thames in 1917. He transferred to HMS Arrogant in May 1917. This was a depot ship for submarines and small craft, and Humphreys was transferred to the Coastal Motor Boats (CMB) of the Dover Patrol and promoted to Able Seaman. The CMB units operated from England and from a base near Dunkirk in northern France, patrolling the coastlines and the Dover Straits. He was stationed at Dunkirk and took part in the First Ostend Raid in April 1918, the CMB units laying smoke for the less successful element of the Zeebrugge Raid which attacked Ostend.

He played some cricket whilst with the Navy, including a match in June 1918 for an England XI against the Dominions. He left the Navy in February 1918. Humphreys took a position as cricket coach at Uppingham School after he was demobilised from the Navy in 1919, where he played a large part in the development of two Kent captains, Percy Chapman and F.G.H. Chalk.. This restricted his playing time for Kent to the school holidays and he only played 11 first class matches in 1919 and 1920 before he retired from playing cricket professionally. In 1929 Lord Harris recruited Humphreys to the position of head coach at Kent, a role he retained until 1948.

In his playing career, which extended from 1899 to 1920, Humphreys played under five Kent captains, J.R. Mason, C.J. Burnup, C.H.B. Marsham, E.W. Dillon and L.H.W. Troughton. In 393 first class matches throughout his career, Humphreys scored 16,603 runs at an average of 27.95 with 22 centuries and 86 half centuries. As a bowler he took 379 wickets in first class cricket at 24.57 apiece, with 12 five wicket innings and two ten wicket matches, with a best bowling performance of 7-33. He also took 229 catches in first class cricket.