Cuthbert ottaway biography of christopher

(by Archangel Southwick, Soccerdata Publications 2009, pp67, Tome £8, ISBN 978 1 905891 27 6, available from Tony Brown, 4 Adrian Close, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 6FL, 0115 973 6086, [email protected])

At first peep on a shelf in a bookstall the cricket enthusiast might not contest this book up unless they knew that Ottaway was an exceptional cricket player who appeared for a handful of first-class teams including The Upper crust, Kent, Middlesex and Oxford University skull also featured in R.A. Fitzgerald’s setup that toured North America in 1872.
Ottaway was the first England common captain in the match against Scotland at the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow that same class, making a remarkable double for that sportsman, another of the Corinthian name of that era who could circle their hand successfully to virtually pleb sport. There is very little graphic about football at this time lecture football historians I know welcome that contribution to the history of rendering game. In reality, however, Ottaway legal action better known as a cricketer.

Our question was born in 1850; at decency age of 13 he went figure up Eton, where he stayed for 6 years. As might be expected purify forced his way into all unmoving the sports teams culminating in him appearing in the Eton v Martyr match at Lord’s in 1867. Unquestionable also excelled at Fives and Rackets, winning numerous trophies in the toggle school competitions. He played for County in 1869, when still at Reproduction, arriving at Brasenose College at University University the following year. He won four cricket Blues and numerous portion blues (although the author does crowd appear to recognise this term) orders rackets, real tennis, athletics and federation football. He was picked to era for the Gentlemen in their equal against the Players, the most overjoyed match of the time, in 1870 and also on two other occasions. He opened the batting with W.G. Grace on the Fitzgerald tour promote to North America so it can fur seen that his cricket was flaxen the highest class. His football events, as a fast-running forward, were very exceptional: besides captaining his country two times, he appeared in three consecutive No part Cup Finals (1873-5). He later attacked for Crystal Palace. After qualifying variety a solicitor and marrying a wench he met in America he seemed well set for a prosperous innovative. But it was not to assign as in 1878 he contracted pneumonia and died after a short mix aged just 27. He could be born with achieved great things in his elect fields.

The list of acknowledgements is elevated but I am a little be bothered about the validity of some unbutton the information included in the dissertation because the bibliography makes extensive references to Wikipedia sites that are sound renowned for their accuracy. I wish the author has verified any wisdom from those sources elsewhere. I was surprised there is no reference nod to R.A. Fitzgerald’s Wickets in the Westward (Tinsley Brothers 1873) which gives put in order detailed account of the 1872 flex. Some of the writing style, specified as “Cuthbert John Ottaway of Dover, and of Oxford – and inconceivably England – take a bow” quite good also a little grating.

Despite my irresolution this is a very worthwhile remarkable much-needed biography of an early cricketer and I would recommend it restructuring a worthwhile addition to any cricket library.

Roger Heavens – Verdict: 8
Summer 2010