Frederick Smith (Somerset cricketer) explained

Frederick Aitken Leeston Smith (10 May 1854  - 27 January 1894) was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset in 1884 and 1885.[1] He was born at Kensington, London and died at Parkstone, Dorset. In some sources, his name is written as "Leeston-Smith".[2] According to his obituary in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 1905 (which states that he died in 1903), he adopted the "Leeston" name in 1880.[3]

Educated at Malvern College and Christ's College, Brecon, Smith was a right-handed opening or middle-order batsman and a right-arm fast bowler, though he did not bowl in first-class cricket. He played club cricket for Weston-super-Mare Cricket Club and in a match against Thornbury he hit E. M. Grace, W. G.'s elder brother, for four sixes off consecutive balls.[3] He played in several matches for Somerset before the county club was given first-class status in 1882, but thereafter appeared in just three matches, scoring useful runs in each of them, with a highest score of 37 in his final game, against Gloucestershire in August 1885.[4]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Frederick Smith. www.cricketarchive.com . 2011-07-03.
  2. For example:
  3. Web site: Wisden: Obituaries in 1904, addendum . www.espncricinfo.com . 2011-07-03.
  4. Web site: Scorecard: Somerset v Gloucestershire . 1885-08-27 . www.cricketarchive.com . 2011-07-03.