All-Rounder Francesca Sweet Signs Two-Year Deal With Hampshire
Right-handed batter and medium pacer Francesca Sweet joins Hampshire following a successful trial period
Charles Richards Gunner was born in Bishops Waltham in 1853. He was an amateur who played just once for Hampshire, v Derbyshire at Derby in 1878, but in a match truncated by rain, held one catch but neither batted nor bowled.
He was therefore the first of three men to have such a record for the county – the others are OW Cornwallis & FJ Hyland.
Some years later CR played for Swanmore Park (v Hambledon), the Gentlemen of Hampshire, and in non-first-class games for Hampshire – from which it appears he was a lower-order batsman who did not bowl.
He did however represent England at Rugby Union, while his son, John Hugh played in six matches for Hampshire in 1906 & 1907. He was the third and last brother to die on active service in the war (Belgium, 1918). The father, CR, died in Bishops Waltham in 1934.
Right-handed batter and medium pacer Francesca Sweet joins Hampshire following a successful trial period
Secure Early Bird prices on Hampshire Cricket Memberships, Vitality Blast Passports and Women’s Season Tickets before 11:59pm on 31 January
Hampshire’s Lauren Bell delivered impactful spells to help RCB start the tournament with back-to-back wins