Born on 4 October 1857 in Bulwell, Henry Richardson was a right-hand batsman and right-arm medium pacer with the ability of breaking the ball both ways. He began his career with Bulwell United CC. He was tried in the Notts Colts match of 1882 and for Colts of the North v Colts of the South at Lord’s in 1883. Owing to his engagement with Liverpool CC between 1885 and 1889, he was not seen again in Notts cricket until 1887 when he took part in the Notts Colts v Yorkshire Colts match and returned the best Notts figures of 9-50. He made a successful First-Class debut for North versus South on 30 May 1887 at Lord’s in a three-day match completed in one day; bowling unchanged throughout both innings he had figures of 4-31 and 5-33 as the North triumphed by six wickets. A month later, he played his second First-Class match having innings figures of 3-40 and 6-58 respectively and scoring a first-class highest score of 55 as Liverpool & District defeated Yorkshire by 38 runs at Aigburth.
His First-Class debut for Notts came a week later versus Lancashire at Trent Bridge on 30 June 1 and 2 July 1887 and he found himself a permanent position in the Notts Eleven. His stay in county cricket was relatively short lived - his last First-Class appearance for Notts was in the final game of the 1890 county season v Lancashire at Old Trafford im August; where he took five wickets in the match. He took five wickets in an innings seven times for Notts, his best bowling in an innings and his best match figures were against Middlesex at Lord’s in 1889 (7-24, 10-44). A month later Richardson had figures of 7-42 v Sussex at Hove and a year earlier he had taken 6-12 v Yorkshire at Bramall Lane, Sheffield and 7-75 v Middlesex at Trent Bridge. His highest score for Notts was 54 not out v Surrey at the Oval in 1887 during which he added 79 for the 10th wicket with Mordecai Sherwin. In 53 first-class games for Notts he scored 544 runs @9.06 and took 139 wickets @13.82
His first professional engagement was with Gloucester Town between 1877 and 1880. In 1882 he was at Newport in Monmouthshire. After leaving Liverpool in 1889 he joined MCC in 1890 and remained there until 1919. He appeared in three First-Class games for the MCC and his last was versus Oxford University at Lord’s in June 1894. In 1889 he represented Players v Gentlemen at the Oval. In 65 First-Class matches he scored 664 runs @6.62 and took 185 wickets @13.75.
Originally a trimmer by occupation in Bulwell, he umpired in 20 First-Class matches between 1886 and 1910. The MCC awarded the Middlesex v Hampshire match in 1909 for his benefit. An unassuming and well-liked cricketer, Henry Richardson died aged 82 years on 20 March 1940 in Bulwell.
June 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 194