Richard Daft

Who was Richard Daft?

Richard Daft was an English cricketer. He was one of the best batsmen of his day, the peak of his first-class career being the 1860s and early 1870s. He appeared in only a handful of matches after 1880.

Born in Nottingham, most of his major cricket was played for Nottinghamshire and the All England Eleven, and he captained the former side from 1871 to 1880. Unusually for the period, after beginning his career as a professional he later became an amateur. Two of his most notable innings were 118 at Lord's for North against South in 1862 and 102 for the Players against the Gentlemen at Lord's in 1872.

He led a strong side to North America in late 1879, which beat a XV of Philadelphia.

A portrait of him painted in 1875 by Frank Miles is owned by Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. Miles's family were keen cricketers with a number of his brothers playing for Nottinghamshire.

It was written of him: "Not a big hitter, but played a thoroughly sound and at the same time graceful game." However, he was ridiculed on one occasion when he came out to bat with his head wrapped in a towel for protection.