Harold McDonell
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Onich, Inverness-shire, Scotland
 McDonell c. 1912 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Harold Clark McDonell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 19 September 1882 Wimbledon, Surrey, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 23 July 1965 (aged 82) Onich, Inverness-shire, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Leg break | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1901–1904 | Surrey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1902–1905 | Cambridge University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1905 | Marylebone Cricket Club | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1908–1921 | Hampshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 27 February 2010 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Harold Clark McDonell (19 September 1882 – 23 July 1965) was an English first-class cricketer and educator. As a cricketer, he played county cricket for both Surrey and Hampshire, and varsity cricket for Cambridge University. In nearly 130 first-class appearances, he took nearly 450 wickets with his leg spin bowling, in addition to scoring over 3,000 runs. As an educator, McDonnell began his teaching career at Twyford School, where he had attended in his youth. From 1910 to 1937, he was headmaster of the school.
The son of A. W. McDonell, he was born at Wimbledon in September 1882. He was educated firstly at Twyford School, a boys' preparatory school three miles south of Winchester,[1] before attending Winchester College,[2] where he played for and captained the college cricket team.[3] In the summer following his final year at Winchester, McDonell made his debut in first-class cricket for Surrey against Hampshire at Southampton in the 1901 County Championship.[4] After completing his education at Winchester, McDonell matriculated to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge.[5] There, he played first-class cricket for Cambridge University Cricket Club between 1902 and 1905, making 31 appearances.[4] Amongst these were three appearances in The University Match against Oxford University at Lord's,[4] which gained him a blue.[3] An all-rounder who bowled leg spin, he took 117 wickets for Cambridge at an average of 20.15; he took eight five wicket hauls and ten-wickets in a match once.[6] his best innings bowling figures were 8 for 83 against Surrey, when he took match figures of 15 for 138.[3] McDonell topped the Cambridge bowling averages in both his first and last years.[3] With the bat, he scored 898 runs at a batting average of 16.62, with three half centuries and a highest score of 78.[7] A notable batting innings for Cambridge came in 1905, when with Cambridge destined to lose the match when they lost six quick wickets, McDonell (60) combined with Toby Colbeck (107) to add 143 runs in just under ninety minutes, setting up a Cambridge victory.[3]
During the summer-break in 1903 and 1904, McDonell played for Surrey, making twelve further first-class appearances for the county during that period.[4] In thirteen matches for Surrey, he took 41 wickets at an average of 21.75; he took two five wicket hauls and took ten wickets in a match once,[6] with best innings figures of 7 for 44 against Gloucestershire.[8] He headed Surrey's bowling averages during the 1903 season.[3] With the bat, he scored 269 runs at a batting average of 14.15, with a highest score of 46.[7] In 1903 and 1904, he made two appearances for the Gentlemen in the Gentlemen v Players match, in addition to playing once for the Gentlemen of England in 1905 against the touring Australians. Shortly after his matriculation from Cambridge in 1905, he toured North America with the Marylebone Cricket Club, playing two first-class matches against the Gentlemen of Philadelphia.[4] McDonell bowled with success in the second match at Merion Cricket Club, with match figures of 9 for 130.[9]