Born at Westoe, South Shields, Co. Durham, Andrew Stoddart joined Middlesex in 1885 from Hampstead C.C. where he had recorded 485 in 370 minutes, out of Hampstead's total of 813 versus Stoics. He played for the county until 1900 as a stylish right-handed batsman, right-arm medium-pace bowler and fine fieldsman. Playing 309 first-class matches, he scored 16,738 runs with 26 centuries recording a top score of 221 versus Somerset at Lord's in 1900, he took 278 wickets and he held 257 catches. Playing 16 Tests for England he amassed 996 runs with a top score of 173 versus Australia at Melbourne in 1894/95, which until 1974/75 was the highest score by an England captain in Australia. He captained and organised two of his four tours abroad and he was the first England captain to ask the opposition to bat in a Test Match. He was acknowledged as the best rugby three-quarter in England of his day and he captained his country several times in his ten internationals. He died at St. John's Wood, London in 1915 by his own hand.
