tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-85464739608427779552024-03-06T06:48:31.921+05:00Expired They All But Live In Our HEARTS“To the well-organized mind, death is but the next great adventure.”
(J.K.Rowling)Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.comBlogger1298125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-4706200106173049652023-03-27T21:57:00.005+05:002023-03-27T21:57:45.294+05:00Willie Bates (1855-1900) Test Cap # 30<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVvuvlK0Yha7a_X5aG9sLRnrfWrADLPaI0Vifu2jQGl_pjrRpXch0HIie0GTGBuVlqsKLAj36z5y-s0O22mPkxWCUFoqwFy6ISxX2fquHCXMrpVxFZQyzNPPPN92J2kvyLSv0yyEvcryW/s1600/Billy+Bates+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVvuvlK0Yha7a_X5aG9sLRnrfWrADLPaI0Vifu2jQGl_pjrRpXch0HIie0GTGBuVlqsKLAj36z5y-s0O22mPkxWCUFoqwFy6ISxX2fquHCXMrpVxFZQyzNPPPN92J2kvyLSv0yyEvcryW/s320/Billy+Bates+new.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Willie Bates<br /><b>Born</b> November 19, 1855, Lascelles Hall, Huddersfield, Yorkshire<br /><b>Died</b> January 8, 1900, Lepton, Huddersfield, Yorkshire (aged 44 years 50 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Yorkshire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm offbreak<br /><b><br /></b><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysonEQ47C80zZjuqJxrZTbs1dLXyhW8v05wj01tVP4NyDOo06dGw9Bl2nfQTMlG9pddbLC_Nno0pCQio1js3FF_BYJAp7bWsKnev803LCR4wQOHXCx1Bro-aMCeQQbApnHVd27ZM22bvq/s1600/Willie+Bates+new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhysonEQ47C80zZjuqJxrZTbs1dLXyhW8v05wj01tVP4NyDOo06dGw9Bl2nfQTMlG9pddbLC_Nno0pCQio1js3FF_BYJAp7bWsKnev803LCR4wQOHXCx1Bro-aMCeQQbApnHVd27ZM22bvq/s200/Willie+Bates+new.jpg" width="220" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><div style="text-align: left;">© En.wikipedia.org</div></td></tr></tbody></table>Willie Bates, known as Billy was an English all-round cricketer. Excellent with both bat and ball, Bates scored over 10,000 first-class runs, took more than 870 wickets and was always reliable in the field. A snappy dresser, Bates was also known as "The Duke".Born to a humble family in Lascelles Hall, Huddersfield, Yorkshire, Bates became a professional cricketer for Rochdale in 1873 and made his first-class debut for Yorkshire four years later, taking four for 69 in Middlesex's first innings to begin a ten-year career in the first-class game. He played fifteen Test matches for England between 1881–82 and 1886–87, all of them in Australia.At the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 1882–83, Bates excelled by scoring 55 in England's only innings before taking 7 for 28 (including a hat-trick) to force Australia to follow on. He then claimed 7 for 74 in the second innings to help his team to the first-ever innings victory in Test cricket.<br /><br />Bates set several individual records in this game as his hat-trick was the first for England in Test cricket, and his return of 7 for 28, and his match tally of 14 wickets, were then the best-ever by a Test match bowler. In addition, no Test bowler had previously taken 10 or more wickets and scored a half-century in the same match.<br /><a name='more'></a>In domestic cricket, Bates topped 100 first-class wickets only once, when he took 121 in 1881, but he passed 80 on another 4 occasions. His best bowling of 8 for 21 was achieved in 1879 for Yorkshire against Surrey at The Oval. As a batsman he passed 1,000 runs in 5 seasons and scored 10 centuries, including 3 in 1884. He made his highest first-class score of 144 not out in 1882 for Under 30 v Over 30 at Lord's, where he also returned an economical second-innings analysis of 22–15–17–3.The end of Bates' career came suddenly. On a non-Test tour of Australia with G.F. Vernon's XI in 1887–88, he was bowling in the nets when he was hit in the eye by a ball struck by a team-mate. His eyesight was sufficiently impaired that he was never able to play first-class cricket again, although he did appear in club cricket in the early 1890s and was still able to coach.