Young Dick Image 1 Cambridge University 1905

Description

Dharwar, India born right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper Dick Young was one of the few bespectacled players to represent England at both cricket and football, albeit he was only a full international at cricket. Educated at Repton, where he established a high reputation as a wicketkeeper and batsman, he was in the school XI from 1901 to 1904, heading the averages in 1902 when Wisden described him as out and away the best batsman at the school. He captained the side in the last two seasons.

A consistent and reliable batsman, strong on the leg-side and in driving to the off, he gained a Blue as a Freshman at Cambridge University in 1905 and also made his County Championship debut that year for Sussex. That year he made his highest innings for the County when he scored 220 in a total of 611 against Essex at Leyton. He played in the University matches for the following three seasons. In 1906 he also distinguished himself by hitting 150 against Oxford University out of a total of 360, being first in and last out when, with wickets falling fast, he began to take risks. In 1907 and again in 1908, when captain, he occupied first place in the University batting figures.

In the winter of 1907-08 he was chosen as a member of the M.C.C. party which toured Australia under the captaincy of A.O. Jones and made his England debut against Australia at Sydney in December 1907, selected as wicket-keeper ahead of Joe Humphries on the strength of his batting. Opening the innings with Frederick Fane he made 13, and was out for only 3 in the second innings as Australia won by 2 wickets. He lost his place for the next Test but was again selected for the Sydney Test in February 1908, where he made a duck followed by 11 in the second innings as Australia won by 49 runs, and he took 6 catches across the two Tests. He took 115 catches and made 29 stumpings as a wicket-keeper, and took 3 wickets in first class cricket with his occasional legbreak bowling, with a best return of 2-32.

He continued to play first class cricket either side of the First World War and last appeared in 1925, by when he was nearly 40. His first class career spanned 139 matches in which he scored 6,653 runs at an average of 28.80 including 11 centuries and 38 half centuries.

A clever and speedy outside-right, Young also represented Cambridge University at Association football and was a noted player for leading amateur club The Corinthians. He earned an England amateur international cap against The Netherlands in April 1907, playing in an 8-1 victory in Den Haag, and he also played for the Amateur FA against France. For over 30 years he was mathematics and cricket master at Eton until his retirement in 1951.

His elder brother was John Young, who played first class cricket for Sussex, appearing in 3 matches for the County in 1908.

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