Ted Dillon

Edward Wentworth Dillon (15 February 1881 – 20 April 1941), known as Ted Dillon, was an English amateur sportsman in the early years of the 20th century. He played over 200 first-class cricket matches, mainly for Kent County Cricket Club between 1900 and 1913. Dillon captained Kent to three County Championship victories between 1909 and 1913, the only captain in the club history to lead the County to multiple Championship titles. He also played rugby union for Blackheath and represented England in four international matches.

Dillon was born at Penge in what was then Kent, the fourth child of a shipbroker. He was educated at Abbey School, Beckenham and at Rugby School, where he topped the school batting averages in 1899 and 1900 and was described by Wisden as the best school batsman of the year. He earned his cricket Blue in his first year at Oxford University, appearing for both the University, whom he captained, and for Kent during his time as a student. Dillon also played rugby union for both Rugby and Oxford.

Dillon made his first-class cricket debut for London County Cricket Club in August 1900, making his Kent first-class debut later in the same month. He was predominantly a batsman, often opening the batting. Wisden described him as "very free in style" and being powerful when driving the ball. In his first-class career he scored over 10,000 runs, the majority for Kent. In 1905 and 1906 he averaged more than 40, making his highest score of 141 against Gloucestershire in 1905. He bowled leg-breaks occasionally, taking 74 first-class wickets.