Bencraft Sir Russell Image 2 Hampshire 1895

Description

Southampton born Sir Russell Bencraft, known as Dr Bencraft during his playing career, was a right-hand batsman who showed batting ability playing for St George’s Hospital while qualifying as a doctor, and achieved the feat of playing a three figure innings on every day of one week, including one of 243, and only being dismissed once. Playing first for Hampshire in 1876 when 18 years old, he helped them to beat Kent at Faversham by an innings and six runs.

Three years later he took a prominent part in saving Hampshire from extinction by becoming Honorary Secretary, and during a period of 60 years he occupied every office at the County, including that of President, the post he held when finally retiring from his involvement with the game in 1936. He succeeded F.E. Lacey captain in 1894, when Hampshire were ranked by M.C.C. as first class at the end of the season, although they didn’t enter the County Championship competition until the next summer, together with Derbyshire, Essex, Leicestershire and Warwickshire.

Appropriately, Bencraft captained the side for their first season in the County Championship, but gave way to Captain E. G. Wynyard in 1896, when he played in only three further matches before ending his playing career when 37 years old, largely because of his medical duties. Always known as Dr. Russell Bencraft in those days, his best playing years were enjoyed before Hampshire’s promotion, and in 1889, when he averaged 53, his highest innings, 195 against Warwickshire at Birmingham, was the highest played for any County that season.

Bencraft played 46 matches officially deemed first class, with a high score of 62 not out at an average of 15.53. He also took 5 wickets as an occasional right arm fast bowler, with a best performance of 2-15.

Bencraft later served on the Marylebone Cricket Club Committee and was also actively involved in several local companies, including as the chairman of directors for the Southern Daily Echo. As well as business interests, Bencraft was actively involved in other sports besides cricket. Bencraft played for the Trojans Rugby Club, then one of the best rugby clubs in Hampshire. A keen footballer, Bencraft was also President of Southampton St. Mary’s F.C. and his connections helped them secure the use of the County Ground, at an annual rental of £200, when the Antelope Ground was sold for re-development in 1896. Bencraft was the first President of the Southern Football League, and held similar positions with the Hampshire Rugby Union and the Southampton Civil Service Sports Association.

In 1924, Bencraft was knighted at Buckingham Palace.

The cricketer Ernest Read was his nephew.