Basil Grieve

Who was Basil Grieve?

Basil Arthur Firebrace Grieve was a cricketer who played two cricket Test matches for England during the England tour of South Africa in 1888–89. The games represent the first two first-class cricket games played in South Africa.

Born in Kilburn, Middlesex, Grieve was educated at Harrow and Trinity College, Cambridge. As a cricketer, he was no better than a club cricketer, and was a fine medium-paced opening bowler for Harrow and the Marylebone Cricket Club. He did not bowl in the two Tests he played, and was only selected for the 1888-9 England tour after it was decided that a full-strength team would be far too strong for the Springboks. This was found to be true: though the England side was no better than that of a weak county side, it still won handsomely.

Grieve was a wine merchant by trade. He died in Eastbourne, Sussex.