William Caldecourt

William Caldecourt, son of a well-known cricketer, was born at Blisworth, near Northampton, September 28, 1802. At an early age he moved to London and when nine years old became one of the ground boys at Lord's. In 1818, when only fifteen, he was engaged as a practice bowler to the M.C.C. This position he held for forty seasons until his death. He developed into a hard-hitting batsman, a brilliant fieldsman and medium-pace bowler who never changed to round-arm. As a proof of his hitting powers he once, in a game in Hertfordshire, scored six 6s in succession. He appeared on six occasions for the Players against the Gentlemen between 1827 and 1840 and was a coach for many years at Harrow and Cambridge. It was as an umpire that he was best known, gaining a reputation for his impartial decisions. Caldecourt earned the name of `Honest Will' for his firmness during the years of bowling revolution, for bowlers often took liberties both before and after the legislation of 1835. He was no respecter of persons and would no-ball even the best-known bowlers if they infringed the rules. He became such an expert that he was often asked for his advice concerning technical points in the laws. For a number of years he kept a sports shop near Lord's and purchased many patents including india rubber batting gloves and the `catapulta' bowling machine from Felix. He died on June 21, 1857, aged fifty-four.
RJ Brown