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The Birmingham Post. Saturday 24 Dec 1955
Page 16 Column 7
Len BRAUND's Long Career as Cricketer
Feats Recalled
L.
C. BRAUND, the former Somerset and England cricketer, talked
of in his time as the finest all-rounder in the land, has died at his
home in Fulham, aged 80.
In all first-class matches BRAUND scored 17,695 runs, took 1,101 wickets and held 508 catches. He played 23 times for England between 1902 and 1907. It was not for his cricet alone that he became such a popular player. He was a real character, liked by everyone in the game.
A ready smile and good humour lay behind the tremendous spirit and courage which enabled BRAUND to make light of his troubles in later years. His right leg was amputated in October, 1943, and the other leg three years later, but the handicap did not stop him watching or enjoying his favourite game. He was frequently to be seen seated in his bath chair at Lord's.
Born in Surrey on October 18, 1875, BRAUND began his careet with the county of his birth, but received so few chances that when Somerset were badly in need of players he decided to move. Surrey's loss was certainly Somerset's gain.
Mr. C. B. FRY, the former England captain, paying tribute to BRAUND, one of his contemporaries, yesterday said: “The thing about Len BRAUND was that he was a big match player. I have never seen a better slip fieldsman. He had such a delicate hand.
He would push it out and the ball would stick. I remember a catch he made in the first Test of the 1902 series at Edgbaston. Clem HILL snicked a ball from HIRST to leg and BRAUND, anticipating what was happening, moved behind the wicket-keeper and held the ball almost off the face of the bat. Archie MACLAREN would never take the field without him. He was a most valuable member of England's team and as cool as a cucmber.”
'Catch of Season'
Those who watched the 1901 Gentlemen v. Players match at Lord's will also recall the wonderful catch by which BRAUND dismissed C. B. FRY. It was known as the catch of the season.
BRAUND quickly made his mark with Somerset, for whom he was the leading player for many years. He was a fine batsman on any pitch, a skilful leg break bowler and a grand fielder. Against the Australians in 1899, he played three fine innings. He scored 63 on a bad pitch at Truro, followed with 125 for W. G. GRACE's XI at Crystal Palace when he and Alec HEARNE put on 242 in two hours and 40 minutes, and then hit 82 for Somerset at Taunton.
In his first championship season with Somerset in 1901 he hit 1,084(?) runs, including three centuries, and took 78 wickets. In 1902 he took 172 wickets for less than 20 runs each and the next season 134 wickets at 21 runs apiece. In both these years he exceeded 1,400 runs. This was the pattern until his retirement in 1920
Twenty of BRAUND's 23 Tests were against Australia. He toured there in 1901-2, 1903-4 and 1907-8, playing in all five Tests on each occasion, and he was included in all five games when the Australians toured England in 1902. His catch to dismiss HILL at Edgbaston was in the match when RHODES and HIRST bowled Australia out for 36 – still the smallest Test total by Australia in this county.
BRAUND played three times against the South Africans in 1907, scoring 104 at Lord's, one of the two centuries scored for England in the series. He became a first-class umpire on giving up cricket and he continued in that capacity until his retirement in 1938.
He was one of the 26 retired professional players who became honorary members of M.C.C. In 1949.