John Dale (cricketer, born 1848)

John William Dale (21 June 1848 – 26 June 1895) was an English rower and cricketer who played for Cambridge University from 1868 to 1870, for Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1869 to 1882 and for Middlesex from 1874 to 1878.

John Dale

Personal information
Full name	John William Dale
Born	21 June 1848 Lincoln, England
Died	26 June 1895 (aged 47) Westminster, England
Batting	Right-handed batsman
Bowling	Right-arm round arm fast bowler
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1868–1870	Cambridge University
1869–1882	Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
1874–1878	Middlesex
First-class debut	14 May 1868 Cambridge University v Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC)
Last First-class	31 August 1882 Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) v Yorkshire
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 56 Runs scored 1625 Batting average 16.92 100s/50s 1/5 Top score 132 Balls bowled 312 Wickets 6 Bowling average 29.00 5 wickets in innings 10 wickets in match Best bowling 2-16 Catches/stumpings 39/-
Source: , 20 February 2011

Dale was born at Lincoln, the son of Thurston Dale, a solicitor.[1][2] He was educated at Tonbridge School and was in the Tonbridge School cricket team from 1863 to 1866.[3] He was admitted at St John's College, Cambridge on 12 July 1866.[1] He played cricket for Lincolnshire in 1867 and 1868. At Cambridge he played cricket for Cambridge University and was in the winning side in the Varsity match in 1868. In 1869, he rowed in the Cambridge eight stroked by J H D Goldie in the Boat Race. He also played for Cambridge again in a win in the Varsity cricket match. He rowed for Cambridge with Goldie again in the 1870 Boat Race when Cambridge won. In the Varsity cricket match in 1870 he scored 15 and 67 and his partnership with William Yardley in the second innings turned the game and Frank Cobden's hat-trick on the last three balls won the match for Cambridge by two runs. Over the years Dale played many matches for MCC, and Gentlemen's and North of England teams. In 1870 he also played for the Gentlemen against the Players at Lords and at the Oval when he scored 55 in a 164 run partnership with W. G. Grace.[3] Dale was awarded BA in 1870.[1]

In 1872, Dale joined the firm of Edmund James Smith, Land Agent to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners for England, in the North of England.[1] He made a century playing for MCC against Cambridge University in 1872. In 1874 he made his debut playing for Middlesex and played seven county matches by 1878. He also played many games for various clubs over these years.

Dale was a right-handed batsman who played 98 innings in 56 first-class matches with an average of 16.92 and a top score of 132. His style of batting was described as "extremely finished and elegant".[3] He was a right-arm round arm fast bowler and took 6 first-class wickets at an average of 29.00 and a best performance of 2 for 16.[4]

Dale became a salaried partner in his firm in 1879. He enjoyed country sports and hunted with most of the best packs and was a first-rate fisherman.[1]

Dale died at 1 Upper George Street, Westminster[1] aged 47 from an attack of pneumonia following influenza.[3]

See also

• List of Cambridge University Boat Race crews

References

1. "Dale, John William (DL866JW)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
2. Venn states B (at Lincoln) 11 July 1848
3. Wisden - Obituaries in 1895
4. John Dale at Cricket Archive