Stanley Winfield Sproston (9 November 1872 – 16 July 1930) was a West Indian first-class cricketer who toured with the first West Indian touring side to England in 1900 and captained the side for much of the tour in the absence of

Aucher Warner Robert Stewart Aucher Warner (9 May 1859 – 1 December 1944) was Attorney-General of Trinidad and Tobago and a West Indian cricketer. He was known as Aucher Warner. He was born the son of Charles William Warner, the Attorney-General of Trin ...

. Born in Wismer, Linden, East Bank, Demerara,

British Guiana British Guiana was a British colony, part of the mainland British West Indies, which resides on the northern coast of South America. Since 1966 it has been known as the independent nation of Guyana. The first European to encounter Guiana was S ...

, Sproston made his debut in important matches for

against Slade Lucas's team in 1894-95. The next season, he made his debut in the Inter-Colonial Tournament for British Guiana scoring 27 and 52 and taking a 4-5 in 4.1 overs against Trinidad. Early in the 1896-97 season he impressed again with 75* and 32 against Jamaica. Later in 1896-97 he was selected to play for the combined West Indies team against Priestley's side and then played in the three matches for British Guiana against Lord Hawke's team scoring a career high 95. He was described before the 1900 tour as "Twenty four (sic) years of age. Very good bat, combining sound defence with punishing power; useful change bowler, and good field anywhere. Has no superior as a batsman in the West Indies. Learned his cricket in England. Played for Richmond (Surrey), Eastbourne, and Teddington. Played during the 1898 season, scoring 101 runs for Richmond against Upper Tooting, and 110 for Teddington against Hampshire. Average for G.C.C. last season 45.21". On the tour he was fifth in the batting averages at 22.22 but bowled just 12 overs. He was "a little disappointing, and not consistent in his scoring, but when he did get runs he made them brilliantly. His form at Worcester, Southampton and Liverpool was up to a high standard".''Wisden'', 1901 p. xcvii. He top scored in both innings against Worcester scoring 54 and 46, scored 86 against Hampshire and 118 against Liverpool and District. He captained the side in the 10 matches when

was absent with malarial fever. He never played again in important matches after the tour. Sproston died on 16 July 1930, aged 57, in the West Indies. His brother Harvey Sproston also played for British Guiana.

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Sproston, Stanley Pre-1928 West Indies cricketers Guyanese cricketers Demerara cricketers Guyana cricketers 1872 births 1930 deaths People from Linden, Guyana