For Read's whole career his runs totalled almost thirty per cent less than his aggregate of wickets at a batting average that remains the lowest of any cricketer ever to play for his country.

The only other Test cricketers with a first-class average of under four runs an innings are New Zealander Chris Martin, South African Alf Hall and Glamorgan paceman Jeff Jones.

Although his training as a chartered accountant made his appearances limited, he still took 69 wickets at an average better than any fast bowler except Larwood and his Essex compatriot Ken Farnes.

Despite the fact that Farnes could not help him owing to injury, Read and Stan Nichols stood alone as a pace-bowling duo[4] and in a sensational match at Huddersfield, their sheer pace off the pitch bowled out the otherwise unbeaten Yorkshire eleven for 31 and 99, giving Essex a win by an innings and 204 runs.

[6] However, Read's employers at this time became so angry at his absence from duties as a chartered accountant that they threatened to sack him if he continued to play three-day cricket in the season of 1936.