Tom Davis - nick-named 'Oily', though we cannot establish quite why - was born in Nottingham in November 1827 though he resided in Sneinton (which was then not part of Nottingham) where he was employed initially as a copper-plate printer but then worked for a relative as a tinner and brazier.
A hard-hitting batsman, he was an enthusiastic fielder, being adept at gathering the ball and returning with a single action to the keeper. It was said that on one occasion when he missed a catch, he asked to receive corporal punishment and was not satisfied until he had had several hearty applications with a bat.
His first Notts game was against England at Lord’s in 1854 and he appeared in 12 County matches, the last being in 1865. Apart from his batting and fielding he could also bowl medium pace round arm with a very peculiar action, his arm being hidden behind his back until the last possible moment.
From 1850 to 1869 he had regular professional engagements but did not remain in any post very long until in 1865 he went to Dublin, being there five seasons. His most illustrious innings was that of 72 v Surrey at Trent Bridge in 1860, when a collection realised the then enormous sum of £25.
He also represented the MCC and had his best game for them in 1860 when against the South Wales Cricket Club he took five wickets (exact figures not known) and then top scored with 34 in a drawn one-innings match.
In his later years Davis was employed by the Nottingham Town Corporation as superintendent of the Forest Recreation Ground. Tom Davis was a member of Hungerhill Gardens allotments and features in one of the tour commentaries which records that, '...he is away a good deal in the cricket season but devotes his time to the garden when he is at home...the garden is not one of excessive order in design' which sounds a little like his 'enthusiastic' fielding!
Thomas Davis died in Nottingham on 29 May 1898.
September 2026
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 78