Thomas Balston (cricketer)

Not to be confused with Thomas Balston.

Thomas Balston
Personal information
Full name
Thomas Balston
Born30 January 1822
Maidstone, Kent, England
Died23 December 1899(1899-12-23) (aged 77)
Hollingbourne, Kent, England
BattingUnknown
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1851Marylebone Cricket Club
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 1
Runs scored 2
Batting average 1.00
100s/50s –/–
Top score 2
Catches/stumpings –/–
Source: Cricinfo, 23 June 2021

Thomas Balston (30 January 1822 – 23 December 1899) was an English first-class cricketer and barrister.

Personal life

The seventh son of William Balston, he was born at Maidstone in January 1822.[1] The Balston family had been paper-makers since the 18th century, entering business with the Whatman paper-making family. Their success in business led to social prominence and the Balstons were regarded as being amongst the gentry of their county.[2][3] Balston died at his residence at Hollingbourne in December 1899, following a protracted illness.[4]

Education

He was educated at Rugby School,[5] before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.[6] A student of the Inner Temple in April 1845, he was called to the bar to practice as a barrister in June 1848.[1]

Cricket career

Balston played first-class cricket for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), making a single appearance against Cambridge University at Lord's in 1851.[7] Batting twice in the match, he made a duck in the MCC first innings and scored 2 runs in their second innings, being dismissed by David Buchanan and John Weston respectively.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b Foster, Joseph (1885). Men-at-the-bar. Reeves and Turner. p. 21.
  2. ^ Walford's County Families of the United Kingdom, 52nd edition, ed. Edward Walford, Spottiswoode & Co., 1912, p. 1229
  3. ^ William Balston, paper maker, 1759-1849, Thomas Balston, Methuen & Co., Ltd, 1954, pp. vii, viii, 171
  4. ^ Maidstone. Maidstone Journal and Kentish Advertiser. 28 December 1899. p. 5
  5. ^ Rugby School Register: From to 1675–1849 Inclusive. Vol. 1. Rugby: A. J. Lawrence. 1881. p. 189.
  6. ^ Foster, Joseph (1888–1891). "Balston, Thomas" . Alumni Oxonienses: the Members of the University of Oxford, 1715–1886. Oxford: James Parker – via Wikisource.
  7. ^ "First-Class Matches played by Thomas Balston". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  8. ^ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Cambridge University, 1851". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 June 2021.