The Revd Thomas Hayes Belcher, died on November 26. Born at Faringdon, Berkshire, on September 12, 1847, he was in his 73rd year. Mr. Belcher will always have a place in cricket history. He was the second of the victims to FC Cobden's memorable hat-trick at the finish of the Oxford and Cambridge match in 1870. Of the three players he was the last survivor, S. E. Butler dying in 1903 and W. A. Stewart in 1883. As to his own share in the catastrophe, Mr. Belcher, writing to the Globe in August, 1901 -- one of the endless discussions as to the details of the sensational finish was then being carried on -- declared that he was bowled off his leg. To quote his exact words he said: "Mr. Cobden is right in saying that the ball which bowled me was of a good length. It entirely beat me, but it touched my right leg a little below the knee on the inside. Of this I am quite certain, but whether this slight touch turned it on to the wicket I cannot possibly say." Mr. Belcher played in the University match only in 1870. He was picked for his bowling and fully justified his selection, taking 4 for 52 runs and 2 for 38. He was Vicar of Bramley, Basingstoke, Hampshire, from 1893.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack