Robert Lang (cricketer)

Robert Lang (born 6 April 1840 at Jessore, India; died 23 March 1908 at Woodham Walter, Essex) was an English amateur cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1860 to 1862 for Cambridge University.

Robert Lang
The grave of Robert Lang in the churchyard of St Leonard's in Old Warden
Personal information
Full name
Robert Lang
Born(1840-04-06)6 April 1840
Jessore, India
Died23 March 1908(1908-03-23) (aged 67)
Woodham Walter, Essex
BowlingFast-medium
RelationsGeorge Lang (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1860–1862Cambridge University
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 11
Runs scored 180
Batting average 12.00
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 63
Balls bowled 1097
Wickets 28
Bowling average 16.56
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match
Best bowling 5/4
Catches/stumpings 5/–
Source: Cricket Archive, 4 November 2013

Lang was educated at Harrow, where he captained the cricket team in 1858 and 1859, and at Trinity College, Cambridge.[1] He made 11 appearances in first-class matches: eight for Cambridge and three for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players series.

By the standards of the day he was considered a "tremendously fast" bowler.[2] In the 1860 match against Oxford University he took 1 for 9 and 5 for 10 to help Cambridge to victory,[3] and in the 1862 match he took 5 for 4 and 4 for 31 in another victory.[4]

Lang became a clergyman in the Church of England. He was clerical secretary of the Church Missionary Society from 1881 to 1892, and Vicar of St Leonard's church in Old Warden in Bedfordshire 1892–1902, Vicar of Dinton in Buckinghamshire from 1903 to 1906, and Rector at Woodham Walter in Essex from 1907 to 1908.[1]

He is buried in the churchyard of St Leonard's church in Old Warden in Bedfordshire, close to his daughter and grandson, Richard Ormonde Shuttleworth. His brother, George, also played first-class cricket.

References

edit
  1. ^ a b "Lang, Robert (LN859R)". A Cambridge Alumni Database. University of Cambridge.
  2. ^ Wisden 1914, p. 189.
  3. ^ Oxford University v Cambridge University 1860
  4. ^ Oxford University v Cambridge University 1862
edit

Further reading

edit
  • H S Altham, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962
  • Arthur Haygarth, Scores & Biographies, Volumes 1-11 (1744-1870), Lillywhite, 1862-72