William Hillyer

William Richard Hillyer (5 March 1813 – 8 January 1861) was a 19th-century English professional cricketer for Kent County Cricket Club, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and many others before cricket was organised into regular competitions.

Early life He was born at Leybourne in Kent in 1813, the son of an innkeeper.

Career Hillyer first played for Kent in 1834 and was the "principal bowler" for county teams until 1853. and was difficult to score off of due to his gain of pace off the pitch, ability to make the ball come with his arm (from leg to off) and constant shooters which bowled many batsmen. He recorded at least 149 five-wicket hauls and took 10 wickets in a match at least 54 times, and 13 in at least 14 matches.

Later life and death From 1850 onwards, Hillyer began to decline, suffering from rheumatism and, beginning in 1852, became an umpire as was normal practice with professional players of the day. He fell and broke his thumb in 1855 which forced his retirement as a cricketer. He died at Maidstone in Kent in 1861, aged 47.