Born at Rondebosch, Cape Town, South Africa in 1909, Tuppy Owen-Smith was a useful right-handed middle order batsman, slow leg-break bowler and excellent outfielder. Representing his native Western Province between 1927/28 and 1949/50 and Oxford University where he attained blues all three years between 1931 and 1933, he represented Middlesex 28 times between 1935 and 1937. He scored 993 runs (av. 24.83) with a highest score of 77 and he took 100 wickets (av. 21.50) with a best performance of 6 for 68 for the county. During his career he played 101 matches accumulated 4,059 runs (av. 26.88) with three centuries with a top score of 168 n.o. bagged 319 wickets (av. 23.22) with a best of 7 for 153 and he held 93 catches. Playing five Tests for South Africa, he scored 252 runs (av. 42.00) with a top score of 129 and he held 4 catches. He toured abroad once, to England in 1929 when he scored 1,168 runs (av. 35.89) and he took 30 wickets (av. 25.80). A good all-round sportsman he was awarded blues for boxing and rugby whilst at Oxford and he went on to captain England at the former. He died at Rosebank, Cape Town, South Africa in 1990.