<br /><br />His enforced retirement caused him great depression. On the voyage home from Australia, he attempted suicide and, at the end of December 1899, caught a cold whilst attending the funeral of fellow Yorkshire player John Thewlis. His condition quickly deteriorated and he died a few days later in Huddersfield, aged just 44.An interesting feature of Bates' Test career was that all 15 of his matches were played outside of England, which is still the Test record for most matches in a complete career without ever playing at home.His son William Bates had a long first-class career with Yorkshire and Glamorgan.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 31, 1881 - Jan 4, 1882<br /><b>Last Test</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Australia v England at Sydney, Feb 25-Mar 1, 1887<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1877-1887Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-42033790405890258072023-03-27T21:57:00.000+05:002023-03-27T21:57:02.861+05:00Richard Gorton Barlow (1851-1919) Test Cap # 29<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrec-a_UKPDTtlfpvJ9c7Gc9qU3ZXGIdOoG3xQrAsF-_ijF8sQ3Mi3WCrFGZCLxGp1xdZzr-x6lKUg1Vi5X3-u1mNkY73-ULM2JNs_qeXKWlg9pVF7KHF7Mg9L8a9uOy03UUcmkIv4j6B3/s1600/Richard+Gorton+Barlow+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrec-a_UKPDTtlfpvJ9c7Gc9qU3ZXGIdOoG3xQrAsF-_ijF8sQ3Mi3WCrFGZCLxGp1xdZzr-x6lKUg1Vi5X3-u1mNkY73-ULM2JNs_qeXKWlg9pVF7KHF7Mg9L8a9uOy03UUcmkIv4j6B3/w157-h200/Richard+Gorton+Barlow+new.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Richard Gorton Barlow<br /><b>Born</b> May 28, 1851, Barrow Bridge, Bolton, Lancashire<br /><b>Died</b> July 31, 1919, Stanley Park, Blackpool, Lancashire (aged 68 years 64 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Lancashire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Left-arm medium<br /><b>Other</b> Umpire<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoOdKLJIrN5jpMYvGWzqec3ep19Ufy_zJ6yUvRma_2VNJDTKUBnvrS2W9jcVhvO4bf_4qsduuotsr9lH3PR9-0UAtzIwcgnfni3VM4vfxZuEUSQ_LxN7l7omdIIZjTsXREubTUz9ObcvS/s1600/richard+gorton+barlow+b+new.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVoOdKLJIrN5jpMYvGWzqec3ep19Ufy_zJ6yUvRma_2VNJDTKUBnvrS2W9jcVhvO4bf_4qsduuotsr9lH3PR9-0UAtzIwcgnfni3VM4vfxZuEUSQ_LxN7l7omdIIZjTsXREubTUz9ObcvS/s400/richard+gorton+barlow+b+new.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">© amounderness.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table>Dick Barlow was a dour and resolute opening batsman who was the first to really use forward play defensively, and was so passionate about the game that he continued playing club cricket well into his sixties as well as being a capable umpire who stood in one Test in 1899. Hard to dismiss, Barlow is remembered for his association with fellow Lancashire opener Albert Hornby, who was his antithesis with the bat, and they were immortalised in one of the game's most famous poems by Francis Thompson:"As the run-stealers flicker to and fro,To and fro,O my Hornby and my Barlow long ago"He also developed into a very good slow-medium left-armer with immaculate length, clever variation, and a good eye for batsmen's weaknesses. He took a wicket with his first ball in first-class cricket and took four first-class hat-tricks. He carried his bat 11 times, including a two-hour innings of 5 not out (made out of 69) against Nottinghamshire in 1882.<br /><br />Barlow toured Australia three times, playing in every match on each occasion, and he also played against Australia seven times at home. Although his highest Test score was only 62, Barlow played several valuable defensive innings in difficult circumstances. As a bowler he was more successful; his 7 for 44 at Manchester in 1886 was a match-winning performance. Playing for North of England against the Australian tourists in 1884 he took 10 wickets in the match, and then made a superb hundred (one of only four first-class centuries in his career) against Spofforth at his best. For the Players in the same year he captured a remarkable hat-trick of Gentlemen - WG, Shuter and Read falling to successive deliveries.