Edward Sprot

Edward Mark Sprot (4 February 1872 – 8 October 1945) was a Scottish first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Following a seven year commission with the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, Sprot played first-class cricket for Hampshire from 1898 to 1914, captaining the county from 1903 to 1914. As a captain, Sprot was known for his dynamic and unusual tactics, which sought to gain positive results from matches. In all, Sprot made 270 appearances in first-class cricket, scoring over 12,000 runs and making thirteen centuries. He additionally took 55 wickets, alongside taking 228 catches in the field. His first-class career came to an end with the beginning of the First World War.

Early life and military career The son of Edward William Sprot, he was born at Edinburgh in February 1872. He was educated in England at Harrow School, where he played for the school cricket team. From there he attended the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and graduated into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry as a second lieutenant in November 1892. He was promoted to lieutenant in March 1896, before resigning his commission in July 1899. Prior to his resignation, he had represented the Shropshire Light Infantry in rackets alongside Colonel James Spens, with the pair winning The Army Rackets Challenge Cup in 1899. Following his resignation from the army, he appeared regularly in the County Championship for the weak Hampshire side of 1900; it was during this season that he scored his maiden first-class century, a score of 103 not out against Warwickshire. Following the 1902 season, Sprot was chosen to captain Hampshire for the 1903 season, replacing Charles Robson. He captained Hampshire until 1914, with his captaincy characterised by his encouragement to play attractive cricket with enterprise and enthusiasm, guiding what was a weak Hampshire side when he gained the captaincy from the bottom of the County Championship to fifth place in 1914, His best season for Hampshire came in 1905, when he scored 1,206 runs at an average of 41.58. Sprot was considered a fine fielder, taking 230 catches in first-class cricket. his sole five wicket haul of 5 for 28 came against Sussex at Portsmouth in 1900.

During the First World War, he volunteered as a special constable. Following the end of the war, Sprot, then aged 46, informed the club he would not be returning to play for them, with Lionel Tennyson subsequently inheriting the captaincy. During the 1920s, he provided contributions to C. B. Fry's Mercury Magazine prize fund, which raised funds for the shore-based naval training establishment on the River Hamble. His younger brother, James, was killed in action during the First World War.