Arthur Ridley

Arthur William Ridley (11 September 1852 – 10 August 1916) was an English first-class cricketer. An all-rounder, he was considered one of the finest and last proponents of underam 'lob' bowling. His first-class career began with Oxford University while he was a student at Christ Church, Oxford. He would play for a number of teams between 1872 and 1885, including Hampshire, the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and Middlesex. In 96 first-class appaearances he scored 3,150 runs as a batsman, while with his lob bowling he took 224 wickets, claiming nineteen five wicket hauls. Outside of cricket, Ridley was a brewery director; this commitment had the effect of restricting his availability to play first-class cricket with greater regularity.

Early life and education The son of The Reverend Nicholas James Ridley, he was born in September 1852 at Hollington, Hampshire. He was educated at Eton College, where he played for the college cricket team in 1870 and 1871, notably scoring a century in the 1871 Eton v Harrow match at Lord's. From Eton, he matriculated to Christ Church, Oxford. At Oxford, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Oxford in 1872, with Ridley playing five times for Oxford in 1872, and gaining his blue against Cambridge University in The University Match. With his lob bowling, he took 63 wickets at a bowling average of 13.31; he claimed five wickets in an innings on three occasions, taking best figures of 6 for 80. Ridley played twice for the Gentlemen in 1875, and once for the MCC against Nottinghamshire. He also played two matches at the Canterbury Cricket Week in August, with his final match of the 1875 season coming for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the North. He also passed fifty wickets in a season for the only time, taking 53 at an average of 13.30. Ridley guest appeared for Kent as a given man by the MCC, when the MCC visited the St Lawrence Ground to partake in the 1877 Canterbury Cricket Week. Throughout his career, he played extensively for the Gentlemen, making fourteen appearances in the Gentlemen v Players fixtures.

Characterised by Wisden as one of the best all-rounders of his time, he made 96 appearances in first-class cricket. he scored 3,150 runs at an average of 20.19, making four centuries. He was described by Carlaw as "one of the last of the great exponents of lob bowling", He married Adriana Elizabeth Newton in 1882, His funeral took place on 14 August at Kingswood, Surrey. His brother, Alfred, was also a first-class cricketer. His paternal great-grandfather was the landowner and politician Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet.