| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Leslie Fletcher Townsend | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 8 June 1903 Long Eaton, Derbyshire, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 17 February 1993 (aged 89) Nelson, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling |
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| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Arnold Townsend (brother) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 254) | 21 February 1930 v West Indies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 10 February 1934 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1922–1939 | Derbyshire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1934/35–1935/36 | Auckland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1946–1948 | Northumberland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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.