Now here's a delightful chap that our beloved leader has unearthed!
Arthur William Lupton played for Yorkshire for a total of 19 years - appearing in 109 matches. In his long career he scored a total of 734 runs with a top score of 43 and an average of 10.34. Over his 19 seasons he bowled a total of 139 overs and took 14 wickets.
Clearly someone was impressed by these achievements because he was finally capped in 1925 - after 17 years of waiting - and was promptly made captain!
Clearly he lasted in the team because he was a "Gentleman" - but you can only imagine what Hirst and Rhodes must have thought of having him as their leader...
I can't help noticing that Lupton died in Carlton Manor, so he does appear to have been well-connected. I believe Carlton manor may now be a nursing home.
was the son of a former Lord Mayor of Bradford. He was educated at Sedbergh and was a member of a firm of wine merchants in Bradford. He apparently played with some distinction for the Yorkshire Gentlemen, but was well past his best when Yorkshire made him captain in 1925 (he succeeded the old Harrovian Geoffrey Wilson).
His role was essentially to be the amateur disciplinarian and he must have done something right, because Yorkshire won the county championship in his first season. Those who are familiar with the more recent history of the club will recognize this as a Ronnie Burnet scenario, so history does repeat itself - at least occasionally.
Yes: the Ronnie Burnet scenario. It's seldom I find myself disagreeing with Steve (leaving aside his betting predictions), but I think Yorkshire's 1925-27 skipper deserves to move up the ratings a bit. There's been a misunderstanding here: that "Lupton played for Yorkshire for a total of 19 years." A career army officer, he played one game for them in 1908 -- and the next one in 1925! In between, he played for teams like the Army, and in club cricket, and fought a war.
Like Burnet, he was brought in because of discipline problems (1924 had seen Yorkshire's already truculent reputation on the county circuit cause even more friction and complaints). And like Burnet, Lupton was an experienced, enthusiastic and successful club cricket captain. I don't know "what Hirst and Rhodes must have thought of having him as their leader..." but my guess is that they wouldn't have had much of a problem, since Lupton gave them broad leeway in tactical decisions. As Kilburn says in his History of Yorkshire County Cricket (1924-1949), "... a firm and happy discipline was maintained", and "...
had he never scored a run or held a catch, he would have justified his existence by his powers of command."
By the way, although Lupton's 1st. class bowling average (32.50) wasn't exactly a standout, I'm not sure it looks all that bad against those of, say, Bresnan (31.58), Kruis (31.21) and Rashid (33.70).
In short, I reckon Lupton deserves fair credit for taking on the job (and doing it successfully) at the age of 46 to 48. Interestingly, by the way, after Major Lupton's retirement, the Yorkshire committee sent a letter to South Africa in November, informing Herbert Sutcliffe (then with the MCC team) that he'd been appointed captain for 1928 "without your status being alterd" (i.e., as a professional). Sadly, the cable that Sutcliffe sent back read: "..... great honour. Question carefully considered. Regret to decline. Willing to play under any captain elected."
A terrific analysis. A example of why I keep coming back to this forum. well-informed, erudite and a pleasure to read. And what an interesting team we support: full of REAL characters, achievement and wonderful stories.