David Serjeant

{{short description|English-Australian cricketer and author}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2015}}

{{Use Australian English|date=February 2015}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Sir David Serjeant

| image =

| country =

| fullname =

| birth_date = {{birth date|1830|1|18|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and age|1929|1|12|1830|1|18|df=yes}}

| death_place = London, England

| batting =

| bowling =

| role =

| club1 = Victoria

| year1 = 1856-1857

| date = 13 February 2015

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7774.html Cricinfo

}}

Sir David Maurice Serjeant (18 January 1830 – 12 January 1929) was an English-born cricketer who played two first-class cricket matches in Australia for Victoria. Described as a "very good batsman" with a defence that was "neat to a fault",[http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/13001204 "Victorian Eleven"] (7 October 1857), The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 24 April 2017. he opened the batting for Victoria in both intercolonial matches, including in the very first against New South Wales, held in March 1856 on the newly-opened Melbourne Cricket Ground. The first ball of the match, bowled by George Gilbert, was driven by Serjeant for two.{{Cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/player/7774.html |title=David Serjeant |accessdate=13 February 2015 |work=ESPN Cricinfo}}

He played for Peterborough in England, and in an 1850 match against the touring All-England Eleven, he top-scored in the second innings before being bowled by John Wisden of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack fame.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/194/194083.html Peterborough v All England Eleven], Cricket Archive. Retrieved 25 April 2015. Educated at Cambridge University, Serjeant moved to Australia in 1852 and had a varied career. At club level, he made appearances for Richmond, and served as secretary of the Sandhurst Cricket Club. He returned to England in 1859 to continue his studies.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article73728967 "Sir David Serjeant"] (12 November 1928), The Advertiser. He worked as a physician and surgeon, and was knighted in 1922.

Serjeant's brother and nephews were also cricketers.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/16/16674/16674.html David Serjeant], Cricket Archive. Retrieved 25 April 2015.

He was the author of Australia: Its Cricket Bat and Kangaroo.[http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article2069368 "Early Interstate Cricket: A Nonagenarian's Memories"] (15 November 1924), The Argus.

Serjeant was the last-surviving member of the cricketers who played in the first intercolonial match between Victoria and New South Wales. He died in London in 1929.