John Dale was born at Lincoln on the 21st of June, 1848, and had thus only just completed his forty-seventh year. His premature death was, we believe, due to an attack of pneumonia following influenza. Though he had for some time dropped entirely out of first-class cricket, Mr. Dale will be remembered as one of the best amateur batsmen of his day. He was in the Tonbridge School team from 1863 to 1866 inclusive, and, on going up to Cambridge, played in the University match in 1868, 1869, and 1870. In the last-mentioned year he was one of the heroes of the memorable match which F. C. Cobden"s bowling won for Cambridge by two runs. He scored on that occasion 15 and 67, his partnership with Mr. Yardley in Cambridge"s second innings completely turning the fortunes of the game. In 1870, indeed, Mr. Dale was quite at his best as a batsman, appearing for the Gentlemen against the Players both at Lord"s and the Oval. In the second innings of the Oval match he went in with Mr. W. G. Grace and helped to make 164 runs for the first wicket, his own score being 55. Mr. Dale"s style of batting was extremely finished and elegant. His abilities in the world of sport were by no means restricted to the cricket field. He rowed in the Cambridge eight in 1869 and 1870-with Mr. J. H. D. Goldie as stroke-and was a first-rate fisherman.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack