William Rashleigh (cricketer)


William Rashleigh was an English cricketer who played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club and Oxford University between 1885 and 1901. He was born at Farningham in Kent and died at Balcombe in Sussex.

Cricket career

Rashleigh was the son of farmer and cricketer William Boys Rashleigh. He played in the Tonbridge School XI from 1882 to 1885, and made his first-class debut for Kent on 24 August 1885. Going up to Brasenose College, Oxford, that autumn, he gained his blue as a freshman. In July 1886 he joined Kingsmill Key in a stand of 243, a record first-wicket partnership at that time in a Varsity Match; both batsmen hit centuries, but no other batsman in the innings reached double figures. Altogether in first-class cricket he passed one hundred in nine innings. The right-handed batsman's top score of 163 was made against Middlesex in June 1896.

Teaching and ecclesiastical career

After occupying posts at Uppingham School and Tonbridge as assistant master, Rashleigh took Holy Orders in 1892. He was a minor canon at Canterbury Cathedral between 1903 and 1912, rector of St George's, Canterbury from 1912–16, and subsequently vicar of Horton Kirby and Ridgmont.