Norman Frank Druce, who died at Milford, Surrey, on October 27, aged 79, was a celebrated batsman and slip fieldsman towards the end of the last century. Like his elder brother, W. G. Druce, he captained both Marlborough and Cambridge University. From 1891 to 1893 he was in the Marlborough XI, leading the side in the last season, and he played in the University match in 1894 and the three following years, being captain in 1897. He averaged 66 for Cambridge in 1897, an unprecedented performance, and Wisden said of him: He plays his own game without any rigid over-adherence to rule, scoring on the on-side from straight balls in a fashion only possible to a batsman with genius for timing. In that season he hit 227 not out out--the highest innings to that date at Fenner's--against C. I. Thornton's team. Twice in 1895 he appeared for Gentlemen against Players, and in 1895 he assisted Surrey without achieving anything of note. When playing for the county in 1897 he did better, though never reproducing the form he showed for his University. He visited America with Frank Mitchell's team in 1895 and went to Australia under A. E. Stoddart in 1897-98, when he scored 109 against New South Wales at Sydney.
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack

Wisden Cricketer of the Year 1898

• Norman Druce