<br /><br />Close to the end of his life Barlow was quoted in the Manchester Guardian as saying: "I don't think any cricketer has enjoyed his cricketing career better than I have done, and if I had my time to come over again I should certainly be what I have been all my life - a professional cricketer.Away from cricket, he kept goal to county level at football and was also a top sprinter.<br /><br /><div><b>Test debut</b><b> </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 31, 1881 - Jan 4, 1882</div><b>Last Test</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Australia v England at Sydney, Feb 25-Mar 1, 1887<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br /><b>First-class span</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1871-1891<br /><b>Umpiring Career</b><br /><b>Only Test<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></b>England v Australia at Nottingham, Jun 1-3, 1899Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-38622799080248232912023-03-27T21:55:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:55:47.113+05:00Allan Gibson Steel (1858-1914) Test Cap # 28<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARrryxxT_l0Y5dmP0QnVgoq7-EGzVY8KQ2y6cA3GSvuciT4nIaRcimK65TsgdbKwrif4TYhRGdpqH6GZ7bKKZ6z6oRiMcyR6bXimevF1dq1tDXYEaH6tEhcMW7CfKND7kWBpt_NA9lcxc/s1600/Allan+G+Steel+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhARrryxxT_l0Y5dmP0QnVgoq7-EGzVY8KQ2y6cA3GSvuciT4nIaRcimK65TsgdbKwrif4TYhRGdpqH6GZ7bKKZ6z6oRiMcyR6bXimevF1dq1tDXYEaH6tEhcMW7CfKND7kWBpt_NA9lcxc/s320/Allan+G+Steel+new.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">© The Cricketer International</div></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Allan Gibson Steel<br /><b>Born</b> September 24, 1858, West Derby, Liverpool, Lancashire<br /><b>Died</b> June 15, 1914, Hyde Park, London (aged 55 years 264 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Cambridge University, Lancashire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsoToyLlYKsyEZEPVAipZgSMcLpkZb2ml2cf_v7-mVZaouAeZn3XUHnT68y7UesEZV2ScdSdMMc7Cn6OOHWECwxws9Q1C2_hjqw5MslTk1RPk-RYn2ClNsTuSZkQF_RgczsZWmfpUJsPj/s1600/Allan+Gibson+Steel+1+new.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOsoToyLlYKsyEZEPVAipZgSMcLpkZb2ml2cf_v7-mVZaouAeZn3XUHnT68y7UesEZV2ScdSdMMc7Cn6OOHWECwxws9Q1C2_hjqw5MslTk1RPk-RYn2ClNsTuSZkQF_RgczsZWmfpUJsPj/s1600/Allan+Gibson+Steel+1+new.jpg" width="174" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">© probertencyclopaedia.com</td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuy-7tor2Jlue_6RdodjmxsMdDJyOEpmIIZ_ixIV3PqN4MhegMfKXOHC0ZRUt7o4J12G9wzzMGtzQxmQo4uRUnLoqGyNdNhVVPVnNFnNGUfcsO1DVN6tipYTxYe4a9MADcJBy7YGaRaID/s1600/Allan+Gibson+Steel+new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimuy-7tor2Jlue_6RdodjmxsMdDJyOEpmIIZ_ixIV3PqN4MhegMfKXOHC0ZRUt7o4J12G9wzzMGtzQxmQo4uRUnLoqGyNdNhVVPVnNFnNGUfcsO1DVN6tipYTxYe4a9MADcJBy7YGaRaID/s320/Allan+Gibson+Steel+new.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© yufind.library.yale.edu</td></tr></tbody></table>An outstanding allrounder, rated by his peers as second only to WG Grace, Allan Steel made the first Test hundred at Lord's, 148 to inspire England to victory over Australia in 1884. He played in eight Tests between 1880 and 1888, averaging 35 with the bat and 20 with the ball. Although primarily a bastman, he was highly rated in his early years as a slow-medium bowler, and in 1878 headed the All England averages with 164 wickets, although Wisden noted that he "owed his success to a certain trickiness, with the usual result that as batsmen found his tricks out, so did he become rather less effective". Though not a regular captain of county or country, he had an improbable run of success as skipper: Marlborough over Rugby, Cambridge over Oxford, Gentlemen over Players, Lancashire over Yorkshire and England over Australia. A fiendishly accurate right-arm slow bowler with the ability to spin the ball both ways, Steel became MCC President in 1902 but died in London in 1914 aged 56.