| Richard Fielder | |
| Birth Date: | 1758 |
| Birth Place: | East Malling, Kent |
| Death Place: | Gravesend, Kent |
| Club1: | Kent XI |
| Type1: | FC |
| Debutdate1: | 7 September |
| Debutyear1: | 1790 |
| Debutfor1: | West Kent |
| Debutagainst1: | East Kent |
| Lastdate1: | 20 July |
| Lastyear1: | 1801 |
| Lastfor1: | Surrey |
| Lastagainst1: | England XI |
| Columns: | 1 |
| Column1: | First-class |
| Matches1: | 20 |
| Runs1: | 281 |
| Bat Avg1: | 7.59 |
| 100S/50S1: | 0/0 |
| Top Score1: | 35 |
| Deliveries1: | – |
| Wickets1: | 1 |
| Bowl Avg1: | – |
| Fivefor1: | 0 |
| Tenfor1: | 0 |
| Best Bowling1: | 1/? |
| Catches/Stumpings1: | 13/– |
| Source: | https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/36/36795/36795.html CricketArchive |
| Date: | 24 January |
| Year: | 2023 |
Richard Fielder (1758–1826) was an English cricketer who played in 20 matches between 1790 and 1801 which are now regarded as having first-class cricket status.[1]
Fielder was born at East Malling in Kent in 1758.[2] He is first known to have played cricket in 1790, playing in a first-class match for East Kent against West Kent at Bourne Paddock near Canterbury. He played regularly for Kent sides and for England teams between 1792 and 1796. A total of 18 of his 20 first-class matches were played during these seasons, 11 for Kent, six for England as well as one for a team organised by Richard Leigh, an influential organiser of matches who lived in the Dartford area of Kent.[2]
From 1801 to 1803 Fielder played for Surrey teams, including in one match which has been awarded first-class status.[2] Writing in 1862, Arthur Haygarth recorded that he has been considered "a very fine field and catch".[3] In his 20 matches considered to be first-class, Fielder scored 281 runs with a highest score of 35. He took at least one wicket.
Fielder worked as a horse trainer and is thought to have eloped with one of his riding pupils. Afterwards they kept the Woolpack Inn at Tenterden.[3] He died at Gravesend in 1826.[2]