Tom Whittington
Encyclopedia
Thomas Aubrey Leyson Whittington (29 July 1881 – 19 July 1944) was a Welsh
cricket
er. Whittington was a right-handed batsman who fielded occasionally as a wicket-keeper
. He was born in Neath
, Glamorgan
. In a career which lasted 22 years, Whittington was to prove a crucial figure in the history of Glamorgan County Cricket Club
, with his influence within the MCC
gaining them elevation from a Minor county to a first-class county and entry to the County Championship
, a position they retain to this day.
. After studying law at Oxford University, he secured a regular place in the Glamorgan team. Over the next decade he made 70 Minor Counties Championship appearances for the county, as well as securing the captaincy
in 1908 after succeeding Joseph Brain, while the following year he became the county secretary. He hit career best 188 against Carmarthenshire
in 1908, with further consistent performances earning him a call up to the West of England
for their match against the East of England
, a match which saw him make his first-class
debut. His performances also earnt him a call up to the Marylebone Cricket Club
squad to tour the West Indies in 1910/11. He made eleven first-class appearances on the tour against Barbados
, British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica
and the West Indies themselves. The tour was fairly successful for Whittington, with him scoring 678 runs at an average
of 37.66 and a high score of 154. He made two centuries and two fifties on the tour. 1912 saw him selected to play a first-class match each for South Wales
and the Minor Counties, both against the touring South Africans. He later toured the West Indies again with the MCC in 1912/1913. making six first-class appearances on the tour, in the process scoring 252 runs with three half centuries, and a high score of 62. In the 1913 English season
, Whittington played two first-class matches for the MCC, one each against Kent
and Hampshire
.
. By the middle of 1920 he had secured sufficient fixtures for Glamorgan for the following season, which secured their entry into the 1921 County Championship. He played in Glamorgan's debut first-class appearance against Sussex
at Cardiff Arms Park
, which Glamorgan won by 23 runs. He was vice-captain in 1921, but secured the captaincy once more for the 1922 season, successing Norman Riches
, he contiuned in this role for the 1923 season. His form dropped away in 1923, with his 380 runs that season coming at an average of 14.61. This led to him retiring from the first-class game at the end of that season, having made 46 first-class appearances for Glamorgan. In total, he scored 1,152 runs at an average of 14.58, with a high score of 60. The 1923 season
also saw Whittington play his only first-class match for Wales against Scotland at Perth
.
In honour of his services to Glamorgan cricket, the county made him their first-ever life member. Whittington later took up a teaching position in Sussex in 1924, but later became a solicitor. He later died in St Pancras
, London
on 19 July 1944.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
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. Whittington was a right-handed batsman who fielded occasionally as a wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
. He was born in Neath
Neath
Neath is a town and community situated in the principal area of Neath Port Talbot, Wales, UK with a population of approximately 45,898 in 2001...
, Glamorgan
Glamorgan
Glamorgan or Glamorganshire is one of the thirteen historic counties and a former administrative county of Wales. It was originally an early medieval kingdom of varying boundaries known as Glywysing until taken over by the Normans as a lordship. Glamorgan is latterly represented by the three...
. In a career which lasted 22 years, Whittington was to prove a crucial figure in the history of Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan County Cricket Club
Glamorgan 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 Glamorgan aka Glamorganshire . Glamorgan CCC is the only Welsh first-class cricket club. Glamorgan CCC have won the English County...
, with his influence within the 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...
gaining them elevation from a Minor county to a first-class county and entry to the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
, a position they retain to this day.
Early career
Whittington made his debut Glamorgan in the 1901 Minor Counties Championship against DevonDevon County Cricket Club
Devon County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Devon and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy....
. After studying law at Oxford University, he secured a regular place in the Glamorgan team. Over the next decade he made 70 Minor Counties Championship appearances for the county, as well as securing the captaincy
Captain (cricket)
The captain of a cricket team often referred to as the skipper is the appointed leader, having several additional roles and responsibilities over and above those of a regular player...
in 1908 after succeeding Joseph Brain, while the following year he became the county secretary. He hit career best 188 against Carmarthenshire
Carmarthenshire County Cricket Club
Carmarthenshire County Cricket Club was a county cricket club based in the historic Welsh county of Carmarthenshire that competed in the Minor Counties championship from 1908 to 1911, without success...
in 1908, with further consistent performances earning him a call up to the West of England
West of England cricket team
The West of England appeared in nine first-class matches between 1844 and 1948. Their first-class debut in 1844 came against the Marylebone Cricket Club, with their final appearance in first-class cricket coming against the East in 1948...
for their match against the East of England
East of England cricket team
The East of England appeared in 5 first-class matches between 1892 and 1948. Their first-class debut in 1892 came against the West in the inagural East v West fixture which was held at the United Services Recreation Ground in Portsmouth on 6, 7 and 8 September. Their final appearance in...
