Dick Houston

Richard Houston (30 June 1863 – 27 November 1921) was an Australian cricketer. He played 23 first-class cricket matches for Victoria between 1885 and 1898.[1]

Dick Houston was a right-handed batsman who also sometimes bowled and kept wicket. He was an early exponent of the switch hit, changing suddenly from right-handed to left-handed in order to play the ball more effectively.[2] His highest first-class score was 72, when he captained Victoria to victory over Tasmania in 1893-94.[3] In the 1880s he won the batting average for North Melbourne five seasons in a row, including two seasons when he also won the bowling average.[4] He set a record for the Williamstown Cricket Club in 1902-03 when he scored 213 not out against Brighton.[5]

Houston was also an Australian rules footballer, playing for North Melbourne in the 1880s.[6] In the early 1890s he was the caretaker at Corio Oval in Geelong, and captained both the Geelong cricket and football teams.[7]

At the time of his death Houston was the caretaker of the Williamstown Cricket Ground, where he died.[8] He was survived by his wife Marion and their four children.[9]