Basil Totman
New Zealand cricketer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Basil Totman (1874 – 2 March 1953) was an English-born New Zealand cricketer. He played one first-class match for Auckland during the 1897–98 season.[1]
Finchingfield, Essex, England
Auckland, New Zealand
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1874 Finchingfield, Essex, England |
| Died | 2 March 1953 (aged 78–79) Auckland, New Zealand |
| Domestic team information | |
| Years | Team |
| 1897/98 | Auckland |
Source: CricInfo, 25 June 2016 | |
Totman was born at Finchingfield in the English county of Essex in 1874. His family migrated to New Zealand, arriving at Auckland on SS Lutterworth in January 1884.[2][3] He played club cricket for Parnell Cricket Club in the city and was considered "well-known" as a club cricketer.[4][5] He led the club's batting averages in 1996–7[6] and towards the end of the following season was described by the Auckland Star as a "promising young cricketer"[7] and as "a promising Auckland bat" by the New Zealand Herald.[8]
He made his only first-class appearance for Auckland during March 1898, opening the batting for the representative team against Hawke's Bay, although Trotman only made scores of two and one in his two innings.[9] His fielding was described as "patchy" and his debut described as one which "did not come off at all".[10] The following season he spent time in Christchurch, playing for the Lancaster Park club where he scored "well",[11] before returning to spend time training in England in 1899.[12]
Totman married Hattie Whitehead in 1905.[13] In 1909 he became the owner of a boot and shoe shop in Hamilton[14] and was active in flower show circles.[15] He died at Auckland in March 1953.[1]