, a match which saw him make his first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
debut. His performances also earnt him a call up to the Marylebone Cricket Club
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...
squad to tour the West Indies in 1910/11. He made eleven first-class appearances on the tour against Barbados
Barbados national cricket team
The Barbadian cricket team is the representative first class cricket team of Barbados.It does not take part in any international competitions , but rather in inter-regional competitions in the Caribbean, such as the Regional Four Day Competition and the WICB Cup, and the best players may be...
, British Guiana, Trinidad, Jamaica
Jamaica national cricket team
The Jamaica national cricket team is the representative first-class cricket team of Jamaica.-History:The team's history lasts back to 1895, when they played three matches against a touring side from England led by Slade Lucas, but because of the distance to the other cricketing countries, Jamaica...
and the West Indies themselves. The tour was fairly successful for Whittington, with him scoring 678 runs at an average
Batting average
Batting average is a statistic in both cricket and baseball that measures the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters. The two statistics are related in that baseball averages are directly descended from the concept of cricket averages.- Cricket :...
of 37.66 and a high score of 154. He made two centuries and two fifties on the tour. 1912 saw him selected to play a first-class match each for South Wales
South Wales cricket team
A South Wales cricket team played only one first-class match. This was in 1912, against the touring South Africans at Swansea. The tourists won the game by 230 runs. There were other matches between South Wales and touring teams but these were not classified as first-class matches...
and the Minor Counties, both against the touring South Africans. He later toured the West Indies again with the MCC in 1912/1913. making six first-class appearances on the tour, in the process scoring 252 runs with three half centuries, and a high score of 62. In the 1913 English season
1913 English cricket season
The 1913 English cricket season saw Kent take the title for the fourth time in eight seasons.-Honours:*County Championship - Kent*Minor Counties Championship - Norfolk...
, Whittington played two first-class matches for the MCC, one each against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
and Hampshire
Hampshire County Cricket Club
Hampshire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Hampshire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1863 as a successor to the Hampshire county cricket teams and has played at the Antelope Ground from then until 1885, before moving to the County Ground where it...
.
Later career
Following the war, Whittington used his influence in South Wales to raise financial support for Glamorgan, as well as lobbying the MCC hierarchy to elevate Glamorgan to first-class status. The MCC agreed to do so, so long as the county was able to secure home and away fixtures with eight over first-class opponents in 19211921 English cricket season
In the 1921 English cricket season, Australia emphasised a post-war superiority that it owed in particular to the pace duo of Gregory and McDonald...
. By the middle of 1920 he had secured sufficient fixtures for Glamorgan for the following season, which secured their entry into the 1921 County Championship. He played in Glamorgan's debut first-class appearance against Sussex
Sussex County Cricket Club
Sussex County Cricket Club is the oldest of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Sussex. The club was founded as a successor to Brighton Cricket Club which was a representative of the county of Sussex as a...
at Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park
Cardiff Arms Park , also known as The Arms Park, is primarily known as a rugby union stadium, but it also has a bowling green, and is situated in the centre of Cardiff, Wales. The Arms Park was host to the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958, and hosted four games in the 1991 Rugby World...
, which Glamorgan won by 23 runs. He was vice-captain in 1921, but secured the captaincy once more for the 1922 season, successing Norman Riches
Norman Riches
Norman Vaughan Hurry Riches was a Welsh cricketer. The son of C. H. Riches of Tredegarville, Cardiff, Norman Riches joined Abingdon School from Chard School in 1900. He was a dentist but played cricket from 1901 for Glamorgan CCC, initially as wicket keeper. His first major innings was against...
, he contiuned in this role for the 1923 season. His form dropped away in 1923, with his 380 runs that season coming at an average of 14.61. This led to him retiring from the first-class game at the end of that season, having made 46 first-class appearances for Glamorgan. In total, he scored 1,152 runs at an average of 14.58, with a high score of 60. The 1923 season
1923 English cricket season
-Honours:*County Championship - Yorkshire*Minor Counties Championship - Buckinghamshire*Wisden - Arthur Gilligan, Roy Kilner, George Macaulay, Cecil Parkin, Maurice Tate-External sources:*...
also saw Whittington play his only first-class match for Wales against Scotland at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
.
In honour of his services to Glamorgan cricket, the county made him their first-ever life member. Whittington later took up a teaching position in Sussex in 1924, but later became a solicitor. He later died in St Pancras
St Pancras
-Saints:* Pancras of Taormina, martyred in 40 AD in Sicily* Pancras of Rome, the saint martyred c.304 AD after whom the following are directly or indirectly named-United Kingdom:* St Pancras, London, a district of London...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on 19 July 1944.
External links
- Tom Whittington at ESPNcricinfo
- Tom Whittington at CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...