A fluent right hand bat, he was also an occasional bowler of lobs who sometimes switched to quick overarm deliveries.

[1] Read took part in the original Ashes series of 1882–3 and is commemorated by the poem inscribed on the side of the urn: He played for Surrey from 1873 to 1897, scoring 338 for them against Oxford University in 1888.

He became the first number 10 to score a hundred in Test cricket when he made 117 against Australia at The Oval in 1884.

His partnership of 151 with William Scotton remains England's highest for the ninth wicket against Australia.

According to Sir Home Gordon, Read was furious at being held down so low in the order.