Robert St Leger Fowler

Robert St Leger Fowler (7 April 1891 — 13 June 1925) was an Irish first-class cricketer, often regarded as the best Irish cricketer not to have represented Ireland itself. An all-rounder who batted right-handed and bowled off spin, he is perhaps best known for his outstanding all-round performance as captain of Eton College in the match against Harrow in 1910, the match commonly referred to as Fowler's match. After serving in the First World War with the 17th Lancers, during the course of which he was awarded the Military Cross, Fowler played first-class cricket after the war mostly for the British Army cricket team, until his death from leukemia in 1925.

Family and early life Fowler was born in April 1891 at his family home at Rahinstown in Ireland. His father Robert Henry Fowler was an officer in the British Army and a first-class cricketer for Cambridge University. His great-great-grandfather, also Robert, was Bishop of Ossory and then Bishop of Ossory, Ferns and Leighlin from 1817 until his death in 1841, and his great-great-great grandfather, Robert Fowler was a Protestant clergyman who settled in Ireland in the 1760s and was Archbishop of Dublin from 1779 until his death in 1801.

Fowler was educated in England, attending firstly Mr Hawtrey's prep school in Westgate-on-Sea, and then Eton College. There he was influenced by his housemaster, Cyril Wells, an amateur cricketer who played for Middlesex. Fowler played for Eton against Harrow School in the 1908 and 1909 Eton v Harrow fixtures, with his bowling in the 1909 fixture almost leading Eton to victory with his accurate off breaks contributing to match figures of 11 for 79. He was also active in college athletics and was president of the Eton Society in 1910.

His all-round performance allowed Eton to win a match that appeared all but lost, having followed-on 165 behind. Wisden stated that "in the whole history of cricket, there has been nothing more sensational"

Military service and cricket After completing his education at Eton, Fowler enrolled at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. There, he won the Sword of Honour in 1911. Fowler made his debut in first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Hampshire in 1913 at Lord's, and played a second match that season against Cambridge University at the same venue.

He served in the First World War with the 17th Lancers, during the early stages of which he was promoted to lieutenant. He was awarded the Military Cross in June 1918, in recognition of conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty when in command of a dismounted party defending Amiens during the German spring offensive. The citation for his MC reads as follows:

After the war, Fowler played first-class cricket for the British Army cricket team against the Royal Navy in 1919, and made four further appearances for the Army in 1920. He continued to play first-class cricket for the Army and the Combined Services until 1924; two of his three appearances for the Combined Services came against touring teams: the Australians in 1921, and the South Africans in 1924. With the bat, he scored 639 runs at an average of 35.33; he made four half centuries, with a top-score of 92 not out.

In addition to his services cricket, Fowler also made three first-class appearances for Hampshire in 1924, as well as playing for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players fixture of that season. He was also appointed captain of a proposed MCC tour to the West Indies in 1924–25, but the tour was postponed until the following year.

Outside of cricket, Fowler was the British Army rackets champion.