Walter Livsey

Walter Herbert Livsey (23 September 1893 – 12 September 1978) was an English

In 1922, Livsey played 31 matches, with 348 runs at 14.50, 35 catches and 22 stumpings.[6] During this season Livsey forged a partnership of 177 with George Brown against Warwickshire, who had scored 223 in their first innings and bowled Hampshire out for 15. In the follow-on, Hampshire had a lead of 66 when Livsey came in at number ten, however his maiden century, 110* with Brown and later Stuart Boyes, gave Hampshire a 155 run victory.^[1] He failed to pass 50 on any other occasions during that season, however.^[6]

The 1923 season saw reduced success for Livsey with the bat. He scored one half-century, however his season total was a lower 247 at 9.14, and this included 14 not outs. His glove work continued to be successful, however, taking 38 catches and performing 21 stumpings.^[6] In 1924 Livsey improved his batting once again with 369 runs at 12.72, with a high score of 67. In the 29 matches he played during the season, he also took 21 catches and completed 21 stumpings.^[6] In 1925 success with both bat and gloves continued, with 425 runs at 15.74, 21 catches and 21 stumpings from 27 matches, and 1926 saw a career-best 562 runs at 19.37, with two half-centuries, a top score of 54, 34 catches and 18 stumpings, all from 29 matches.^[6]

Livsey's batting continued to reach new heights in 1927, when he hit another career-best 615 runs from 27 matches at 20.50, the first time he had ever broken into the 20s with his batting average.^[6] He scored two half-centuries, the highest being 56*, and took 29 catches and completed 13 stumpings. His form with the bat peaked in 1928. Across 31 matches, Livsey scored 896 runs, including his only other first-class century, 109* against Kent in Dover on 29 June 1928.^[1][11] His average for the season was 22.97, a career best, and he scored two other half-centuries. He also took 38 catches and performed 29 stumpings.^[6] His final season in domestic cricket was equally successful with the gloves, taking 44 catches and completing 30 stumpings from 29 matches, however his form with the bat decreased, passing 50 only once and scoring 556 at 13.56.^[6] In his final match, played on 28 August 1929 against Gloucestershire, he completed three stumpings and scored four and 27 as Gloucestershire won by 14 runs.^[12] By the end of this season, his health forced him into retirement.^[1]

He was butler to his county captain, the Hon Lionel Tennyson (subsequently Lord Tennyson).^[13]

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