Vernon Royle

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Vernon Royle England (Eng)

Batting style	Right-hand bat (RHB)
Bowling type	Round-arm Right-arm slow
	Tests	First-class
Matches	1	102
Runs scored	21	2,322
Batting average	10.59	15.48
100s/50s	0/0	0/9
Top score	18	81
Balls bowled	16	16
Wickets	0	0
Bowling average	n/a	25.06
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	0
Best bowling	n/a	4/51
Catches/stumpings	2/0	69/0
Test debut: 2 January 1879 Last Test: 4 January 1879 Source: [1]

The Reverend Vernon Peter Fanshawe Archer Royle (born 29 January 1854 in Cheshire, England; died 21 May 1929 in Middlesex, England). He was the son of Dr. Peter Royle and Marina Fanshawe. He played cricket for Oxford University and Lancashire. He was a member of Lord Harris's cricket team to tour Australia in 1878/9. His fielding won considerable praise (He was ambidextrous, very quick on his feet, with a smart return, and a dead sure catch.); he is generally regarded as being the greatest "cover point" of all time, and many books have described the fear he engendered in batsmen when on the pitch. Only a rash batsman dared to try for a quick run. A remark of Tom Emmett’s, the famous Yorkshire cricketer, is worth recalling, "Woa, mate, there’s a policeman," he said when his partner called him for a short run while Royle was at cover point.

However, after the tour he retired from cricket and took up teaching. He was later ordained. He became headmaster of Elstree School and subsequently Stanmore Park school.

Royle kept a diary of his tour, which has now been published. In it he outlines the lavish welcome afforded the touring party, which was one of the great benefits of the tour. Royle also briefly mentions his views on the Sydney Riot of 1879. He was president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club.