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at Lord's, Jul 16-17, 1888<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br /><b>First-class span</b> 1877-1893Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-91509336779243996262023-03-27T21:55:00.000+05:002023-03-27T21:55:07.415+05:00Frank Penn (1851-1916) Test Cap # 27<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICvFj_RvKXfXOuBkLqywWqyakH83OgdkzujFJqFGSSx5HDQeT9T1bhDrQ-2t5w7wex0U2GbHUTHxub34TcaD3RQxmkyad5vrUupZj92InlNovijtUWZ33croEGFdmKJRPW5ZnmZmuWU_/s1600/Frank+Penn+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeICvFj_RvKXfXOuBkLqywWqyakH83OgdkzujFJqFGSSx5HDQeT9T1bhDrQ-2t5w7wex0U2GbHUTHxub34TcaD3RQxmkyad5vrUupZj92InlNovijtUWZ33croEGFdmKJRPW5ZnmZmuWU_/s200/Frank+Penn+new.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© cricketers101.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Frank Penn<br /><b>Born</b> March 7, 1851, The Cedars, Lee, Lewisham, London<br /><b>Died</b> December 26, 1916, Bifrons, Patrixbourne, Kent (aged 65 years 294 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Kent<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />Frank Penn, the famous Kent batsman of a generation back, died on the 26th of December at his home, Bifrons, near Canterbury. Though little of nothing had been seen of him in the cricket field for 35 years he was far indeed from forgotten. Born at Lewisham on March 7, 1851, Mr. Penn had a short but very brilliant career, ranking for several years among the finest batsmen of his day. He had a free, commanding style, and combined strong defence with splendid hitting. Stepping out of ordinary club cricket into first-class matches, he was, from the beginning, thoroughly at home in his new surroundings. He began to play for Kent in 1875, and in the following year he was seen at Lord's for the first time, scoring 44 and 35 for M.C.C. against Yorkshire. No doubt was felt as to his class. Indeed he made such an impression that he was picked for Gentlemen against Players in 1876, both at the Oval and Lord's. Thenceforward he was in the front rank. Unfortunately, his health gave way just when he was at the height of his fame.<br /><a name='more'></a>In the season of 1881 he was attacked by an affection of the heart and, being forbidden to run, had perforce to give up the game. Among those who helped Lord Harris to re-establish Kent cricket no one did better work than Mr. Penn. His best year for the county was 1877 when he made 857 runs in twenty-four innings--three times not out--with an average of 40. He made many big scores for Kent, the highest being 160 against Surrey, at Maidstone in 1878; 148 against Surrey, at the Oval in 1877; and 135 against England, at Canterbury in 1877. Perhaps the innings of his life, however, was 134 at Lord's, for M.C.C. against Cambridge University, in 1879, when he treated A. G. Steel's bowling as it had never been treated before.<br /><br />He had finished with cricket before Test matches became frequent, but it was his privilege to play for England against Australia at the Oval in September, 1880, in the first of the long series of contests in this country. Scoring 23 and not out 27, he made the hit that gave England a victory by five wickets in that memorable game, cutting George Palmer for four. Now that he is dead the only survivors of the England eleven of 1880 are Lord Harris and Mr. A. P. Lucas. Mr. Penn was a member of Lord Harris's team in Australia in 1878-9. He appeared eight times for Gentlemen v. Players, batting well, but without any conspicuous success. His best score was 52, at the Oval in 1876. As a batsman, Mr. Penn had one advantage over many of his contemporaries. Learning the game against bowlers not devoted to the off theory he knew the joy of real leg hitting. He could hit as hard to square leg as William Oscroft. He was President of the Kent County Club in 1905.