Cecil Wood

Who was Cecil Wood?

Cecil John Burditt Wood was a first class cricketer who played for Leicestershire County Cricket Club and London County Cricket Club. He is one of just six players in the first class history to carry his bat twice in the same match.

Making his debut in 1896, he scored 23,879 runs as an opening batsman at an average of 31.05, made in 456 first class matches. His best score was 225. He took 172 wickets with his right arm slow bowling at 39.43 and took 180 catches in the field. He carried his bat through both innings against Yorkshire CCC at Bradford in 1911, and completed the feat 17 times in all. He hit 1,000 runs in a season13 times, going on to 2,000 runs in 1901.

A coal merchant by trade, he also captained Leicestershire in a career which ultimately spanned to 1923. He was the Leicestershire Secretary in 1940 and 1941.

He was also a good soccer player, playing for Leicester Fosse and Ashford United.

He was born on 21 November 1875 in Semilang, Northampton and died on 5 June 1960 in Leicester.