He was a member of the team that played Derbyshire's first match in May 1871 and his early death in 1873 robbed the side of an outstanding bowler.
The 1859 team included Lord Stanhope, Lord Paget, the Bodens, and Unwin Sowter, and there was "considerable attendance of spectators, among whom were most of the neighbouring gentry and their families, and gay throngs of ladies".
After Derbyshire County Cricket Club was founded in 1870, Dove played in the first match in the 1871 season against Lancashire when he took 6 wickets for 9 runs in their first innings.
Dove was a right-arm round arm fast bowler and took 25 wickets in his four first-class matches, with an average of 10.20.
As a right-handed batsman he played 7 innings in the four matches with a top score of 10 and an average of 4.75.