Anthony Wilkinson

Who was Anthony Wilkinson?

Anthony John Anstruther Wilkinson was an English barrister and amateur first-class cricketer.

Wilkinson was born in Mount Oswald, County Durham, England, the 4th son of the Rev. Percival Spearman and Sophia Mary Anstruther. He was educated at Shrewsbury School and St John's College, Cambridge, gaining a B.A. in 1859. Admitted to Lincoln's Inn in 1858, he was called to the Bar in 1861.

Wilkinson played sixty one first-class matches between 1862 and 1874. He played nineteen times for Middlesex County Cricket Club, five for Yorkshire, the MCC, Gentlemen of the South, Surrey Club, Gentlemen, Gentlemen of Middlesex, Southgate, North of the Thames, Gentlemen of England and Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club. He also appeared in non first-class cricket for Surrey Club and Ground in 1862.

A right-handed batsman, Wilkinson scored 1,351 runs at an average of 13.64, with a highest score of 84 not out against Gentlemen of England. He took 53 wickets, bowling right arm round arm slow, at 22.62 with a best of 6 for 52 against the MCC. He took 43 catches in the field. A good all-rounder, he scored runs in a prolific manner in club cricket and took many wickets. He was chairman of the meeting when Durham County Cricket Club was founded in 1874.