Bryan Valentine

Who was Bryan Valentine?

Bryan Herbert Valentine was an English cricketer who played in 7 Tests from 1933 to 1939.

Although he played only 7 tests, his Test batting average of 64.85, including 2 centuries and 1 fifty, is remarkable and dwarfs his overall first class record of 30.15 with 35 centuries and 90 fifties in 399 first class matches. He played in just 2 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 knock 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 represented Cambridge University in 1928 and 1929, where he also won a blue in soccer, and his long career at Kent as a right-handed batsman and occasional medium pacer spanned two decades from 1927 to 1948. He was awarded his Kent cap in 1931and captained the county on occasion during the 1930s in the absence of Percy Chapman. In 1937, shared the captaincy with R.T. Bryan. 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 bowler of limited pretensions in a side which relied on the tireless 'Tich' Freeman, he was an excellent all round fielder equally home in the covers or catching close to the wicket.