William Fennex facts for kids

William Fennex (born around 1764 in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire; died 4 March 1838 in Stepney, London) was a well-known English cricket player. He was a great all-rounder, meaning he was good at both batting and bowling. He was also a right-arm underarm fast bowler. Fennex played in important cricket matches from 1786 to 1816.

Early Life and Cricket Start

William Fennex started his working life as a blacksmith. He was quite tall for his time, standing five feet ten inches. People described him as "muscular and abstemious," which means he was strong and lived a simple, healthy life.

His cricket journey began with the Berkshire team in 1785. However, he is mostly remembered for playing with the Middlesex team. He even managed the cricket ground at Uxbridge.

Fennex's Cricket Skills

As a batsman, Fennex was known for being one of the first players to use "forward play." This is a batting technique where the player moves forward to meet the ball. He was also very good at "driving" the ball, which means hitting it hard and straight.

When it came to bowling, only underarm bowling was allowed during his time. This meant bowlers had to deliver the ball with their arm below their shoulder. Fennex was famous for having the highest underarm delivery. People said his hand was "nearly on a level with his shoulder" when he bowled, which was very unusual and effective.

Playing Career and Important Matches

William Fennex played in 85 known first-class matches until the year 1800. After that, he played less often, making nine more appearances between 1802 and 1816.

One special match he played in was the very first Gentlemen v Players game in 1806. In this historic match, Fennex played for the "Players" team, which was made up of professional cricketers. The "Gentlemen" team was made up of amateur players, usually from wealthier backgrounds.

Later Life

After his cricket career, William Fennex ran an inn called the Portman Arms in Marylebone for a while. In his older years, he worked as a gardener and groundsman. Like another famous cricketer named William Beldham, Fennex shared his memories and stories about early cricket with a writer named James Pycroft. These stories helped people learn more about cricket from that time.

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