Patrick Rucker

Patrick William Rucker (5 May 1900 – 20 May 1940) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer.

Patrick Rucker

Personal information
Full name	Patrick William Rucker
Born	5 May 1900 Chislehurst, Kent, England
Died	20 May 1940(1940-05-20) (aged 40) Amiens, Picardy, France
Batting	Unknown
Bowling	Left-arm medium
Relations	Charles Rucker (brother)
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1919	Oxford University
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 7 Runs scored 48 Batting average 8.00 100s/50s –/– Top score 17 Balls bowled 876 Wickets 11 Bowling average 42.00 5 wickets in innings – 10 wickets in match – Best bowling 4/107 Catches/stumpings 2/–
Source: Cricinfo, 23 March 2020

Rucker was born at Chislehurst in May 1900. He was educated at Charterhouse School, before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford.^[1] While studying at Oxford, he played first-class cricket for Oxford University in 1919. In his debut match against the Gentlemen of England at Oxford, he bowled the first delivery in first-class cricket since the 1918 Armistice and the first since the suspension of first-class cricket in 1914.^[1] He made seven first-class appearances for Oxford in 1919, which included playing in The University Match against Cambridge.^[2] He took 11 wickets with his left-arm medium pace bowling, at an average of 42.00 and best figures of 4 for 107.^[3]

Rucker married Betty Fairweather at High Wycombe in 1927.^[1] He later served in the Second World War, being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Sussex Regiment in November 1939.^[4] He fought during the Battle of France in May 1940, travelling to Amiens via Abbeville and Lens, all the while the regiment was harassed by Luftwaffe dive-bombers. On 20 May, his battalion was attacked at Amiens by a motorcycle battalion of the 1st Panzer Division, during which Rucker was killed in action. He is commemorated at the Dunkirk Memorial.^[1] His brother, Robin, was killed during the First World War in service with the Royal Air Force,^[1] while another brother, Charles, also fought in the First World War, with the army, and played first-class cricket.

References

1. McCrery, Nigel (2011). The Coming Storm: Test and First-Class Cricketers Killed in World War Two. Vol. 2nd volume. Pen and Sword. ISBN 978-1526706980.
2. "First-Class Matches played by Patrick Rucker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
3. "First-class Bowling For Each Team by Patrick Rucker". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
4. "No. 34768". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 January 1940. p. 150.

External links

• Patrick Rucker at ESPNcricinfo