Leslie Townsend (cricketer)

Leslie Townsend
Personal information
Full name
Leslie Fletcher Townsend
Born(1903-06-08)8 June 1903
Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England
Died17 February 1993(1993-02-17) (aged 89)
Nelson, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
Bowling
  • Right-arm medium
  • Right-arm offbreak
RoleAll-rounder
RelationsArnold Townsend (brother)
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 254)21 February 1930 v West Indies
Last Test10 February 1934 v India
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1922–1939Derbyshire
1934/35–1935/36Auckland
1946–1948Northumberland
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 4 493
Runs scored 97 19,555
Batting average 16.16 27.50
100s/50s 0/0 22/102
Top score 40 233
Balls bowled 399 65,764
Wickets 6 1,088
Bowling average 34.16 21.12
5 wickets in innings 0 51
10 wickets in match 0 16
Best bowling 2/22 8/26
Catches/stumpings 2/– 241/–
Source: CricketArchive, 19 April 2010

Leslie Fletcher Townsend (8 June 1903 – 17 February 1993) was an English cricketer who played for England between 1929 and 1934, for Derbyshire between 1922 and 1939, and also for Auckland in 1934–35 and 1935–36.

He was the leading all-rounder for Derbyshire between the wars and at his peak probably the most deadly bowler on a sticky wicket Derbyshire ever produced, owing to his perfect length and ability to turn the ball back from the off. His pace was almost medium and even the most fleet-footed of batsmen could not hit him easily on a bad pitch; however, his lack of flight and variety made him less effective on good pitches. Townsend was also an enterprising middle order batsman, who set a longstanding record for most centuries for Derbyshire in a season in 1933.