Full name Charles Lucas Townsend
Born November 7, 1876, Clifton, Bristol
Died October 17, 1958, Elton Manor, Stockton-on-Tees, Co Durham (aged 81 years 344 days)
Major teams England, Gloucestershire, London County
Batting style Left-hand bat
Bowling style Legbreak
Education Clifton College
Relation Father - F Townsend, Brother - FN Townsend, Brother - AFM Townsend, Son - PN Townsend, Son - DCH Townsend, Grandson - JCD Townsend, Grandson - JRA Townsend
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 2 | 3 | 0 | 51 | 38 | 17.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 199 | 342 | 28 | 9512 | 224* | 30.29 | 21 | 40 | 193 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 2 | 3 | 140 | 75 | 3 | 3/50 | 3/50 | 25.00 | 3.21 | 46.6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
First-class | 199 | 29791 | 16761 | 725 | 9/48 | 23.11 | 3.37 | 41.0 | 68 | 18 |
Test debut | England v Australia at Lord's, Jun 15-17, 1899 scorecard |
Last Test | England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 14-16, 1899 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1893 - 1922 |
Charles Lucas Townsend, who died at his home at Stockton-on-Tees on October 17, aged 81, was a right-arm slow bowler and left-handed batsman for Gloucestershire between 1893 and 1909. It is not too much to say that towards the close of the 1895 season, when a youth of 18, he was the most remarkable amateur bowler since A. G. Steel carried all before him in 1878. Such was the amount of spin that Townsend imparted to the ball that even the most experienced of batsmen found themselves in difficulties with his leg-breaks. In Gloucestershire matches with Nottinghamshire in 1895 he took at Trent Bridge 16 wickets for 122 runs and at Cheltenham 13 for 110. Against Yorkshire at Cheltenham he obtained 15 wickets, and against Sussex at Bristol, Surrey at Clifton and Somerset at Taunton 12 wickets fell to him on each occasion. Though he played in only one game until late in July, he dismissed 131 batsmen at a cost of 13 runs each.
Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1899