as an amateur cricketer he was a member of the essex xi who in 1905 beat the australians at leyton by 19 runs. he then went on to tour jamaica with the hon. l h tennyson's team in 1927. that year he also made the first ball-by-ball cricket commentary for the bbc, speaking for a total of 25 minutes over four sessions. he was reportedly fired by bbc chairman lord reith for reading advertisement placards out on air to fill time during a rain break.