Alfred Richardson Holdship (15 October 1867 – 28 January 1923) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1893 to 1899. He was the second captain of the New Zealand cricket team.
Education Born in Auckland, Holdship was sent to England for his education, first to Cheltenham College, where he played cricket in the First XI, then to Caius College, Cambridge University. He received a BA degree, then studied law at the Inner Temple in London, was called to the Bar in 1892, and returned to New Zealand to practise law in Wellington.The Cyclopedia of New Zealand (1897) Retrieved 14 March 2014.
Cricket career A stylish batsman with a wide range of shots, a brilliant fieldsman and an occasional bowler, Holdship made his first-class debut in December 1893, captaining Wellington against Auckland.Auckland v Wellington 1893-94 In the return match in January he made 70, the highest score on either side.Wellington v Auckland 1893-94 In February he played in New Zealand's first international match, against the touring New South Wales team.New Zealand v New South Wales 1893-94
He continued to captain Wellington. When New South Wales returned in 1895-96 he captained New Zealand to their first victory.New Zealand v New South Wales 1895-96 He played again for New Zealand, but not as captain, in 1896–97, this time against Queensland, when he made the side's top score of 69 in another victory.New Zealand v Queensland 1896-97
Holdship made the highest score of his career, 79, also the highest score in the match, when he captained Wellington to an innings victory over Canterbury in 1897–98.Wellington v Canterbury 1897-98 His last match was against Canterbury in 1898–99, when he once again made Wellington's highest score, 65, but was unable to avert an innings defeat.Canterbury v Wellington 1898-99
Later life After his cricket career, Holdship practised in Wanganui for about 10 years before moving to Australia. In 1914 he was admitted to the Bar in Sydney,Auckland Star, 31 July 1914, p. 6. where he and his brother established the legal firm Messrs Holdship and Holdship. He died in Sydney aged 55, survived by his wife Maude.Sydney Morning Herald, 29 January 1923, p. 8.
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