Wisden
 

George Studd

STUDD, MR. GEORGE BROWN, died on February 13, aged 85. The second eldest of three famous cricketing brothers, Sir J. E. Kynaston Studd and C. T. Studd being the others, all of whom played for both Eton and Cambridge, and established a record by captaining the University in consecutive years. Born at Netheravon House, near Amesbury, Wiltshire, on October 20, 1859, G. B. Studd got his Colours for Eton in 1877 when he scored 32 and 23 against Harrow and 54 against Winchester. He fared less well in the following year, but going up to Cambridge he got his Blue as a Freshman and appeared in the University match four times. Against Oxford in 1880 he made 38 and 40, and two years later, when captain of the Light Blues, he played a great innings of 120 which was the seventh three-figure score, and, at the time, the second highest in University matches. True to Eton form he showed special skill and power in driving, notably to the off, and in the field saved many runs by sure picking up, but did not always hold a catch. He enjoyed his best season for Cambridge in 1881, in which year and the following summer all three brothers were in the University Eleven. In 1882 he made 819 runs in first-class matches--a big achievement in those days--and put together for the Cambridge Long Vacation Club 289 in a grand display of forcing cricket. In the autumn G. B. and C. T. Studd went with the team taken out to Australia by the Hon. Ivo Bligh (afterwards Earl of Darnley) which brought back the The Ashes by defeating W. L. Murdoch's team in two out of three matches, but G. B. failed to produce his best form. He assisted Middlesex occasionally from 1879 to 1886.

During his last two years at Cambridge he represented the University against Oxford in the tennis matches--both singles and doubles. He was called to the Bar, but owing to a severe illness was compelled to winter abroad and did not practice. Like his brother C. T., G. B. Studd became a missionary, first in India and China, but from 1891 onwards at Los Angeles, California.

Altogether six brothers Studd played in the Eton XI; those besides the three seniors who captained Cambridge--J. E. K., G. B. and C. T.--were A. H., H. W. and R. A. The youngest of the six, R. A., got his Blue in 1895. An elder half-brother E. J. C., who played in the Cheltenham XI in 1866, died in 1909. C. T. Studd died in 1931, J. E. K. Studd on January 14, 1944. G. B. was the last survivor of the 1879 University match.

As written in last year's Wisden of Sir. J. E. K. Studd, the three brothers helped Cambridge to beat by six wickets The Australian team which won The Ashes match by seven runs. The opening stand of 106 by G. B. (48) with J. E. K. (68), largely accounted for the splendid victory by Cambridge, but C. T. Studd, scoring 118 and 17 not out, after taking eight wickets, contributed still more to the triumph. G. B. played for Past and Present of Cambridge, who that season beat the Australians by 20 runs at Portsmouth, and altogether in 10 innings against that 1882 team he averaged 25.20.

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