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Edward Liddle's International Profiles
Frederick Roland Studdert Shaw
  • Born 29 February 1892, Dublin
  • Died 2 December 1935, K3 Pipe Line Station near Haditha, Iraq
  • Educated Archbishop Holgate's Grammar School York, Dublin University
  • Occupation Doctor, Officer in RAMC
  • Debut 10 July 1913 v Scotland at Raeburn Place, Edinburgh
  • Cap Number 292
  • Style Right-hand bat, right-arm fast medium
  • Teams Dublin University, Europeans (Lahore) Army

Fred Shaw entered Dublin University in 1909, after a successful academic and sporting career at Archbishop Holgate's. He was in the University XI from 1910 to 1914, though the priority he gave to his medical studies meant that he was not always available. He was seen as one of the mainstays of the attack, though the good wickets, which predominated at College Park, and the other Dublin grounds, meant that he and his fellow quicks were seen as steady, rather than penetrative. However against Pembroke in 1910, he took 9-31 in 12.4 overs, following it with a second innings 2-30. As a batsman he was reliable also, his best match was one of his last against the Military of Ireland in College Park in June 1914. As Captain of the Club that year, he hit 101 in the first innings and followed it with 45.

For Ireland, he appeared twice, against Scotland in 1913 and 1914. In the former game his talents as a bowler were hardly used by skipper Pat Hone, as Ireland just failed to dismiss Scotland. The following year, he made his highest first-class score 65, but again found his bowling virtually ignored. He was also a noted athlete representing Ireland against Scotland in Belfast in 1914, when he won the 100 yards, equalling the then Irish record of 10 seconds. He was Irish champion over this distance in that and the previous year as well as 220 yard champion for 1912, 1913 and 1914.

Commissioned in the RAMC at the outset of war, he rose to the rank of Captain, and was awarded the Military Cross. He remained in uniform after 1918, and when stationed in India, played in the Lahore Tournament in March 1923. He did little in the opening game with the Hindus, but had an outstanding match against the Muslims, which gave the Europeans the Final. He made 26 and a top score of 38, but his bowling of 7-53 and 7-56 was by far his best performance in any class of cricket. In the second innings of this match, he bowled unchanged, in tandem with Wilfred Rhodes.

Back in England, he made four appearances for the Army, often in company of Tom Jameson, the Hampshire all rounder who played twice for Ireland and schoolboy hero, Bob Fowler who was thrice selected to do so, but was refused permission, first by Eton, then by the Army. They shone with the ball, but Shaw did not live up to the reputation he had earned in India.