George Davenport (cricketer)

George Davenport (5 May 1860 – 4 October 1902) was an English first-class cricketer made 27 appearances in first-class cricket. He was mostly for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), with whom he was employed as a groundsman at their Lord's home.

Davenport was born in Nantwich. He was employed as a groundsman at Lord's for many years.^[1] His debut in first-class cricket came for the North of England in the North v South fixture of 1884 at Lord's.^[2] He made four first-class appearances for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1885, as well as appearing again in the North v South fixture.^[2] He played in three matches for the MCC in 1886, as well as appearing in the North v South fixture and for CI Thornton's XI against the touring Australians.^[2] Davenport played three first-class matches in 1887, appearing once more in the North v South fixture, as well as for the MCC and the Players of the North in the Players of the South versus Players of the North match.^[2] He appeared once for the MCC in 1888, before making four appearances for the club in 1889.^[2]

He continued to play first-class cricket for the MCC into the early 1890s, making two appearances in 1890, two in 1891 and one in 1893.^[2] His final first-class appearances came in 1895 and 1896, when he made three more appearances for the MCC.^[2] Making a total of 27 appearances in first-class cricket, mostly as a wicket-keeper, Davenport scored 625 runs at an average of 16.44.^[3] He made one century, which he made against Hampshire in 1885 at Southampton.^[4] He played minor counties cricket for Cheshire in the 1895 Minor Counties Championship, including playing in Cheshire's inaugural match in the competition against Staffordshire.^[5]

Davenport also stood as an umpire in two first-class matches, separated by a period of over a decade.^[6] He died at Nantwich in October 1902, aged 42.^[1]

• George Davenport at ESPNcricinfo