<br /><br /><b>Only Test </b>England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br /><b>First-class span</b> 1875-1881Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-49947052522904715602023-03-27T21:54:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:54:30.652+05:00Frederick Morley (1850-1884) Test Cap # 26<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij4lOgyIWoPt_kL4-zCLNwG7itkuj7XUdR7cls8UQZIJGxzD5IX-xEdsI2Bo7-O0tjZX552li9w1z-SKuRIq3CC6sBr9NwKy-Q08w2pw0fUqyFt6V5UZCsuMuTsTx3vO63IkGfJJs-aFs/s1600/Fred+Morley+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgij4lOgyIWoPt_kL4-zCLNwG7itkuj7XUdR7cls8UQZIJGxzD5IX-xEdsI2Bo7-O0tjZX552li9w1z-SKuRIq3CC6sBr9NwKy-Q08w2pw0fUqyFt6V5UZCsuMuTsTx3vO63IkGfJJs-aFs/s320/Fred+Morley+new.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© En.wikipedia.org</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Frederick Morley<br /><b>Born</b> December 16, 1850, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Died</b> September 28, 1884, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire (aged 33 years 287 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Left-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Left-arm fast<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />At his peak, Fred Morley was regarded as the fastest bowler in England. A left-armer, what he lacked in height he more than made up for in accuracy and in a 13-year career he took more than 1200 first-class wickets. His batting is best forgotten and he was also something of a liability in the field. But with the ball he was devastating. He took 100 wickets in a season seven times, and in 1878 took 197 at 12.16. A year earlier, he had taken 13 for 14 for MCC against Oxford University (who were bowled out for 12) and in 1878 he took 15 for 35 on a bad pitch for Nottinghamshire against Kent. In 1879-80 he toured Canada and the USA with Richard Daft and returned with 100 wickets at 3.54.<br /><a name='more'></a>In 1880, he made his debut in England's first home Test, taking 8 for 146, and made three more appearances on Ivo Bligh's tour of Australia in 1882-83 where his performances were below-par. That was explained when it was revealed that he had fractured a rib on the journey out when the team's ship had been involved in a collision in the harbour in Colombo. He never fully recovered, playing only two matches in 1883, and he died of congestion and dropsy at end of the summer of 1884.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<br /><b>Last Test </b>Australia v England at Sydney, Feb 17-21, 1883<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1871-1883Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-20653187285898931512023-03-27T21:54:00.000+05:002023-03-27T21:54:01.314+05:00Alfred Lyttelton (1857-1913) Test Cap # 25<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2HToER4y04rPLUu9M3QNYAlXTi_lnbg7ktZZpUZxhmNYGsFkxVDaYiZlsnMlUa9VR2iH1Ud7oW22ClxnJfBs-uxNp-PU7csLe0HQgMWTjjbGlllieRMV_iJcuIycv1fOdzJlMwJxzeMk/s1600/Alfred+Lyttelton.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ2HToER4y04rPLUu9M3QNYAlXTi_lnbg7ktZZpUZxhmNYGsFkxVDaYiZlsnMlUa9VR2iH1Ud7oW22ClxnJfBs-uxNp-PU7csLe0HQgMWTjjbGlllieRMV_iJcuIycv1fOdzJlMwJxzeMk/s320/Alfred+Lyttelton.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Alfred Lyttelton<br /><b>Born</b> February 7, 1857, Westminster, London<br /><b>Died</b> July 5, 1913, Marylebone, London (aged 56 years 148 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Cambridge University, Middlesex<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm slow (underarm)<br /><b>Fielding position</b> Wicketkeeper<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVC4GNE7VJZktDbIf0sViROylxAGMAkLoVasI-4V0AUze9dHE3NTeoPkaLpGkHDux988NFoe0guxmo68inIrhnPZbtRCZmnWh_Nr0abEtCVqHUvmKmdmmkS336miUIr-0DcWsNDSRhh7d/s1600/Alfred+Lyttelton+new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVC4GNE7VJZktDbIf0sViROylxAGMAkLoVasI-4V0AUze9dHE3NTeoPkaLpGkHDux988NFoe0guxmo68inIrhnPZbtRCZmnWh_Nr0abEtCVqHUvmKmdmmkS336miUIr-0DcWsNDSRhh7d/s320/Alfred+Lyttelton+new.jpg" width="202" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© En.wikipedia.org</td></tr></tbody></table>Alfred