Shock White
Shock White (dates of birth and death unknown) was a noted English cricketer of the mid-18th century who played for Middlesex. He has often been mistaken for Thomas "Daddy" White but there is no doubt at all that he was a different player altogether.[1] His first name and the source of his nickname are unknown. He lived in Brentford and was a member of the local club.
Shock White is first mentioned in the Whitehall Evening Post on Saturday, 26 September 1761. In the Chertsey v Hampton game at Laleham Burway on the following Monday, Hampton were to have Charles Sears, John Haynes and Shock White as given men.[2]
Shock White has often been described as the culprit in the Monster Bat Incident 1771[3] but it has been conclusively proved that the wide bat was used by his namesake Thomas White of Reigate.[1] Shock White was twice mentioned by the Daily Advertiser in 1773 as "Shock White of Brentford".[2] Furthermore, while Shock White played at Tothill Fields for Westminster versus London on Wednesday, 18 August 1773, Thomas White was simultaneously playing for Surrey v Kent at Sevenoaks Vine.[2]
There are no statistics for Shock White's career and all that is definitely known of him is that he was active between 1761 and 1773.[1]
References
Bibliography
- Bowen, Rowland (1970). Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development. Eyre & Spottiswoode.
- Buckley, G B (1935). Fresh Light on 18th Century Cricket. Cotterell.
- Haygarth, Arthur (1862). Scores & Biographies, Volume 1 (1744-1826). Lillywhite.