Walter Franklin

Walter Bell Franklin (16 August 1891 – 5 March 1968) was an English cricketer. Franklin was a right-handed batsman who fielded as a wicket-keeper. He was considered the best amateur wicket-keeper of his time. Franklin went on to make his debut for Buckinghamshire against Berkshire in the 1911 Minor Counties Championship. In that same season he made his first-class debut for Cambridge University against Yorkshire. He would go on to make a further 14 first-class appearances for the university, the last of which came against HDG Leveson-Gower's XI in 1913. He gained his Blue in 1912, but in 1913 he did find his opportunities limited by the arrival of Arthur Lang in the team, who the Cambridge selectors thought was a better batsman. an unusual amount considering most wicket-keepers will take considerably more catches in their first-class careers. With the bat in hand, he scored 307 runs at an average of 21.92, with a high score of 68 not out.

1914 saw Franklin make his debut for the Marylebone Cricket Club, playing two matches against Oxford University.

Following the war, he returned to play for Buckinghamshire and was made county captain upon his return. In 1921, Buckinghamshire were offered first-class status and the chance to join the County Championship, however Buckinghamshire declined the invitation citing a lack of first-class facilities in the county. The early twenties were a successful period for the county, under his captaincy Buckinghamshire won the Minor Counties Championship in 1922, 1923 and 1925. Further first-class appearances followed for Franklin for the Marylebone Cricket Club, who he would go on to make a further 27 first-class appearances for, the last of which came against Kent in 1933. Behind the stumps he was again proficient, taking 31 catches and making 25 stumpings.

Following retirement he became president of the Minor Counties Cricket Association, as well as becoming president of Buckinghamshire County Cricket Club. He also contributed a chapter in the Lonsdale volume on wicket-keeping. He died of a heart attack while playing croquet at Knodishall, Suffolk on 5 March 1968. He was survived by his wife, his son Dr. Jonathan M. Franklin and his daughter, Miss Virginia Franklin, with Franklin later being cremated in a private ceremony. A memorial service was held for Franklin on 8 May 1968, with the service being addressed by Sir Ian Bowater, then master of the Haberdashers' Company.