E. H. D. Sewell

Edward Humphrey Dalrymple Sewell (30 September 1872 – 20 September 1947) was a first class cricketer, popular cricket and rugby journalist and author, known universally as E. H. D. Sewell.

Family

His grandfather was Sir William Henry Sewell (c1786–1862), who had been aide-de-camp to William Beresford, 1st Viscount Beresford, during the Peninsular War, and joined the Duke of Wellington’s army in Portugal in 1808. Sir William was present with Sir John Moore’s army in its retreat from Corunna and later served for 28 years in India.

His father Colonel Henry Fane Haylett Sewell (1838–1910) was a Colonel in the East Indies. He married Violetta Anna Burn in Singapore May 1860, they had seven sons.

Edward H D was the youngest son, born in Lingsugur, India, where his father served as an Army officer. Sewell was educated at the Rectory in Shropshire and Bedford School in England, returning to India as a civil servant. In 1893 he married Amie Sharpe, who was born in Darjeeling. They had a child, Douglas, born in Coonsor, India, in 1895 and later educated at Dulwich College.[1]

Career

While playing cricket in India he became the first batsman in the country to score three consecutive hundreds. In 1893 he played in the first ever All-India side. He went back to England and after a couple of seasons with London County he joined Essex in 1902. He remained with Essex until 1904 but his highest score was made for London County when he made 181 against Surrey at Crystal Palace. A big hitter of the ball, it is said that one of his on-drives measured 140 yards.

He was known as a good rugby footballer, playing for Bedford, Blackheath and Harlequins,[2] but was most notable as a cricket player. On his return from India he became a professional cricket player for Essex. In 1904 he reached his highest score of 181 under the Captain W.G. Grace, at Crystal Palace against Surrey.[3] Later he was coach to young players at The Oval for Surrey CCC, and played for Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire. His final first class match for the MCC Marylebone Cricket Club was in 1922.

He wrote for various newspapers, as well as many books on both cricket and rugby. His first book was published in 1911, and he continued to write up until his death in 1947. Among his many books were From a Window at Lords, The Log of a Sportsman, Who's Won the Toss? and Rugger: The Man’s Game.

Edward died on 20 September 1947 in Paddington, London. His obituary in The Times newspaper wrote of his achievements as a writer and player, both of cricket and Rugby football.[4] A friend wrote that he had a kindly and gentle disposition; an alert mind was a good man and a good sportsman.[5]

Edward Sewell
England (ENG)
Batting style Right-handed batsman
Bowling type Right-arm medium
First-class record
Matches 87
Runs scored 3430
Batting average 24.50
100s/50s 5/17
Top score 181
Balls bowled 1499
Wickets 17
Bowling average 47.47
5 wickets in innings -
10 wickets in match -
Best Bowling 3-73
Catches/Stumpings 70/0
First class debut: -, 1900
Last first class game: -, 1922
Source:

Selected Cricket Matches

Quotes by E H D Sewell

on India
‘Chaos would prevail in India if we were ever so foolish to leave the natives to run their own show. Ye gods! What a salad of confusion, of bungle, of mismanagement, and far worse, would be the instant result’.

‘These grand people will go anywhere and do anything if led by us’.

‘Themselves they are still infants as regards governing or statesmanship. And their so-called leaders are the worst of the lot’.
(An Outdoor Wallah, Stanley Paul, 1945 (comments written in 1935)

on Cricket
‘A batsman who cannot make runs on turf after rain and sun and wind is only half a batsman.'

"If I am destined to see Donnelly scoring almost at will for Middlesex in 1947 I shall drink in the savour with as keen a relish as anybody". He was not destined to see Donnelly, who did not play for Middlesex in 1947, but he did live to see the classic and glorious season of Compton and Edrich. He expired – presumably a happy man - on 20 September, three days after seeing Middlesex, as Champion County, defeat a Rest XI by an innings, with a century from Bill Edrich and a double from Denis Compton.[11] (Well Hit! Sir, Stanley Paul, London, 1946)

on Rugby
‘I have not a doubt that if President Roosevelt ordained that henceforth Yale and Harvard and the rest, played our Rugby game,...and exorcised from American sport all the evils...on the open obstruction of opponents, and with it all the unnecessary armour...and banished the regiment of officials...and company of music hall performers...if all these things took place overnight in the States, this ersatz game would be forgotten in a night.’ (Rugger: The Man’s Game, Hollis and Carter Ltd, London 1944)

‘Of their fine physique there was no doubt. They went on to the field, a thoroughly fit body of athletes, like so many pieces of cork on the surface of water, full of that light elasticity that betrays the capable athlete at a glance.’ (commenting on 'Sport, manhood and empire: British responses to the New Zealand rugby tour of 1905' in the National Review (London) February 1906)

‘Rugby football, to my mind, above all games is one which develops the qualities which go to make good fighting men. It teaches unselfishness, esprit de corps, quickness of decision, and keeps fit those engaged in it.' (quoting a letter of Lord Jellicoe, Admiral and First Sea Lord in 1915, in his book The Log of a Sportsman, T F Unwin, London, 1923, p. 164.)

on Soccer
'...that soccer would 'remain the exercise of the munitions workers who suffer so much from varicose veins, weak knees, cod-eyed toes, fowl’s livers and a general dislike for a man’s duty.' (writing about the sport in an article in the Sheffield Star Sports Special, 16 Oct. 1915.)

Books by E H D Sewell

Contribution - extended reminiscences:
'The Memorial Biography of Dr. W. G. Grace', issued under the Auspices of The Committee of the MCC, Constable & Company Ltd., London 1919

References

  1. ↑ "The Sole Society Home Page". sole.org.uk.
  2. ↑ Thomas Cook's Rugby Club, its life and times 1910-1966, John Dann, FastPrint Peterborough, ISBN 978-178035-656-3
  3. ↑ Wisden, John Wisden's Crickets' Almanack, 1904
  4. ↑ Death of EHD Sewell,Times Newspaper, Friday 26 Sep 1947
  5. ↑ Times Newspaper, Friday 26 Sep 1947
  6. ↑ "All India XI v Lord Hawke's XI at Allahabad, Jan 26-28, 1893 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo.
  7. ↑ "Surrey v London County at The Oval, Apr 13-15, 1903 - Cricket Scorecard - ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo.
  8. ↑ "Cricket Records - Records - Other First-class Matches, 1903 - London County - Batting and bowling averages - ESPN Cricinfo". Cricinfo.
  9. ↑ "Edward Sewell". Cricinfo.
  10. ↑ http://hcs.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/5/5294/5294.html
  11. ↑ "Binge-drinking - The Crimson Rambler". wordpress.com.

Sources

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