Edward Wilkinson (cricketer)

Edward Wilkinson
Personal information
Full name
Edward Obert Hindley Wilkinson
Born16 October 1853
Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom
Died8 February 1881(1881-02-08) (aged 27)
Scheins Hoogte, Colony of Natal
BattingRight-handed
RoleOccasional Wicket-keeper
RelationsCharles Wilkinson (uncle)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1873Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 5
Runs scored 39
Batting average 5.37
100s/50s –/–
Top score 22*
Catches/stumpings 2/2
Source: Cricinfo, 25 January 2023

Edward Obert Hindley Wilkinson (16 October 1853 – 8 February 1881) was a British soldier and a cricketer who played in five first-class cricket matches for Cambridge University and the Gentlemen of the Marylebone Cricket Club between 1873 and 1875.[1][2] He was born at Stevenage, Hertfordshire, and died by drowning in the Ingogo river in the retreat from the Battle of Schuinshoogte in the First Boer War in South Africa.

Wilkinson was educated at Eton College and at Trinity College, Cambridge, though he appears to have left Cambridge University without taking a degree.[3] As a right-handed lower-order batsman and wicketkeeper, he played in the Eton v Harrow match in both 1871 and 1872, captaining the side in the second year.[1] At Cambridge, he was given three matches for the University side, and was wicketkeeper in at least one of them, perhaps all three, but made little impression as a batsman.[1] His only innings of any length was an unbeaten 22 for the Gentlemen of the MCC against Kent in 1873: he also played in the same 12-a-side fixture in 1875.[4]

Wilkinson left Cambridge University in the summer of 1873 after only a year and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 60th King's Royal Rifle Corps,[5] being promoted to lieutenant two years later.[3][6] He was adjutant of the 3rd battalion from 1875 and fought at the Battle of Gingindlovu in the Anglo-Zulu War in South Africa in 1879.[7] Less than two years later, he was back fighting in South Africa and died in the aftermath of the Battle of Schuinshoogte; the newspaper report of the battle indicated that he was attempting to cross the flooded river to bring aid to wounded men from his battalion when he drowned.[7]

Wilkinson's uncle, Charles Wilkinson, was also a first-class cricketer for Cambridge University.

  1. ^ a b c "Edward Wilkinson". www.cricketarchive.com. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Edward Wilkinson". www.espncricinfo.com. Retrieved 18 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b J. Venn and J. A. Venn. "Alumni Cantabrigienses: Edward Wilkinson". Cambridge, University Press. p. 473. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  4. ^ "Scorecard: Kent v Gentlemen of the Marylebone Cricket Club". www.cricketarchive.com. 6 August 1873. Retrieved 20 August 2017.
  5. ^ "No. 24006". The London Gazette. 8 August 1873. p. 3704.
  6. ^ "No. 24236". The London Gazette. 13 August 1875. p. 4073.
  7. ^ a b "The Transvaal". The Times. No. 30116. London. 12 February 1881. p. 8.