David Townsend

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David Townsend
England (ENG)
David Townsend
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling type Right-arm medium
Tests First-class
Matches 3 37
Runs scored 77 1801
Batting average 12.83 29.04
100s/50s -/- 4/6
Top score 36 195
Balls bowled 6 1142
Wickets - 6
Bowling average - 83.50
5 wickets in innings - -
10 wickets in match - -
Best bowling - 2/31
Catches/stumpings 1/- 16/-

Test debut: 24 January 1935
Last Test: 14 March 1935
Source: [1]

David Charles Humphrey Townsend (20 April 1912 - 27 January 1997) was an English cricketer 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.

[edit] References

  • Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, 1934, 1935 and 1936 editions.
  • Who's Who of Cricketers, by Philip Bailey, Philip Thorn and Peter Wynne-Thomas