Lyttelton was one of the best amateur sportsmen of his generation and came from a family who excelled at sport - seven of his brothers played either first-class or good club cricket. He made his mark at Eton and then Cambridge as one of the best amateur wicketkeepers in the country, standing up without a long-stop in an era when that was rare, and in 1878 was in the Cambridge XI that beat the Australians. He played in four of the first five Tests against Australia in England in 1880, 1882 and 1884, and in his last appearance took of his pads and, bowling underarm lobs, took 4 for 8 on the second morning.<br /><br />He was the first man to play football and cricket for England, but sport was only ever a pastime and he retired by the time he was 28 to further his political ambitions. He later became an MP and Colonial Secretary, possibly helped by the fact he was appointed by Arthur Balfour, his brother-in-law. He was also president of the MCC in 1898.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 11-13, 1884<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1876-1887Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-38086312127559355442023-03-27T21:53:00.002+05:002023-03-27T21:53:28.481+05:00William Gilbert Grace (1848-1915) Test Cap # 24<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2rlq8Z5tN0kNwzdyDeqYd6cmVZdj1crjeVyjzms3sPOCgpzRNG6SCaXoPiGx0iYMFimOCq8Cpjq1-o8_-wALky3eiZwBdOzAmK7lwasjpGI8edXYar6OMnLf7tJBZw-gyfWNHNEOjNG5/s1600/sipia+new.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL2rlq8Z5tN0kNwzdyDeqYd6cmVZdj1crjeVyjzms3sPOCgpzRNG6SCaXoPiGx0iYMFimOCq8Cpjq1-o8_-wALky3eiZwBdOzAmK7lwasjpGI8edXYar6OMnLf7tJBZw-gyfWNHNEOjNG5/s400/sipia+new.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© londoncountycricketclub.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> William Gilbert Grace<br /><b>Born</b> July 18, 1848, Downend, Bristol<br /><b>Died</b> October 23, 1915, Mottingham, Kent (aged 67 years 97 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Gentlemen, Gloucestershire, London County, Marylebone Cricket Club, South of England<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Relation Brother</b> - EM Grace, <b>Brother</b> - GF Grace, <b>Cousin</b> - WG Rees, <b>Cousin</b> - GHB Gilbert, <b>Cousin</b> - WL Rees, <b>Cousin</b> - WJ Pocock, <b>Cousin</b> - WR Gilbert, <b>Son</b> - WG Grace jnr, <b>Son</b> - CB Grace,<br /><b>Nephew</b> - H Grace, <b>Nephew</b> - NV Grace<br /><br /><b>introdution</b><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlnlWb2xW6ZQzOOQS39-Gy76Xdn9TOkcfvCSbpQBjkIr8s6JwXHcOTWiPi2ABkd3RgFai8UMy-ETpPK3Yh847loN6Iowrv9zw5MZ5AQLs-q1PmyDLXGPmbbqIv7SBVYiWk2tUrG9lgywT/s1600/w+g+grees+1+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYlnlWb2xW6ZQzOOQS39-Gy76Xdn9TOkcfvCSbpQBjkIr8s6JwXHcOTWiPi2ABkd3RgFai8UMy-ETpPK3Yh847loN6Iowrv9zw5MZ5AQLs-q1PmyDLXGPmbbqIv7SBVYiWk2tUrG9lgywT/s400/w+g+grees+1+new.jpg" width="268" /></a>William Gilbert ("W.G.") Grace, MRCS, LRCP (born 18 July 1848 at Downend, near Bristol; died 23 October 1915 at Mottingham, Kent) was an English amateur cricketer who is widely acknowledged as one of the greatest players of all time, having a special significance in terms of his importance to the development of the sport. Universally known as W.G, he played first-class cricket for a record-equalling 44 seasons, from 1865 to 1908, during which he captained England, Gloucestershire County Cricket Club, the Gentlemen, MCC, the United South of England Eleven and several other teams. He came from a cricketing family in which one of his elder brothers was E.M. Grace and his younger brother was Fred Grace; their joint appearance for England in 1880 was the first time three brothers played together in Test cricket.Right-handed as both batsman and bowler, Grace dominated the sport during his career and left, through