{{Short description|English cricketer and Army officer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}} {{Use British English|date=March 2017}} {{Infobox cricketer | name = Rony Stanyforth | honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CVO|MC}} | image = RT Stanyforth 1927.jpg | caption = Stanyforth in 1927 | fullname = Ronald Thomas Stanyforth | birth_date = {{Birth date|1892|5|30|df=yes}} | birth_place = Chelsea, London, England | death_date = {{Death date and age|1964|2|20|1892|5|30|df=yes}} | death_place = Kirk Hammerton, Yorkshire, England | batting = Right-handed | bowling = Wicket-keeper | columns = 2 | column1 = Test | matches1 = 4 | runs1 = 13 | bat avg1 = 2.60 | 100s/50s1 = 0/0 | top score1 = 6* | hidedeliveries = true | catches/stumpings1= 7/2 | column2 = First-class | matches2 = 61 | runs2 = 1,092 | bat avg2 = 17.33 | 100s/50s2 = 0/6 | top score2 = 91 | catches/stumpings2= 72/21 | international = true | country = England | testdebutagainst = South Africa | testdebutdate = 24 December | testdebutyear = 1927 | lasttestdate = 1 February | lasttestagainst = South Africa | lasttestyear = 1928 | source = http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20338.html Cricinfo | date = 15 August | year = 2022 }} Lieutenant-Colonel '''Ronald Thomas''' "'''Rony'''" '''Stanyforth''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CVO|MC}} (30 May 1892 – 20 February 1964)<ref name="YB"/> was an Army officer and English amateur first-class cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England, captaining England in the four Test matches he played in.<ref name="YB">{{cite book |title=The Yorkshire County Cricket Club: 2011 Yearbook |last=Warner |first=David |year=2011 |edition=113th |publisher=Great Northern Books |location=Ilkley, Yorkshire |isbn=978-1-905080-85-4 |page=378 }}</ref>
Stanyforth was born at Chelsea, London, England, the son of Edwin Wilfrid Stanyforth (born Edwin Wilfrid Greenwood) of Kirk Hammerton Hall, Yorkshire. He was educated at Eton and Christ Church, Oxford.<ref>[http://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/article/oupww/whowaswho/U49871 STANYFORTH, Lieut-Col Ronald Thomas], ''Who Was Who'', A & C Black, 1920–2016 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014)</ref> He played for Oxford University in 1914 and then served in World War I. He was awarded the MC and CVO.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20121014053150/http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=199-ywd&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1 YOUNGE WILSON DEEDS]. National Archives Sheffield Archives</ref>
After the war Stanyforth played for Combined Services in 1922, Army from 1923 to 1929, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) from 1923 to 1933 and H. D. G. Leveson Gower's XI in 1926. In 1926 he played one game for Langholm Cricket Club after being invited to by the Earl of Dalkeith.<ref>[https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000469/19260916/153/0007.html]. British Newspaper Archive</ref>
After Guy Jackson, the original choice as captain, fell ill just before the tour was to commence, Stanyforth, a wicket-keeper, captained England on the tour to South Africa in 1927–28.<ref name=TCObit/> Under his captaincy in the first four Test matches, England won two, lost one and drew once. However, the series was a draw as the fifth Test, when Greville Stevens stood in for the injured Stanyforth, was lost.<ref name="Cric"/>
Only three of Stanyforth's 61 first-class games were played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club in the County Championship. All three came in 1928 after he had captained England.<ref name="YB"/><ref name="Cric"/> He also played for the Free Foresters from 1930 to 1933.<ref>[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/463/463.html Rony Stanyforth]. Cricket Archive</ref>
Stanyforth retired from the Army in 1930 and became Comptroller of the Household to the Duke of Gloucester.<ref name=TCObit>[https://magazine.cricketarchive.com/Magazine/1964/vol_45_no_3/27/index.html "Obituary"], ''The Cricketer'', April 1964, pp. 26–27.</ref> He rejoined the Army at the outbreak of the Second World War, serving in the 21st Lancers, as Aide-de-camp to General Alan Brooke from 1939 to 1940, and as GSO1 21st Army Group from 1941 to 1945. He returned to the Duke of Gloucester's service in 1947 as extra equerry.<ref name=TCObit/>
Stanyforth died at Kirk Hammerton, Yorkshire, in February 1964, aged 72. He was a trustee of the MCC at the time of his death,<ref name="Cric">{{cite web |url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/20338.html |title=Rony Stanyforth |author=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |author-link=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack |publisher=Espncricinfo.com |access-date=9 July 2011}}</ref> and the author of ''Wicketkeeping'', published in 1935.
==Family== Stanyforth was the great-great-grandson of Samuel Staniforth and the great-great-great-grandson of Thomas Staniforth, each of whom served as Lord Mayor of Liverpool. His father Edwin Stanyforth was born Edwin Greenwood, however he changed his name at the request of his great uncle Rev. Thomas Staniforth of Storrs Hall in his will. Edwin was the son of Ripon member of parliament and resident of Swarcliffe Hall, John Greenwood.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20338.html Cricinfo]
{{s-start}} {{s-sports}} {{succession box| before=Arthur Carr| title=English national cricket captain| years=1927/8| after=Percy Chapman }} {{s-end}} {{England Test cricket captains}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stanyforth, Rony}} Category:1892 births Category:1964 deaths Category:21st Lancers officers Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Category:British Army cricketers Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:Combined Services cricketers Category:Commanders of the Royal Victorian Order Category:Cricketers from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Category:People from Chelsea, London Category:England Test cricket captains Category:English cricketers of 1919 to 1945 Category:20th-century English sportsmen Category:English cricketers Category:Free Foresters cricketers Category:H. D. G. Leveson Gower's XI cricketers Category:Marylebone Cricket Club cricketers Category:Oxford University cricketers Category:People educated at Eton College Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:Yorkshire cricketers Category:Military personnel from the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea Category:Wicket-keepers Category:England Test cricketers