Henry Sprinks

{{short description|English cricketer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}}

{{Use British English|date=February 2016}}

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Henry Sprinks

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = Henry Robert James Sprinks

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|1905|8|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Alexandria, Egypt

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1986|5|23|1905|8|19|df=yes}}

| death_place = Bramshaw, Hampshire, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast

| role =

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = 1925–1929

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 21

| runs1 = 167

| bat avg1 = 9.27

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 40

| deliveries1 = 2,082

| wickets1 = 29

| bowl avg1 = 46.13

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 4/56

| catches/stumpings1 = 14/–

| date = 23 January

| year = 2010

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20320.html Cricinfo

}}

Henry Robert James Sprinks {{postnominal|MBE}} (19 August 1905 — 23 May 1986) was an English first-class cricketer and Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve officer.

Sprinks was born in August 1905 at Alexandria, in what was then the Khedivate of Egypt. He played his club cricket in Southampton for Deanery Cricket Club, where his performances earned him a trial at Hampshire.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0003141/19250515/196/0010|title=Hampshire's first pair|work=Hampshire Advertiser|location=Southampton|page=10|date=15 May 1925|access-date=6 September 2023|url-access=subscription |via=British Newspaper Archive}} His debut in first-class cricket came for Hampshire against Essex at Southend-on-Sea in the 1925 County Championship. He played first-class cricket for Hampshire until 1929, making 21 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6863/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Henry Sprinks|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 September 2023|url-access=subscription}} Playing in the Hampshire side as a right-arm fast bowler, he took 29 wickets at an average of 46.13, with best figures of 4 for 56.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6863/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Henry Sprinks|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 September 2023|url-access=subscription}} As a lower order batsman, he scored 167 runs at a batting average of 9.27 and a highest score of 40.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6863/f_Batting_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Henry Sprinks|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=6 September 2023|url-access=subscription}} It was noted by Wisden that "at times he suggested possibilities", alluding to what it viewed as unfulfilled potential.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228604.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1986|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=6 September 2023}}

Outside of cricket, he also played rugby union for Isle of Wight club side Ryde.{{cite news|url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001973/19280928/367/0022|title=Local side defeat Petersfield in Portsmouth League|work=Hampshire Telegraph|location=Portsmouth|page=22|date=28 September 1928|access-date=6 September 2023|url-access=subscription|via=British Newspaper Archive}} Sprinks served in the Second World War with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, being commissioned into the Administrative and Special Duties Branch as a flying officer in August 1940,{{London Gazette|issue=34915|date=6 August 1940|page=4815}} with confirmation in the rank following in July 1941.{{London Gazette|issue=35228|date=25 July 1941|page=4287}} He was made a temporary flight lieutenant in September 1942,{{London Gazette|issue=35725|date=29 September 1942|page=4264|supp=y}} before being granted the war substantive rank of squadron leader in March 1943.{{London Gazette|issue=36041|date=1 June 1943|page=2571|supp=y}} Following the war, he was appointed an MBE in the 1946 New Year Honours for his wartime service with the Air Ministry.{{London Gazette|issue=37412|date=9 January 1946|page=304|supp=y}} Sprinks died in May 1948 at Bramshaw, Hampshire.