Bryan Valentine

Bryan Valentine
	Valentine in 1933
Personal information
Full name	Bryan Herbert Valentine
Born	17 January 1908; Blackheath, Kent, England
Died	2 February 1983 (aged 75); Otford, Kent, England
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium
Relations	Carol Valentine (sister)
International information
National side	England;
Test debut (cap 272)	15 December 1933 v India
Last Test	14 March 1939 v South Africa
Domestic team information
1927–1948	Kent
1928–1929	Cambridge University
Career statistics
	Source: CricInfo, 19 July 2009

Bryan Herbert Valentine MC (17 January 1908 – 2 February 1983) was an English cricketer who played in seven Test matches between 1933 and 1939.^[1] He was born at Blackheath, London and died at Otford, Kent.^[2]

Although he played only seven Tests, his Test batting average of 64.85, including two centuries and one fifty, is twice his overall first-class cricket record of 30.15 with 35 centuries and 90 fifties in 399 first-class matches. He played in just two Test series, scoring 179 runs in two tests against India on the 1933/34 tour with a best of 136 in less than 3 hours on debut in Bombay. He amassed 275 runs in 5 matches against South Africa on the 1938/39 MCC tour, including a score of 112 in 2 hours, 40 minutes in Cape Town in the Second Test of the series. His final Test was the famous 'timeless test' in Durban which saw England's last innings cut short at 654/5 when they were forced to catch the boat home after 10 days of cricket. Valentine ended the match on 4 not out.

Valentine was educated at Repton School and Pembroke College, Cambridge.^[3] He represented Cambridge University at cricket in 1928 and 1929, and also won a Blue for soccer. His long career at Kent County Cricket Club as a right-handed batsman and occasional medium pacer spanned two decades from 1927 to 1948. He was awarded his Kent cap in 1931 and captained the county on occasion during the 1930s in the absence of Percy Chapman; in 1937 he shared the captaincy with Ronnie Bryan. Following Gerry Chalk's death in World War II Valentine captained Kent again between 1946 and 1948 before being succeeded by David Clark.

An attacking batsman whose defence improved with experience in the first-class arena, he was particularly strong through the leg side but his Test appearances were limited by the strength of the England team at the time. His highest score, 242, was made for Kent against Leicestershire at Oakham in 1938. A limited bowler, he was an excellent all round fielder equally at home in the covers or catching close to the wicket.

During World War II Valentine served with the Royal West Kent Regiment and was awarded the Military Cross "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in North Africa".^[4] He returned to cricket despite being badly wounded during hostilities. He was President of Kent County Cricket Club in 1967 and served on the cricket committee for many years.

His sister, Carol, also played test cricket for England women's cricket team.

References

^ Bryan Valentine, CricInfo. Retrieved 2021-08-01.
^ Carlaw D (2020) Kent County Cricketers A to Z. Part Two: 1919–1939, pp. 150–156. (Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 2020-07-01.)
^ "Freshmen's Match At Cambridge". The Times. No. 44883. London. 3 May 1928. p. 7.
^ "No. 36180". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1943. p. 4217.

External links

Media related to Bryan Valentine at Wikimedia Commons
Bryan Herbert Valentine (obituary), Kent Cricket

Sporting positions
Preceded by Geoffrey Legge	Kent County Cricket Club captain 1931–1937 Captaincy shared with Percy Chapman until 1936, Ian Akers-Douglas in 1936 and Ronnie Bryan in 1937	Succeeded by Gerry Chalk
Preceded by Gerry Chalk	Kent County Cricket Club captain 1946–1948	Succeeded by David Clark

[1] Bryan Valentine, CricInfo. Retrieved 2021-08-01.

[carlaw-2] Carlaw D (2020) Kent County Cricketers A to Z. Part Two: 1919–1939, pp. 150–156. (Available online at the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. Retrieved 2020-07-01.)

[3] "Freshmen's Match At Cambridge". The Times. No. 44883. London. 3 May 1928. p. 7.

[4] "No. 36180". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 September 1943. p. 4217.

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