Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Read, Walter William
READ, WALTER WILLIAM (1855–1907), Surrey cricketer, was born at Reigate on 23 Nov. 1855. He was educated at the Reigate Priory school, which was managed by his father. Showing early aptitude for cricket, he joined the Reigate Priory Club, and at the age of thirteen scored 78 not out against Tonbridge and the bowling of Bob Lipscombe. In 1873 Read was introduced to Charles William Alcock, the secretary of the Surrey cricket club, and from that date to 1897 was a regular member of the Surrey team. He assisted his father at Reigate Priory school until 1881, when he became assistant secretary to the Surrey cricket club, and thenceforth he devoted all his time to cricket. From 1883 he helped George Lohmann [q. v. Suppl. II] to restore Surrey to a leading cricketing position among the counties. In 1885 he became partner in a City auctioneering and surveying business. In his last years he was coach to young players at the Oval. During his twenty-five years' career in first-class cricket (1873-97) Read gained triumphal success as a batsman, scoring no fewer than 46 centuries. At his best from 1885 to 1888, he scored in successive matches in June 1887 for Surrey v. Lancashire and Cambridge University respectively 247 and 244 not out, and 338 in 1888 for Surrey v. Oxford University. Between 1877 and 1895 Read played in 23 matches for Gentlemen v. Players, his best score being 159 in July 1885, and in twelve test matches in England against the Australians between 1884 and 1893, his most memorable performance in Austrahan matches being at Kennington Oval in August 1884, when going in tenth he scored 117. In this match William Lloyd Murdoch [q. v. Suppl. II] scored 211 for the Australians. Read twice visited Australia: in 1882-3 with Ivo Bligh's team, and in 1887-8 with G. F. Vernon's team. In the second tour Read averaged over 65 runs per innings in eleven-a-side matches. He took a team in the winter of 1891-2 to South Africa. Of strong physique, Read was a determined hitter, and a very attractive batsman who brought 'pulling' to a fine art. A very safe field, he shone especially at point, and he was also a useful 'lob' bowler. As a captain he had few superiors.
Read, who published a useful record called 'Annals of Cricket' in 1896, died on 6 Jan. 1907 at Colworth Road, Addiscombe Park, Croydon, and was buried at Shirley. He married and had issue. A painted portrait depicting Read at the wicket, by G. H. Barrable and Mr. Staples, was exhibited at the Goupil Gallery in 1887; he also figures in 'Punch' (13 Aug. 1887) in 'Cricket at the Oval'
[W. W. Read, Annals of Cricket, 1896; Daft, Kings of Cricket (with portrait, p. 195); Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack, 1907, clxxiv-vi; 1908, pp. 148-151; Haygarth's Cricket Scores and Biographies, xii. 894-5; xiv. xcv-xcvii; portraits in Cricket, 26 April 1888, 21 Aug. 1890; Cricket Field, 24 Sept. 1892; Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack, 1893; Sporting Sketches, 17 Sept. 1894; information from Mr. P. M. Thornton.]