Henry Crook's appearances for Nottingham were so infrequent - five in 11 seasons - that they were are charmingly described in one contemporary report 'as like angels' visits, few and far between.'
A very slow round arm bowler and a sound batter, he was born in 1802, and christened on 8 November that year in Bingham. He represented the local club with great distinction for some 30 years. His first game for the Nottingham Old Club was v Sheffield on The Forest in August 1827 and he played twice - home and away to Sheffield - in 1828. His last two First-Class games were for Nottinghamshire, against Sussex and Kent in July 1837. In all games, he made 54 runs at 6.00 and a top score of 14; he took one First-Class wicket but the details are not recorded.
A farmer by occupation, he was preceded in the Bingham team by H Crook, probably his father; his son, another Henry, was a promising player who played for the XXII Colts in 1862 and for Retford but died in 1866 aged 20. Henry Crook himself died in Bingham on 17 August 1886.
July 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 17