Benjamin Butterworth (2 May 1833 – 6 January 1879)[1] was an English-born Australian cricketer. He played three first-class cricket matches for Victoria between 1857 and 1862.[2]
Ben Butterworth was born in Rochdale, Lancashire, and went to Australia in the 1850s.[3] He established a business as a merchant in Castlemaine, Victoria, and married Eliza Hepburn, daughter of the prominent local pastoralist John Stuart Hepburn, at Hepburn's property at Smeaton on 9 March 1859.[4]
In cricket, Butterworth was renowned for his fielding prowess in the position of long stop, which was an important position at the time, before the development of wicket-keeping techniques in the 1880s made it obsolete at the highest levels of the game. He was considered one of the best long stops in Australia, and "as good a long stop as anyone in England".[5][6] He was chosen to play for Victoria for his long-stopping alone.[7] Before Victoria's match against the touring English team in January 1862, The Age said: "Benjamin Butterworth, as long stop, is unrivalled in the Australian colonies. Takes the ball cleanly, throws in sharply and with certainty, and covers a great extent of ground." Of his batting it said only: "A wild bat, and cannot be depended upon for runs."[8] In six first-class innings he made only four runs.[2]
He captained a Castlemaine XXII to victory over the English team in March 1862.[9] Two seasons later, in January 1864, he captained the Victorian XXII in a drawn match against the 1863-64 English team; he batted at No. 22.[10]
Butterworth was appointed a magistrate in 1863.[11] He returned to England with his growing family in the late 1860s and settled in Middlesex.[3] When the first Australian cricket team toured England in 1878, he treated them to a trip up the River Thames to Windsor Castle. The Australian cricketer Tom Horan later recalled the trip as "a picnic which is still one of the brightest gems in my cricket memory".[12]
Butterworth died at his home, "Smeaton House", in Chiswick in January 1879. Eliza survived him (and lived till 1923), along with their daughter and three young sons.[3]
^"Cricket Chatter". The Australasian: 20. 6 March 1897.
April 17, 2024
butterworth, benjamin, butterworth, 1833, january, 1879, english, born, australian, cricketer, played, three, first, class, cricket, matches, victoria, between, 1857, 1862, personal, informationfull, namebenjamin, butterworthborn, 1833, 1833rochdale, lancashir. Benjamin Butterworth 2 May 1833 6 January 1879 1 was an English born Australian cricketer He played three first class cricket matches for Victoria between 1857 and 1862 2 Ben ButterworthPersonal informationFull nameBenjamin ButterworthBorn 1833 05 02 2 May 1833Rochdale Lancashire EnglandDied6 January 1879 1879 01 06 aged 45 Chiswick Middlesex EnglandRoleFieldsmanRelationsThomas Butterworth brother Domestic team informationYearsTeam1856 57 1861 62VictoriaCareer statisticsCompetition First classMatches 3Runs scored 4Batting average 1 00100s 50s 0 0Top score 2Catches stumpings 2 Source Cricinfo 11 October 2020Life and career editBen Butterworth was born in Rochdale Lancashire and went to Australia in the 1850s 3 He established a business as a merchant in Castlemaine Victoria and married Eliza Hepburn daughter of the prominent local pastoralist John Stuart Hepburn at Hepburn s property at Smeaton on 9 March 1859 4 In cricket Butterworth was renowned for his fielding prowess in the position of long stop which was an important position at the time before the development of wicket keeping techniques in the 1880s made it obsolete at the highest levels of the game He was considered one of the best long stops in Australia and as good a long stop as anyone in England 5 6 He was chosen to play for Victoria for his long stopping alone 7 Before Victoria s match against the touring English team in January 1862 The Age said Benjamin Butterworth as long stop is unrivalled in the Australian colonies Takes the ball cleanly throws in sharply and with certainty and covers a great extent of ground Of his batting it said only A wild bat and cannot be depended upon for runs 8 In six first class innings he made only four runs 2 He captained a Castlemaine XXII to victory over the English team in March 1862 9 Two seasons later in January 1864 he captained the Victorian XXII in a drawn match against the 1863 64 English team he batted at No 22 10 Butterworth was appointed a magistrate in 1863 11 He returned to England with his growing family in the late 1860s and settled in Middlesex 3 When the first Australian cricket team toured England in 1878 he treated them to a trip up the River Thames to Windsor Castle The Australian cricketer Tom Horan later recalled the trip as a picnic which is still one of the brightest gems in my cricket memory 12 Butterworth died at his home Smeaton House in Chiswick in January 1879 Eliza survived him and lived till 1923 along with their daughter and three young sons 3 See also editList of Victoria first class cricketersReferences edit Ben Butterworth CricketArchive Retrieved 11 October 2020 a b Benjamin Butterworth ESPN Cricinfo Retrieved 13 February 2015 a b c Benjamin Butterworth Ancestry com au Retrieved 11 October 2020 Married Mount Alexander Mail 4 11 March 1959 Cricket The Long Stop The Maitland Daily Mercury 9 18 February 1928 Cricket Chatter The Riverine Herald 3 12 May 1891 Cricket Gossip Leader 17 19 October 1901 The All England Cricket Match The Age 5 1 January 1862 Castlemaine v HH Stephenson s XI 1861 62 CricketArchive Retrieved 11 October 2020 Victoria v G Parr s XI 1863 64 CricketArchive Retrieved 11 October 2020 Government Gazette Leader 5 28 March 1863 Cricket Chatter The Australasian 20 6 March 1897 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ben Butterworth amp oldid 1199811609, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
