Introduction
Arthur James Cotterill (22 January 1848 – 3 September 1902) was a New Zealand cricketer and lawyer.
Early life and career
The eldest of five sons of the Rev. George Cotterill, who became Canon of Christchurch, Arthur Cotterill migrated with his parents to New Zealand just after his birth in 1848. He and his brothers were all educated at Christ's College, Christchurch. All five brothers played first-class cricket in New Zealand.
Arthur made his first-class debut for Canterbury in 1865-66, and remained in the Canterbury team for every match for eight seasons.
First fifty in New Zealand
First-class cricket in New Zealand in the first few years consisted entirely of the annual match between Canterbury and Otago, which began in 1863-64. Scores had been so low that for the first five years the highest individual score was 28, and the highest innings total was 105.
In the sixth match, in 1868-69 at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, Canterbury batted first. Cotterill opened the innings, played scoring shots all around the wicket, and made 72 "by a bit of really scientific cricket" before being fourth out with the score on 122 for 4. Canterbury made 211. The match ended in New Zealand's first draw when Canterbury, needing 72 to win, were 55 for 7 when stumps were drawn on the second and final day.
The next fifty was scored in 1871-72 by George Savile of Canterbury. Cotterill's record score was beaten when Charles Corfe of Canterbury made 88 against Otago in 1874-75, when Canterbury made 354, also a record. The first century was not scored until 1880-81, when George Watson, also of Canterbury, scored 175.
Later life
In his second-last first-class match in 1873-74, Cotterill top-scored for Canterbury in each innings, with 20 and 37, but Auckland won by seven runs. In his last match a few weeks later, he kept wicket for the only time in his career.
Cotterill was admitted to the Bar in 1873, and appointed Crown Prosecutor in Napier in 1877, a position he held until his death from pneumonia in 1902. He was a prominent cricket administrator in Hawke's Bay.
He had three sons, all of whom played first-class cricket in New Zealand. He was succeeded as Crown Prosecutor in Napier by another cricketer, Hugh Lusk.