Knight Donald Image 1 Surrey 1921

Description

Sutton, Surrey born Donald Knight was generally regarded as one of the most accomplished amateurs of the period immediately following the First World War, his gracefulness at the crease marking him as a model amongst batsmen with a deserved reputation as a prolific scorer with an especially mature defence. Educated at Malvern, was in the school XI as an opening batsman for the five years from 1909 to 1913, during which time he scored 2,860 runs at an average of 46.88, and captained the side in his last two years, as well as captaining Public Schools at Lord’s. He showed his early prowess by playing an innings of 211 against H.K. Foster’s XI in 1911, and two years later scored 122 and 133 not out in the match against Old Malvernians, both wonderful feats for a boy still at school. He was barely 15 when he appeared for Surrey Seconds (and scored 53) in 1909, and two seasons later made his debut for Surrey in first class cricket.

Having gone up to study at Trinity College, Oxford University, he gained his Blue as a Freshman at Oxford in 1914, and played the highest and best innings of the University match that year. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1915. The War cut into his career at a time when he promised greatness, and even as a soldier he played wonderful cricket in minor matches, including a double century at The Oval in 1916. It was the resumption of first class cricket in 1919 that saw Knight at his very best. In that golden summer, towards the end of which he assumed the captaincy of Surrey, he shared many fine opening stands with Jack Hobbs, and scored as many as seven centuries. Two came in the match against Yorkshire at The Oval, and he immediately followed this with another hundred against Lancashire at Old Trafford. On his debut for The Gentlemen against The Players he scored 71 and 124 at Lord’s.

In a County match against Sussex at Hastings in 1920, Knight was struck on the head while fielding and was never quite the same batsman again. Nevertheless, in 1921 he was picked for two Test matches against the all-conquering Australians, making his debut at Trent Bridge in May 1921, but scored only 54 runs in four innings. However, on debut his 38 in the second innings was England’s highest score in the match and he retained his place at Lord’s in June.

After 1924 he played little first class cricket until he was persuaded to rejoin the Surrey side in 1937, when he was still good enough to reach a century in less than two hours against Hampshire at The Oval. Altogether in 139 first class matches he scored 6,231 runs, including 13 centuries and 30 half centuries, at an average of 30.84, his highest score being 156 not out for Free Foresters against Oxford University at Oxford in 1925. In lesser cricket he performed wonderful feats for Oxford Harlequins, Old Malvernians and Sutton, and he holds the record for the highest score ever made on the present Wimbledon ground with 205 not out for Sutton in 1926. As far on as 1947, at the age of 53, he was able to score 111 for M.C.C. against Eton.

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