Punter Humphreys

Edward Humphreys (24 August 1881 – 6 November 1949), known as Punter Humphreys, was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket for Kent County Cricket Club between 1899 and 1920. Humphreys was born in Ditton in Kent and died in Maidstone aged 68. He played nearly 400 first-class matches and coached cricket after his retirement.

Humphreys initially played as a slow left-arm bowler, making his debut at age 17 for Kent in 1899 against Surrey at The Oval. He developed into a right-handed opening batsman who bowled well enough to take over 300 wickets in his career. He played in the Kent sides which won four County Championships in the years before World War I. His highest first class score of 208 was made against Gloucestershire at Catford in 1909, at the time the highest individual score made by a Kent batsman in an innings. He made the other double century of his career the following season.

Humphreys was described as a highly skilled batman and a "magnificent" fielder. He put on 248 runs with Arthur Day for the seventh wicket in 1908 against Somerset at the County Ground, Taunton, a Kent record for the seventh wicket partnership which still stands as of 2016.

As well as playing for Kent, Humphreys played and coached at Canterbury cricket team in New Zealand, making three first-class appearances in the Plunket Shield. He also coached in Jamaica a number of times and was part of the MCC side which toured the West Indies in 1912–13. After his playing career was over Humphreys coached at Uppingham School and was then appointed as the head coach of Kent.