William Drummond Hamilton of Dublin was not a great cricketer. His First-Class career amounted to 9 matches, he neither bowled nor kept wickets, and his 310 runs came at 20.67. The Varsity match (Oxford versus Cambridge at Lord's) of 1882 was the high point of his career.

During that time, cricket in Cambridge used to be dominated by the Studd brothers, JEK, GB, and CT. GB and CT later played Test cricket.

So strong was the Cambridge side that they beat the touring Australians earlier that season. Remember, this was the tour where Australia beat England in the only Test, at The Oval, following which The Sporting Times wrote that iconic obituary.

Our match was a one-sided affair. CT Studd took 7/54 and 2/48 and scored 69, while GB scored 120. Cambridge won by 7 wickets.

Our story involves Hamilton, who walked out to bat against CT at 116/6. Later that year, CT would be wrapped in a blanket, awaiting his turn to bat at The Oval in one of the greatest Test matches in history. This was a confident CT Studd.

Poor Hamilton was nervous, perhaps visibly so, but he still managed to put bat on ball. That should ideally have soothed the nerves, but he was probably a tad too anxious. He set off for a single – eagerly, perhaps too eagerly.

In fact, so eager was Hamilton that he got disoriented and ran through the slip cordon.

He was obviously not given run out (he ran behind the wicket, which was permitted), but it was not a memorable moment for poor Hamilton. Nevertheless, he managed 9 runs before CT Studd claimed him.

All this took place on 26 June 1882. Hamilton was run out for zero next day, in the second innings. I do not know which direction he was headed for.