American Cricket: American Cricket/ H. Crawford Coates Jr. - Broché

A century of Philadelphia cricket said this of H. Crawford Coates: " Coates was a strangely innocent looking batsman. . . he slouched to the wicket with that deceptively dejected air of Iredale, which cloaked a natural ferocity towards loose bowlers. The stance he assumed at the wicket confirmed this impression of pained indifference. But no one on our side could so quickly disconcert a bowler by a sudden and often unorthodox assault. Though not a great defensive player, Crawford's powerful wrists and quick timing made him always dangerous, and about midway through the batting side he would hit up a score with startling rapidity". Crawford Coates was nicknamed Rattlesnake because he could strike suddenly and with venom; this is his story.