William Lillywhite

William Lillywhite
Personal information
Full name
Frederick William Lillywhite
Born(1792-06-13)13 June 1792
Westhampnett, Sussex
Died21 August 1854(1854-08-21) (aged 62)
Islington, London
NicknameThe Nonpareil
Height5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
BattingRight-hand bat
BowlingRight-arm roundarm
RoleBowler
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1825–1853Sussex
1829Surrey
1830–1850Marylebone Cricket Club
1842–1845Hampshire
1850–1851Middlesex
First-class debut13 June 1825 Sussex XI v Kent XI
Last First-class25 July 1853 Sussex v England XI
Career statistics
Competition FC
Matches 237
Runs scored 2350
Batting average 7.27
100s/50s 0/0
Top score 44*
Balls bowled 15265+
Wickets 1576
Bowling average unknown
5 wickets in innings 155
10 wickets in match 55
Best bowling 10/?
Catches/stumpings 141/0
Source: CricInfo, 14 November 2013

Frederick William Lillywhite (13 June 1792 – 21 August 1854) was an English first-class cricketer during the game's roundarm era. One of the main protagonists in the legalisation of roundarm, he was one of the most successful bowlers of his era.[1][2] His status is borne out by his nickname: The Nonpareil.

Lillywhite's known first-class career spanned the 1825 to 1853 seasons, and he played for Sussex County Cricket Club as well as the Marylebone Cricket Club, and also represented Surrey, Hampshire, and Middlesex in the period before the formation of the current county clubs.[3] Detailed bowling figures for many of his matches are not known: he took 1576 wickets in 237 matches, and took 155 five-wicket hauls and 55 ten-wicket hauls. He was an original member of William Clarke's All-England Eleven.

He married Charlotte Parker (1790 - 1870) at Westhampnett, Sussex on 15 July 1822.[4] Part of a cricketing dynasty, he was the father of John Lillywhite and Fred Lillywhite, and uncle of James Lillywhite.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference The evolution of bowling was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ "Player Profile: William Lillywhite". ESPN CricInfo. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  3. ^ "Player Profile: William Lillywhite". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 14 November 2013.
  4. ^ Sussex Marriage Records 1822