Ernest Upham

Ernest Frederick Upham (24 March 1873 – 23 October 1935) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1892 to 1910.

Ernie Upham
1909 portrait of Ernie Upham
Personal information
Full name
Ernest Francis Upham
Born(1873-03-24)24 March 1873
Wellington, New Zealand
Died23 October 1935(1935-10-23) (aged 62)
Paekākāriki, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-pace
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1892–93 to 1909–10Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 49
Runs scored 716
Batting average 11.93
100s/50s 0/2
Top score 52
Balls bowled 11,148
Wickets 264
Bowling average 16.71
5 wickets in innings 19
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 7/24
Catches/stumpings 36/0
Source: Cricket Archive, 22 November 2016

Cricket career

Ernie Upham bowled right-arm medium pace, batted right-handed in the lower order, and was a fine slips fieldsman.[1] He played for New Zealand several times between 1896 and 1907, in the days before New Zealand gained Test status, including the tour of Australia in 1898–99 and the two matches against Australia in 1905. He took 6 for 84 in the first innings to set up New Zealand's victory over the MCC at the Basin Reserve in 1906–07.[2]

His best first-class innings figures came in the second innings of Wellington's match against Canterbury in 1901–02: Canterbury needed 91 to win, and won by three wickets, but Upham took 7 for 24, bowling six of his victims.[3] His best match figures came two years later when, captaining Wellington against Auckland, he took 6 for 45 and 4 for 44 (match figures of 65.5–28–89–10) in a 90-run victory.[4]

Dick Brittenden said of him: "Upham, a pace bowler of the highest class, indulged in the eccentricity of wearing his cap back to front while he was bowling. He took a run of only about 10 paces, and with a smooth delivery and high right arm, he could achieve a thunderous break-back."[5] When the cricket historian Tom Reese compiled his history of early New Zealand cricket, New Zealand Cricket, 1841–1914, in 1927, he selected a 14-man team of the best New Zealand cricketers of the period from 1860 to 1914. Upham was one of those selected.[6]

Personal life

Upham spent his working life with the Wellington law firm Bell, Gully and Izard, where he was noted for his knowledge of Māori law.[7]

Upham married Sarah Smith in Wellington in December 1897.[8] They had two sons, Cyril and Frank.[1] She died in January 1920.[9] He remarried, and when he died in October 1935 he was survived by his second wife.[1]

References
  1. "Mr Ernest F. Upham: Outstanding Cricketer". Evening Post: 13. 23 October 1935. Retrieved 22 November 2016.
  2. "New Zealand v MCC, Wellington 1906–07". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  3. "Wellington v Canterbury 1901–02". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  4. "Auckland v Wellington 1903–04". CricketArchive. Retrieved 9 January 2018.
  5. R.T. Brittenden, Great Days in New Zealand Cricket, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1958, p. 29.
  6. "Cricket history: Recorded by Tom Reese: Dominion's best team from 1860 to 1914". Nelson Evening Mail. 31 March 1927. p. 4.
  7. "About us: History". Bell Gully. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  8. "Personal Items". New Zealand Herald: 6. 28 December 1897.
  9. "Women in Print". Evening Post: 9. 29 January 1920.
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