George_Smith_(cricketer,_born_1844)
George Smith (cricketer, born 1844)
English cricketer and carpenter
George Smith (17 December 1844 — 22 September 1876) was an English first-class cricketer and umpire.
Smith was born at Cambridge in December 1844. He was engaged as a right-arm roundarm fast bowler at Fenner's from 1867,[1] with Smith making his debut in first-class cricket for Cambridgeshire against Kent at Fenner's the following year, with Smith also featuring in the return fixture at Gravesend.[2] It was in the return fixture that he took his career-best bowling figures of 6 for 32.[3] He made two further first-class appearances for Cambridgeshire, against Yorkshire at Hunslet in 1869 and Surrey at The Oval in 1871.[2] He was described by Fred Lillywhite as "an average field and bat" and "a good and fast round-armed bowler".[1] As a bowler he claimed 23 wickets in first-class cricket, at an average of 16.69; he was an economical bowler, with 112 maiden overs from 274 bowled.[4] Aside from his connection with Cambridgeshire cricket, Smith was also engaged as a cricketer at Althorp by Earl Spencer in summer 1868, and at Cassiobury Park in 1870 and 1871.[1] In addition to his career as a player, Smith also stood as an umpire in six first-class matches between 1868 and 1872.[5] He was forced to give up cricket through illness in 1873. Away from cricket, Smith worked as a carpenter. His health continued to deteriorate, leading to his death at Cambridge in September 1876 from a complication of disorders.[1] His brother, John, was also a first-class cricketer.