William Fennex

William Fennex was an English cricketer. A noted all-rounder and fast bowler, he is known to have played between 1784 and 1816.
As a batsman, Fennex is believed to be one of the first bat by moving forward towards the ball, aiming to play forward drives. As a bowler, at a time when only underarm bowling was permitted, he was said to have the highest delivery of anybody, "his hand, when propelling the ball, being nearly on a level with his shoulder".
Born at Gerrards Cross in Buckinghamshire in about 1764, Fennex began his working life as a blacksmith. He stood five feet ten inches tall and was described as "muscular and abstemious". He played for a number of teams from 1786, going on to play most frequently for England and Middlesex county [cricket team (pre-1864)|Middlesex] and was groundsman of the cricket ground at Uxbridge. He made 88 appearances, including playing in the inaugural Gentlemen v Players match in 1806. In total he scored 1,928 runs and took at least 145 wickets.
Fennex kept the Portman Arms inn at Marylebone for a time, and in old age was employed as a gardener and groundsman. Fennex died at Stepney in 1838.