Arthur Ridley

The son of The Reverend Nicholas James Ridley, he was born in September 1852 at Hollington, Hampshire. He was educated at Eton College, where he played for the college cricket team in 1870 and 1871, notably scoring a century in the 1871 Eton v Harrow match at Lord's. From Eton, he matriculated to Christ Church, Oxford. At Oxford, he made his debut in first-class cricket for Oxford University against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at Oxford in 1872, with Ridley playing five times for Oxford in 1872, and gaining his blue against Cambridge University in The University Match. With his lob bowling, he took 63 wickets at a bowling average of 13.31; he claimed five wickets in an innings on three occasions, taking best figures of 6 for 80. Ridley played twice for the Gentlemen in 1875, and once for the MCC against Nottinghamshire. He also played two matches at the Canterbury Cricket Week in August, with his final match of the 1875 season coming for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the North. ==Post-varsity cricket==

During the 1875 season, Ridley made his first appearance for Hampshire against Sussex at Hove. He also passed fifty wickets in a season for the only time, taking 53 at an average of 13.30. Ridley guest appeared for Kent as a given man by the MCC, when the MCC visited the St Lawrence Ground to partake in the 1877 Canterbury Cricket Week. Throughout his career, he played extensively for the Gentlemen, making fourteen appearances in the Gentlemen v Players fixtures. Characterised by Wisden as one of the best all-rounders of his time, he made 96 appearances in first-class cricket. he scored 3,150 runs at an average of 20.19, making four centuries. He was described by Carlaw as "one of the last of the great exponents of lob bowling", whilst Wisden listed him in the same vein as lob bowlers Edward Drake, Thomas Goodrich, Walter Money, William Rose, and V. E. Walker. His lob bowling claimed 224 wickets at a bowling average of 15.06, with him claiming five wickets in an innings on nineteen occasions and ten-wickets in a match on five. He was further noted by Wisden as being a "superb field" in whatever place he chose to fill", with Ridley often being utilised at point. He took 79 catches across his first-class career. In minor matches he also scored heavily, making two double-centuries for I Zingari in 1875 and 1881. Besides his playing career, Ridley would also serve on the committee of the MCC on three separate occasions: 1875 to 1882, 1884 to 1888, and 1889 to 1893. ==Family and personal life==

Ridley's business commitments limited his availability to play first-class cricket on a more regular basis. He married Adriana Elizabeth Newton in 1882, His funeral took place on 14 August at Kingswood, Surrey. His brother, Alfred, was also a first-class cricketer. His paternal great-grandfather was the landowner and politician Sir Matthew White Ridley, 2nd Baronet. ==References==