H. D. G. Leveson-Gower

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = Eng
name = H D G Leveson-Gower
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-handed batsman (RHB)
bowling style = Leg break
tests = 3
test runs = 95
test bat avg = 23.75
test 100s/50s = 0/0
test top score = 31
test balls = 0
test wickets = 0
test bowl avg = n/a
test 5s = 0
test 10s = 0
test best bowling = n/a
test catches/stumpings = 1/0
FCs = 277
FC runs = 7638
FC bat avg = 23.72
FC 100s/50s = 4/42
FC top score = 155
FC balls = 2261
FC wickets = 46
FC bowl avg = 29.95
FC 5s = 3
FC 10s = 0
FC best bowling = 6/49
FC catches/stumpings = 103/0
debut date = 1 January
debut year = 1910
last date = 3 March
last year = 1910
source = http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/L/LEVESON-GOWER_HDG_01000321/

Sir Henry Dudley Gresham Leveson-Gower (pronounced "Loosen Gore", IPAEng|luːsən gɔə) (8 May 1873 in Titsey Place, Surrey – 1 February 1954 in London) was an English cricketer who played for Oxford University and Surrey as well as England. He captained England in all three of the Test matches he played, winning one and losing two against South Africa in 1909/10, with Frederick Fane captaining on the other two Test matches of the series.

He was captain of Surrey from 1908 to 1910, and the club's president from 1929 to 1939. He was an England Test selector in 1909, and chairman of selectors in 1924 and from 1927 to 1930. ["The Cricket Captains of England", Alan Gibson, 1989, The Pavilion Library, ISBN 1-85145-390-3, p112] Leveson-Gower was knighted for his services to cricket in 1953. In the same year he published a book of reminiscences entitled "Off and On the Field".

Leveson-Gower was nicknamed "Shrimp" but few cricket sources refer to him by anything other than his initials. During a tour of America in 1897 organised by Plum Warner [ [http://www-uk2.cricket.org/link_to_database/PLAYERS/ENG/W/WARNER_PF_01000233/ Warner's Wisden obituary refers] ] that Leveson-Gower took part in, the Philadelphian cricket poet Ralph D. Paine published the following piece of humorous verse concerning the pronunciation of his surname:

:"At one end stocky Jessop frowned,":"The human catapult":"Who wrecks the roofs of distant towns":"When set in his assault.":"His mate was that perplexing man":"We know as "Looshun-Gore",":"It isn’t spelt at all that way,":"We don’t know what it’s for."

:"But as with Cholmondeley and St. John" [Pronounced "Chumly" and "Sinjun" respectively] :"The alphabet is mixed,":"And Yankees cannot help but ask -":"Why don't you get it fixed?" ["The Cricket Captains of England", Alan Gibson, 1989, The Pavilion Library, ISBN 1-85145-390-3, p114]

Notes

External reference

* [http://www.cricinfo.com/db/PLAYERS/ENG/L/LEVESON-GOWER_HDG_01000321/ Cricinfo page on H D G Leveson-Gower]