Desmond Rought-Rought

Desmond Charles Rought-Rought (3 May 1912 – 7 January 1970) was an English cricketer active in first-class cricket from 1934–1947, but was mostly associated with minor counties cricket where he played for Norfolk.

Rought-Rought made his debut for Norfolk in the 1931 Minor Counties Championship against Buckinghamshire at Norwich. He gained experience playing at minor counties level with Norfolk throughout the early 1930s, having his best batting season in 1934 with 381 runs at an average of 34.63, and his best bowling season the following year with 42 wickets at an average of 14.16.

He made his debut in first-class cricket while at Cambridge, debuting in 1934 for Cambridge University against Yorkshire at Fenner's. He also played for the Free Foresters in his second first-class match of 1934 against Cambridge University. He played a total of nineteen first-class matches for Cambridge University as an all-rounder, scoring 568 runs at an average of 21.03, top scoring with 92. With the ball in hand, he took 63 wickets, at an average of 27.96. He took a five wicket haul on three occasions, with best figures of 7/100. His continued association with Norfolk in minor counties cricket led to selection for the second time for the combined Minor Counties team for their first-class fixture against Oxford University at Oxford in 1939.

The family's unusual surname originated with their father, who was born Albert William Rought Whitta. His maternal grandfather William Rought left him the family hatters and furriers business in Brandon on the condition that he adopted the surname Rought. He became Albert William Rought-Rought.

Desmond Rought-Rought died in a car accident in Cambridge on 7 January 1970, which also claimed the life of his wife.