Charles Dryden

Charles Henry Dryden (13 January 1860 – 1 July 1943) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1885 to 1894.

Cricket career Dryden was a leg-spin bowler who was noted for his effectiveness in difficult situations and recorded several notable bowling performances for Wellington. He was also regarded as a resilient lower-order batsman and a reliable fieldsman. He twice took his best innings figures of 7 for 24: when Nelson needed 84 to win in 1886–87 he was mainly responsible for dismissing them for 70; and in 1893–94 he helped dismiss Auckland for 77.

Personal life Dryden worked as a building contractor in Wellington. He and his wife had a daughter and a son. He died in hospital at Kawakawa in the Bay of Islands in July 1943, aged 83. His brother Walter played one first-class match in 1885–86, alongside Charles.