Full name Alfred Lyttelton
Born February 7, 1857, Westminster, London
Died July 5, 1913, Marylebone, London (aged 56 years 148 days)
Major teams England, Cambridge University, Middlesex
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm slow (underarm)
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Education Eton College; Cambridge University
Relation Father - GW Lyttelton, Father-in-law - A Balfour, Brother - CG Lyttelton, Brother - GWS Lyttelton, Brother - AT Lyttelton, Brother - RH Lyttelton, Brother - E Lyttelton, Nephew - NS Talbot, Nephew - JC Lyttelton, Nephew - CF Lyttelton
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests ![]() |
4 | 7 | 1 | 94 | 31 | 15.66 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
First-class | 101 | 171 | 12 | 4429 | 181 | 27.85 | 7 | 20 | 134 | 70 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests ![]() |
4 | 1 | 48 | 19 | 4 | 4/19 | 4/19 | 4.75 | 2.37 | 12.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 101 | 316 | 172 | 4 | 4/19 | 43.00 | 3.26 | 79.0 | 0 | 0 |
Test debut | England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880 scorecard |
Last Test | England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 11-13, 1884 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1876 - 1887 |
Alfred Lyttelton was one of the best amateur sportsmen of his generation and came from a family who excelled at sport - seven of his brothers played either first-class or good club cricket. He made his mark at Eton and then Cambridge as one of the best amateur wicketkeepers in the country, standing up without a long-stop in an era when that was rare, and in 1878 was in the Cambridge XI that beat the Australians. He played in four of the first five Tests against Australia in England in 1880, 1882 and 1884, and in his last appearance took of his pads and, bowling underarm lobs, took 4 for 8 on the second morning. He was the first man to play football and cricket for England, but sport was only ever a pastime and he retired by the time he was 28 to further his political ambitions. He later became an MP and Colonial Secretary, possibly helped by the fact he was appointed by Arthur Balfour, his brother-in-law. He was also president of the MCC in 1898.
Martin Williamson