Poidevin Les Image 2 Lancashire 1904

Merrilla, New South Wales born right-hand batsman Les Poidevin was a thoroughly sound and watchful, if not particularly attractive batsman, being quite content, however long he had been at the wicket, to play the good ball but rarely failing to punish anything loose. He had already made a name in New South Wales cricket, making his State debut in 1895-96 before he came to England to study medicine.

At that time Australia as well as England were very rich in first class batsmen, and Poidevin never played Test cricket, but in the Australian season of 1901 he took part in what then was the record score for an innings. New South Wales put together 918 and his 140 not out was the fifth century scored in the innings, the others being 168 by Syd Gregory, 153 by Monty Noble, 119 by Reggie Duff and 118 by Frank Iredale. South Australia were beaten by an innings and 605 runs, one of the most overwhelming victories ever recorded in cricket. This total score has twice been excelled by Victoria with 1,059 against Tasmania at Melbourne and again four seasons later in December, 1926, with 1,107 against New South Wales at Melbourne.

First playing for London County, Poidevin qualified for Lancashire and during the seven seasons from 1902 to 1908  he scored 5,925 runs with an average of nearly 30 an innings. In his first season in County Cricket – 1904 – he helped Lancashire to win the County Championship, his contribution to the side’s success being 865 runs with an average of 34. Next year Poidevin headed the Lancashire averages with 44 and the highest aggregate of 1,376 runs, his personal success being the more remarkable as it surpassed the effort of such great batsmen as Jack Tyldesley, Reggie. Spooner, Archie. MacLaren and Jack Sharp who followed in the order named. That summer, in the course of a fortnight at the end of June, he made 122 against Somerset at Taunton, 168 not out against Worcestershire at Worcester and 138 against Sussex at Old Trafford. Poidevin batted in a style typical of Australian cricket of that era. Of moderate build, he had a very strong defence and he made runs steadily all round the wicket by orthodox strokes.

In all Poidevin played 149 first class matches between 1895-96 and 1908, scoring 7,022 runs at an average of 32.96, with 14 centuries and 31 half centuries and a highest score of 179. He also was an occasional slow bowler, claiming 46 wickets at 41.89 apiece, with a best bowling performance of 8-66, one of two five wicket hauls in his career, in which he also took 163 catches.

Poidevin also played competitive tennis, representing Australasia in the 1906 Davis Cup as well as in Grand Slams (though missing the 1908 Summer Olympics because of administrative bungling).

NB in the photograph he stands second from the left with the other amateur players who helped win the 1904 County Championship for Lancashire.