William Light (cricketer)

{{short description|English cricketer}}

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

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

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = William Light

| image =

| country = England

| fullname = William Frederick Light

| nickname =

| birth_date = 1 March 1878

| birth_place = Winchester, Hampshire, England

| death_date = {{Death date and age|1930|11|10|1878|3|1|df=yes}}

| death_place = Exeter, Devon, England

| heightft =

| heightinch =

| batting = Left-handed

| bowling = Right-arm fast
Slow left-arm orthodox

| role =

| family = Elisha Light (brother)

| club1 = Hampshire

| year1 = 1897–1898

| club2 = Devon

| year2 = 1902–1928

| columns = 1

| column1 = First-class

| matches1 = 12

| runs1 = 101

| bat avg1 = 5.94

| 100s/50s1 = –/–

| top score1 = 41

| deliveries1 = 695

| wickets1 = 10

| bowl avg1 = 34.30

| fivefor1 = –

| tenfor1 = –

| best bowling1 = 3/32

| catches/stumpings1 = 9/–

| date = 12 February

| year = 2010

| source = http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/16291.html Cricinfo

}}

William Frederick Light (1 March 1878 — 10 November 1930) was an English first-class cricketer.

Light was born at Winchester in March 1878. A professional cricketer,Popular Cricketer Married at Crediton. Western Times. 15 September 1905. p. 11 he made his debut in first-class cricket for Hampshire against Essex at Southampton in the 1897 County Championship. He played first-class cricket for Hampshire until 1898, making twelve appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6723/First-Class_Matches.html|title=First-Class Matches played by Billy Light|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=24 January 2023|url-access=subscription}} Playing as a left-arm fast-medium and slow left-arm orthodox bowler, he took 10 wickets for Hampshire at an average of 34.30, with best figures of 3 for 32.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6723/f_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=First-Class Bowling For Each Team by Billy Light|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=24 January 2023|url-access=subscription}} Following the 1898 season, he was employed as a cricket coach at Marlborough College, before moving to Devon, qualifying to play for Devon County Cricket Club by 1902 having gained his residential qualification.{{cite web|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/228173.html|title=Wisden - Obituaries in 1930|publisher=ESPNcricinfo|accessdate=24 January 2023}} His debut for Devon in minor counties cricket came against Monmouthshire in the 1902 Minor Counties Championship. Light played minor counties cricket for Devon until 1928, making 165 appearances.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6723/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Billy Light|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=24 January 2023|url-access=subscription}} He took 587 wickets for Devon at an average of 17.41, taking a five wicket haul on 43 occasions and ten wickets in a match on seven occasions. His best innings bowling figures were 9 for 55.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6723/minc_Bowling_by_Team.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Bowling For Each Team by Billy Light|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=24 January 2023|url-access=subscription}} He is Devon's second highest wicket-taker in the Minor Counties Championship, behind Doug Yeabsley (733).{{cite web|url=http://www.devoncricket.co.uk/userfiles/dccc/archive/Career-Records-1901-onwards-Championship..xls|title=Career Records- Minor Counties Championship (1901 – onwards)|publisher=www.devoncricket.co.uk|accessdate=24 January 2023}} Light also scored 6,388 runs in the Minor Counties Championship for Devon, at a batting average of 28.86. He made seven centuries and 38 half centuries, with a highest score of 157.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/6/6723/minc_Batting_by_Team.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Batting and Fielding For Each Team by Billy Light|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=24 January 2023|url-access=subscription}} Light married at Crediton in September 1905, and died suddenly at Exeter in November 1930. His brother, Elisha, was also a first-class cricketer.