BOOK REVIEW: WALTER READ - A CLASS ACT
Keith Booth. ACS Publications. 136pp. £12.00 (softback).

One measure of a true Surrey fan is their ability to reel off the names that have left an indelible mark on the Club's illustrious history - the likes of Abel, Barrington, Bedser, Fender, Hayes, Hayward, Hobbs, Laker, Lock, Lohmann, Read, Richardson, Sandham, Strudwick and Surridge. But, as it is highly unlikely that anyone alive today had the privilege of seeing Ernie Hayes, George Lohmann and Walter Read in action, we have become indebted to Keith Booth for bringing to life the legends that figured in Surrey's first period of sustained success. For a while, Booth's latest subject was regarded, among English batsmen, as second only to W.G.Grace. Walter Read was at the height of his powers between 1885 and 1888, during which Surrey won the County Championship twice, if not thrice depending on one's favoured source. (Prior to 1890, six judges - inevitably, one of them was W.G. - determined the county champions at the end of each season.). When Surrey went on to win five of the first six official titles, between 1890 and 1895, Read twice contributed over one thousand runs. By that stage, however, Walter Read was as well known for being Surrey's Assistant Secretary. He was handed the position in 1881, not for his administrative ability, but so he could enjoy all trappings of being classed as an amateur. That Read was a professional in all but name makes Keith Booth's account a fascinating one. Inevitably, the day when Read's office skills were no longer required coincided with his retirement from the game. But easing him out of the picture was far from straightforward. Protracted negotiations, spanning two years, were only concluded in 1896 when the Club called upon the expertise of the Attorney-General, Sir Richard Webster QC, who was Surrey's President at the time. Read's final settlement was £400, which, to put things in context, was half the amount his Testimonial Match had realised in 1895. These days, Read is best known as one of only a handful of batsmen to have made Test hundreds batting at number ten. Thorough as ever, Booth logs all of the theories as to why a batsman of Read's ability should be coming in at ten before concluding that the innings was played in something of a red mist; thus hinting that a falling out with Lord Harris, England's captain, remains the most plausible explanation. Copies of 'Walter Read - A Class Act' can be obtained from the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians - telephone 01529-306272 or by email sales@acscricket.com

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