Evan Nepean

Evan Nepean learnt his cricket at Sherborne School, and on going up to Oxford was in the University XI in 1887 and 1888. In the former year he had a considerable share in gaining for Oxford a seven wickets victory against Cambridge, taking five wickets and in the last stage of the game scoring 58 not out. He did nothing in the University match in 1888, and had a poor record for Oxford that season, both as batsman and bowler. For Middlesex, however, in the same year he got on very well, taking thirteen wickets in four matches for a little over 16 runs each, and having a batting average of 25. He reached his highest point as an all-round cricketer just after he left Oxford, being highly successful in 1889, when he came out third for Middlesex in batting and first in bowling. That year he appeared for Gentlemen against Players, both at Lord"s and the Oval, scoring at the Surrey ground 21 and not out 39. He also played for the Gentlemen in 1887 at the Oval, and in taking four wickets had the satisfaction of getting Arthur Shrewsbury out for two runs. Altogether he took part in six Gentlemen v. Players matches. A slow leg-break bowler, he could get a lot of spin on the ball, but his pitch was always rather uncertain. After being called to the Bar, he gradually dropped out of first-class cricket, but he had a good season as a bowler for Middlesex in 1891, and played for the MCC against the Australians at Lord"s in 1893.
Martin Williamson