Herman de Zoete

Herman Walter de Zoete (13 February 1877 – 26 March 1957) was an English cricketer. de Zoete was a right-handed batsman who bowled both slow left-arm orthodox and left-arm medium pace. He was born at Bromley Common, Kent, and was educated at Eton College.

While studying at the University of Cambridge,[1] de Zoete made his first-class for Cambridge University against CI Thornton's XI in 1897. He made fifteen further first-class appearances for the university, the last of which came against Oxford University in the 1898 University Match at Lord's.[2] Primarily a bowler, de Zoete took 52 wickets in his sixteen first-class appearances for the university, which came at an average of 18.11, with best figures of 6/53, one of three five wicket hauls he took.[3] With the bat, he scored 149 runs at a batting average of 6.77, with a high score of 29.[4] He also made two first-class appearances for Essex in the 1897 County Championship against Surrey and Hampshire,[2] though without success. Thirty years later, de Zoete played for Hertfordshire in the 1928 Minor Counties Championship, making a single appearance against Cambridgeshire.[5]

Outside of cricket, de Zoete represented Cambridge University at golf in 1896, 1897 and 1898, getting his blue each year.[6] He first played in the Amateur Championship in 1903, reaching the semi-final where he lost to Robert Maxwell at the 19th hole.[7] He played for England in the England–Scotland Amateur Match in 1903, 1904, 1906 and 1907.

de Zoete was married to Dorothy Courage, with the couple having five children.[8] His brother-in-law, Charles Round, also played first-class cricket.

During World War I, de Zoete served in the Essex Yeomanry[9] and rose to the rank of Captain.[1]

De Zoete lived out his final years at Sproughton, Suffolk,[8] before dying at Ipswich, Suffolk, on 26 March 1957.