Stanley Sproston
Encyclopedia
Stanley Winfield Sproston (9 November 1872 in Wismer, Linden, East Bank, Demerara
, British Guiana
– 16 July 1930 in the West Indies) was a West Indian cricketer who toured with the first West Indian
touring side to England in 1900 and captained the side for much of the tour in the absence of Aucher Warner
.
He made his debut in important matches for British Guiana against Slade Lucas's team
in 1894-95. The next season he made his debut in the Inter-Colonial Tournament
for British Guiana scoring 27 and 52 and taking a 4-5 in 4.1 overs against Trinidad. Early in the 1896-97 season he impressed again with 75* and 32 against Jamaica.
Later in 1896-97 he was selected to play for the combined West Indies team against Priestley's side
and then played in the three matches for British Guiana against Lord Hawke's team
scoring a career high 95.
He was described before the 1900 tour as "Twenty four (sic) years of age. Very good bat, combining sound defence with punishing power; useful change bowler, and good field anywhere. Has no superior as a batsman in the West Indies. Learned his cricket in England. Played for Richmond (Surrey), Eastbourne, and Teddington. Played during the 1898 season, scoring 101 runs for Richmond against Upper Tooting, and 110 for Teddington against Hampshire. Average for G.C.C. last season 45.21". On the tour he was fifth in the batting averages at 22.22 but bowled just 12 overs. He was "a little disappointing, and not consistent in his scoring, but when he did get runs he made them brilliantly. His form at Worcester, Southampton and Liverpool was up to a high standard". He top scored in both innings against Worcester scoring 54 and 46, scored 86 against Hampshire and 118 against Liverpool and District. He captained the side in the 10 matches when Aucher Warner
was absent with malarial fever. He never played again in important matches after the tour.
His brother Harvey also played for British Guiana.
Demerara
Demerara was a region in South America in what is now Guyana that was colonised by the Dutch in 1611. The British invaded and captured the area in 1796...
, British Guiana
British Guiana
British Guiana was the name of the British colony on the northern coast of South America, now the independent nation of Guyana.The area was originally settled by the Dutch at the start of the 17th century as the colonies of Essequibo, Demerara, and Berbice...
– 16 July 1930 in the West Indies) was a West Indian cricketer who toured with the first West Indian
West Indian cricket team in England in 1900
The West Indian cricket team toured England in the 1900 season. The team played 17 matches between 11 June and 11 August 1900.There had been three tours by teams of English Amateurs to the West Indies in the mid 1890s and the idea of sending a combined West Indies team to England had gradually...
touring side to England in 1900 and captained the side for much of the tour in the absence of Aucher Warner
Aucher Warner
Robert Stewart Aucher Warner was a West Indian cricketer. He was known as Aucher Warner...
.
He made his debut in important matches for British Guiana against Slade Lucas's team
RS Lucas' XI cricket team in West Indies in 1894-95
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. R. Slade Lucas toured the West Indies in the 1894-95 season playing matches between January and April 1895. They played a total of 16 matches of which 8 are regarded as first-class.-Touring team:...
in 1894-95. The next season he made his debut in the Inter-Colonial Tournament
Inter-Colonial Tournament
The Inter-Colonial Tournament was the main first class cricket competition in the West Indies before World War II.- Competing teams :* Barbados* British Guiana* Trinidad...
for British Guiana scoring 27 and 52 and taking a 4-5 in 4.1 overs against Trinidad. Early in the 1896-97 season he impressed again with 75* and 32 against Jamaica.
Later in 1896-97 he was selected to play for the combined West Indies team against Priestley's side
AA Priestley's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1896-97
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Mr. A. A. Priestley toured the West Indies in the 1896-97 season playing matches between January and March 1897. They played a total of 16 matches of which 9 are regarded as first class. They did not play in British Guiana....
and then played in the three matches for British Guiana against Lord Hawke's team
Lord Hawke's XI cricket team in West Indies in 1896-97
A team of Amateurs under the captaincy of Lord Hawke toured the West Indies in the 1896-97 season playing matches between January and April 1897. They played a total of 14 matches of which 7 are regarded as first class...
scoring a career high 95.
He was described before the 1900 tour as "Twenty four (sic) years of age. Very good bat, combining sound defence with punishing power; useful change bowler, and good field anywhere. Has no superior as a batsman in the West Indies. Learned his cricket in England. Played for Richmond (Surrey), Eastbourne, and Teddington. Played during the 1898 season, scoring 101 runs for Richmond against Upper Tooting, and 110 for Teddington against Hampshire. Average for G.C.C. last season 45.21". On the tour he was fifth in the batting averages at 22.22 but bowled just 12 overs. He was "a little disappointing, and not consistent in his scoring, but when he did get runs he made them brilliantly. His form at Worcester, Southampton and Liverpool was up to a high standard". He top scored in both innings against Worcester scoring 54 and 46, scored 86 against Hampshire and 118 against Liverpool and District. He captained the side in the 10 matches when Aucher Warner
Aucher Warner
Robert Stewart Aucher Warner was a West Indian cricketer. He was known as Aucher Warner...
was absent with malarial fever. He never played again in important matches after the tour.
His brother Harvey also played for British Guiana.