William Shakespeare (cricketer)

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William Shakespeare England (Eng)

Batting style	Right-handed batsman
Bowling type	unknown
First-class record
Matches	26
Runs scored	789
Batting average	19.72
100s/50s	0/4
Top score	67*
Balls bowled	5
Wickets	0
Bowling average	-
5 wickets in innings	0
10 wickets in match	0
Best Bowling	-
Catches/Stumpings	11/0
First class debut: 4 August 1919 Last first class game: 17 July 1931 Source: Cricinfo

William Harold Nelson Shakespeare (24 August 1893 - 10 July 1976) was an English cricketer who played 26 first-class matches for Worcestershire between 1919 and 1931.

Born in Worcester, Shakespeare made his first-class debut in August 1919 against Warwickshire; this was a friendly match as Worcestershire did not enter the County Championship that season. Opening the batting with Alfred Cliff he had a fine match, scoring 62 in the first innings and 67 not out in the second. He played one further match that year and three in 1920 but could not replicate his initial form, with a top score of only 11 in six innings.

Four years later, Shakespeare finally returned to the side, scoring 62* against Glamorgan, and this time — although he never made any really big scores — he contributed useful thirties and forties fairly often. From 1926 onwards, however, his powers left him and he passed 20 only once in his last 14 innings. His first-class career really ended in 1928, but he did make one final appearance three years later.

Although he never played at such a high level again, Shakespeare did appear for Worcestershire's second XI in the Minor Counties Championship as late as July 1949, when he was nearly 56. He also umpired one first-class game, that between Worcestershire and Combined Services at New Road in May 1950.

Shakespeare died aged 82 in Whittington, Worcestershire.