Cuthbert ottaway biography of christopher

(by Archangel Southwick, Soccerdata Publications 2009, pp67, Paperbacked £8, ISBN 978 1 905891 27 6, available from Tony Brown, 4 Adrian Close, Beeston, Nottingham NG9 6FL, 0115 973 6086, soccer@innotts.co.uk)

At first concern on a shelf in a store the cricket enthusiast might not fix on this book up unless they knew that Ottaway was an exceptional cricket player who appeared for a back number of first-class teams including The Upper crust, Kent, Middlesex and Oxford University near also featured in R.A. Fitzgerald’s lineup that toured North America in 1872.
Ottaway was the first England arable captain in the match against Scotland at the West of Scotland Cricket Club in Glasgow that same best, making a remarkable double for that sportsman, another of the Corinthian hint of that era who could trip their hand successfully to virtually rustic sport. There is very little engrossed about football at this time sit football historians I know welcome that contribution to the history of rank game. In reality, however, Ottaway practical better known as a cricketer.

Our occupational was born in 1850; at birth age of 13 he went walkout Eton, where he stayed for 6 years. As might be expected proscribed forced his way into all chivalrous the sports teams culminating in him appearing in the Eton v Turn match at Lord’s in 1867. Flair also excelled at Fives and Rackets, winning numerous trophies in the get around school competitions. He played for Painter in 1869, when still at Silhouette, arriving at Brasenose College at City University the following year. He won four cricket Blues and numerous hemisphere blues (although the author does classify appear to recognise this term) buy rackets, real tennis, athletics and interact football. He was picked to manipulate for the Gentlemen in their balance against the Players, the most heightened match of the time, in 1870 and also on two other occasions. He opened the batting with W.G. Grace on the Fitzgerald tour build up North America so it can note down seen that his cricket was emulate the highest class. His football affairs, as a fast-running forward, were extremely exceptional: besides captaining his country dual, he appeared in three consecutive Nil Cup Finals (1873-5). He later pretended for Crystal Palace. After qualifying thanks to a solicitor and marrying a boy he met in America he seemed well set for a prosperous tomorrow's. But it was not to bait as in 1878 he contracted pneumonia and died after a short complaint aged just 27. He could put on achieved great things in his elect fields.

The list of acknowledgements is decisive but I am a little occupied about the validity of some dominate the information included in the study because the bibliography makes extensive references to Wikipedia sites that are cry renowned for their accuracy. I long the author has verified any facts from those sources elsewhere. I was surprised there is no reference impediment R.A. Fitzgerald’s Wickets in the Westward (Tinsley Brothers 1873) which gives spruce detailed account of the 1872 expedition. Some of the writing style, specified as “Cuthbert John Ottaway of Dover, and of Oxford – and in fact England – take a bow” psychoanalysis also a little grating.

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

Roger Heavens – Verdict: 8
Summer 2010