William Townshend (cricketer)

William Townshend (16 November 1849 – 19 July 1923) was an English first-class cricketer and clergyman.

The son of Edward Dupré Townshend, he was born in British India at Sehore in November 1849.^[1] He was educated in England at Rossall School,^[2] before going up to Brasenose College, Oxford where he graduated B.A. in 1872 and M.A. in 1879.^[1]

While studying at Oxford, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the Gentlemen of England at Oxford in 1870. He played first-class cricket for Oxford until 1872, making fourteen appearances.^[3] He scored a total of 399 runs in his fourteen matches for Oxford, averaging 15.96 and making a high score of 55.^[4] He somewhat failed to live up the batting reputation he had gained at Rossall School, where he was considered the second best batsman at the school after F. W. Wright.^[2]

He later played first-class cricket in 1874, appearing in two matches, making an appearance each for the Gentlemen of England and the Marylebone Cricket Club.^[3] He played county cricket for Cheshire, Denbighshire, Herefordshire, Leicestershire and Shropshire (appearing for two matches for the latter in 1869).^[5]

After leaving Oxford he became a priest in the Church of England.^[1] He was the rector of Thurlaston in Leicestershire in 1880.^[1] Townshend died in Leicestershire at Kirkby Mallory in July 1923.