John Udal

John Symonds Udal (10 November 1848 in West Bromwich, Staffordshire, England – 13 March 1925 in London) was an English-born cricketer who later represented the Fiji national cricket team.^[1]

Career

A right-handed batsman and bowler, John Udal played minor cricket for Dorset, Somerset and the Free Foresters.^[2] He made his first-class debut for the MCC against Sussex in July 1871.^[3]

He played a match against "Surrey Club" in July 1873^[3] which was evidently enough to persuade WG Grace to invite him on a tour to Australia, though he was unable to go.^[2] He played one final first-class match for the MCC, against Cambridge University in June 1875.^[3]

In 1895, whilst attorney general of Fiji, he captained the Fiji national cricket team on a tour of New Zealand.^[2] He played six further first-class matches on the tour,^[3] during which he scored his only first-class half-century against Wellington.^[4] He did much to encourage the game in Fiji, doing the same whilst serving as Chief Justice of the Leeward Islands. He later returned to England, dying suddenly in London in 1925, aged 76.^[2]

Family

Udal left somewhat of a cricketing dynasty. His son Nicholas played first-class cricket for Oxford University and the MCC,^[5] his grandson Geoffrey played for Middlesex and Leicestershire,^[6] whilst his great-great-grandson Shaun has played Test cricket for England.^[7]

References