Albert Wright

Albert William Wright (24 September 1875 – 23 December 1938) was an Australian cricketer and pitch curator. He played in 30 first-class matches for South Australia between 1905 and 1920 before taking over the preparation of the Adelaide Oval.

Life and career

Wright was a leg-spin bowler who began his first-class career at the age of 30 in December 1905. In his second Sheffield Shield match, he took his best innings figures of 7 for 66 when South Australia beat Victoria. Five years later he took his best match figures of 11 for 176 (5 for 75 and 6 for 101) in a 285-run victory over New South Wales.

In 1907 Wright took a position with the ground staff at the Adelaide Oval. He became the curator at the ground in 1920 and held that position until his death in December 1938. The first Test pitch he prepared yielded 1,753 runs and 40 wickets in six days during the Ashes series in 1920–21; both captains praised the pitch.

Wright married Clara Elizabeth Doran in Adelaide in April 1901. He died in Adelaide in December 1938, survived by his wife, four sons and two daughters.