We have no real idea who this man is. In Lillywhite's Annual for 1873 he appears as R.S.Roberts. In the 1875 Annual he appears as R.Roberts "A very good bat and field. (Amateur)."

For Lancashire he bats in the middle order and apparently keeps wicket - five stumpings.

The only man who would fit seems to be Dick (Richard) Roberts of Accrington - but there is no trace of him keeping wicket. This Roberts made several good scores for his club and also bowled with some success. He was a joiner who worked for his father who had a joiners shop at the bottom of Avenue Parade, Accrington. He later went out as a professional at Blackley and then emigrated to Australia where he still lived in 1927.

(Article: Copyright © 2004 Don Ambrose)

Copyright © 2003-2024 Lancashire CCC and CricketArchive