Lestock Handley Adams (10 September 1887 – 22 April 1918) was an English first-class cricketer who played for Cambridge University between 1908 and 1910. Six of his games attained first-class status, and in these he took 17 wickets and scored 61 runs.[1] Born in Ormskirk, in Lancashire, he was a gentlemen cricketer who played for the Gentlemen of England and various representative teams.[2] Emigrating to Canada, he served in the armed forces during World War I, and was killed in Placaut Wood, France aged 30.[3]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Lestock Handley Adams | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 10 September 1887 Ormskirk, Lancashire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 22 April 1918 (aged 30) Placaut Wood, Pas-de-Calais, France | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | Bowler | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1908–1910 | Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FC debut | 25 May 1908 Cambridge University v Lancashire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last FC | 27 June 1910 Gentlemen of England v Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 17 April 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing career
editThe son of Reverend Henry Frederick Spencer Adams and Ethel Emma Louisa Reid,[4][5] Adams lived in Congresbury, Somerset in his early years, as recorded in the 1891 census. He lost his mother in 1900.[5] Educated at St. Lawrence College, Ramsgate, he was captain of the First XI there for both cricket, rugby and hockey.[6][7] While attending Queens' College,[7] at Cambridge University, he played a Seniors Match at the invitation of Robert Baily to face an XI created by Charles Lucas. The match, billed as CE Lucas' XI v REH Baily's XI, began on 4 May 1908. Adams, a batsman and bowler of unknown handedness, batted last, scoring four, and took three wickets at the cost of 33 runs. He scored four more in his second innings, and went wickless off three overs as his side took a 61-run victory.[8]
Adams went on to make his first-class debut on 25 May against Lancashire. He went wicketless, but managed to score 21 in his seconds innings. Cambridge suffered a 171-run defeat.[9] Cambridge then played a representative XI led by Gerry Weigall, where he took 1/66 in a straightforward victory.[10] Adams did not play another recorded match until May 1910, where he appeared an exhibition game, Etceteras v Perambulators. Adams featured in the latter team, and took a five wicket haul.[11] On 30 May he faced Kent, taking 3/52,[12] and on 6 June he took 2/66 against the Free Foresters.[13] He took his career-best 6/86 against Sussex on 20 June, with three more wickets in the second innings,[14] but went wicketless against the Marylebone Cricket Club a week later in a rain-affected game.[15] On 27 June he made his final first-class appearance, Gentlemen of England v Cambridge University. Playing for the Gentlemen, he took 2/96 and 2/32, and made a pair with the bat – two scores of zero.[16] He is recorded as living in Broadstairs in Kent in the 1911 census.[5] He moved to Canada and married Emilie Anderson d'Auquier in 1913, residing near Winnipeg,[4][5] playing with "some success" at Winnipeg Cricket Club, according to Wisden.[7] He took part in two games against a touring Australian side in 1913, taking one wicket in the first and 3/62 in the second.[17][18]
Military career
editAdams enlisted in the armed forces and served in The Rifle Brigade, rising to the rank of lieutenant.[19] Part of the 1st Battalion of the Rifles, he was killed in France in 1918.[1] He is buried at Le Vertannoy British Cemetery, Pas de Calais.[4]
References
edit- ^ a b "Player Profile: Lestock Adams". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Teams Lestock Adams Played For". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Player Profile: Lestock Adams". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ a b c "Lieutenant Lestock Handley ADAMS". Commonwealth Graves Commission. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ a b c d "Lestock Handley Adams". Holmes Court. Retrieved 17 April 2014.
- ^ "Baily's Magazine of Sports & Pastimes". 109. 1918: 279.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires|journal=(help) - ^ a b c Renshaw, Andrew, ed. (2014). Wisden on the Great War: The Lives of Cricket's Fallen 1914–1918. Wisden. p. 378.
- ^ "CE Lucas' XI v REH Baily's XI University Match 1908 (Cambridge University Seniors' Match)". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Cambridge University v Lancashire University Match 1908". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Cambridge University v GJV Weigall's XI University Match 1908". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Etceteras v Perambulators Other matches in England 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Cambridge University v Kent University Match 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Cambridge University v Free Foresters University Match 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Sussex v Cambridge University University Match 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Cambridge University University Match 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Gentlemen of England v Cambridge University University Match 1910". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Winnipeg Cricket Association v Australians Australia in North America 1913 – First Match". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Winnipeg Cricket Association v Australians Australia in North America 1913 – Second Match". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 16 April 2014.
- ^ "Lieutenant Lestock Handley ADAMS The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)". The National Archives. Retrieved 17 April 2014.