David Townsend
Encyclopedia
David Charles Humphrey Townsend (20 April 1912 – 27 January 1997) was an English
cricket
er who played in three Tests
in 1935.
Born in Norton, County Durham
, David Townsend was a right-handed batsman, sometimes used as an opener, who holds the record of being the last cricketer to have played Test cricket for England
without playing for one of the first-class English counties. Townsend's first-class cricket was principally for Oxford University
and he won his Blue in the University match
in 1933 and 1934. But his other cricket was mainly for Durham
, which was at that time one of the Minor Counties
.
After two good university seasons, Townsend was picked for a rather makeshift MCC
side that toured the West Indies in 1934-35 under Bob Wyatt
. He opened in three of the four Tests but was not a success, and the series as a whole was won by the West Indian cricket team
, the side's first series victory. Townsend played little first-class cricket after this tour, though his final match was not until 1948.
Townsend was the son of Charles Townsend
, also an England Test player, and his own son, Jonathan, played first-class cricket for Oxford University in the 1960s. David Townsend died at age 84 in Norton, County Durham.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who played in three Tests
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
in 1935.
Born in Norton, County Durham
Norton, County Durham
Norton is a suburb of Stockton-on-Tees in the borough of Stockton-on-Tees and the ceremonial county of County Durham, England. It still retains a village area, with a high street and village green with mostly Georgian houses; the original village dates back to at least the Anglo-Saxon period...
, David Townsend was a right-handed batsman, sometimes used as an opener, who holds the record of being the last cricketer to have played Test cricket for England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
without playing for one of the first-class English counties. Townsend's first-class cricket was principally for Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
and he won his Blue in the University match
The University Match (cricket)
The University Match in a cricketing context is generally understood to refer to the annual fixture between Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club...
in 1933 and 1934. But his other cricket was mainly for Durham
Durham County Cricket Club
Durham County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Durham. Its limited overs team is called the Durham Dynamos. Their kit colours are blue with yellow trim and the shirt sponsor was...
, which was at that time one of the Minor Counties
Minor counties of English cricket
The Minor Counties are the cricketing counties of England and Wales that are not afforded first-class status. The game is administered by the Minor Counties Cricket Association which comes under the England and Wales Cricket Board...
.
After two good university seasons, Townsend was picked for a rather makeshift MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
side that toured the West Indies in 1934-35 under Bob Wyatt
Bob Wyatt
Robert "Bob" Elliott Storey Wyatt was an English cricket player. He played for Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and the English cricket team....
. He opened in three of the four Tests but was not a success, and the series as a whole was won by the West Indian cricket team
West Indian cricket team
The West Indian cricket team, also known colloquially as the West Indies or the Windies, is a multi-national cricket team representing a sporting confederation of 15 mainly English-speaking Caribbean countries, British dependencies and non-British dependencies.From the mid 1970s to the early 1990s,...
, the side's first series victory. Townsend played little first-class cricket after this tour, though his final match was not until 1948.
Townsend was the son of Charles Townsend
Charlie Townsend
Charles Lucas Townsend was a Gloucestershire cricketer. An all-round cricketer, Townsend was classically stylish, left-handed batsman, who was able to hit well despite his slender build...
, also an England Test player, and his own son, Jonathan, played first-class cricket for Oxford University in the 1960s. David Townsend died at age 84 in Norton, County Durham.