his technical innovations and enormous influence, a lasting legacy. An outstanding all-rounder, he excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling and fielding, but it is for his batting that he is most renowned as he is held to have invented modern batsmanship. An opening batsman, he was particularly noted for his mastery of all strokes and his level of expertise was said by contemporary reviewers to be unique. He generally captained the teams he played for at all levels because of his skill and tactical acumen.Grace was a medical practitioner who qualified in 1879. Because of his profession, he was nominally an amateur cricketer but he is said to have made more money from his cricketing activities than any professional. He was an extremely competitive player and, although he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and his financial acumen.He took part in other sports: he was a champion 440 yard hurdler as a young man and also played football for the Wanderers. In later life, he developed enthusiasm for golf, lawn bowls and curling.<br /><a name='more'></a>W.G.Grace was born in Downend on 18 July 1848 at his parents' home, Downend House, and was baptised at the local church on 8 August.[1] He was called Gilbert in the family circle, except by his mother who called him Willie,but elsewhere he was universally known by his initials as W.G.His parents were Henry Mills Grace and Martha (née Pocock), who were married in Bristol on Thursday, 3 November 1831 and lived out their lives at Downend, where his father was the local GP.Downend is near Mangotsfield and, although it is now a suburb of Bristol, it was then "a distinct village surrounded by countryside" and about four miles from Bristol.Henry and Martha Grace had nine children in all: "the same number as Victoria and Albert – and in every respect they were the typical Victorian family".Grace was the eighth child in the family; he had three older brothers, including E.M., and four older sisters. Only Fred, born in 1850, was younger than W.G.<br /><br />Grace's parents and his uncle Alfred Pocock shared a passionate enthusiasm for cricket. In 1850, when W.G. was two and Fred was expected, the family moved to a nearby house called "The Chesnuts" which had a sizeable orchard and Henry Grace organised clearance of this to establish a practice pitch that was to become famous throughout the world of cricket. All nine children in the Grace family, including the four daughters, were encouraged to play cricket although the girls, along with the dogs, were required for fielding only.Grace claimed that he first handled a cricket bat at the age of two.It was in the Downend orchard and as members of their local cricket clubs that he and his brothers developed their skills, mainly under the tutelage of Alfred Pocock, who was an exceptional coach.Apart from his cricket and his schooling, Grace lived the life of a country boy and roamed freely with the other village boys. One of his regular activities was stone throwing at birds in the fields and he later claimed that this was the source of his eventual skill as an outfielder.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp8X1U7ixOCdLfK0dDANVDz7y_u3hTxan-OEmMl8YGbIvruq7ENlamzB4csoA_itAiSMPk0i4mIDFqH7TyLp1980H3zx6J9WCuKWPCUTMQjLUoNErTk7_zRaUKyRk2etoO8qKQGGJLVOh/s1600/w+g+grace+group+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCp8X1U7ixOCdLfK0dDANVDz7y_u3hTxan-OEmMl8YGbIvruq7ENlamzB4csoA_itAiSMPk0i4mIDFqH7TyLp1980H3zx6J9WCuKWPCUTMQjLUoNErTk7_zRaUKyRk2etoO8qKQGGJLVOh/s320/w+g+grace+group+new.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />Grace was notoriously unscholarly.His first schooling was with a Miss Trotman in Downend village and then with a Mr Curtis of Winterbourne.He subsequently attended a day school called Rudgway House, run by a Mr Malpas, until he was fourteen. One of his schoolmasters, David Barnard, later married Grace's sister Alice. In 1863, following Grace's serious illness with pneumonia, his father removed him from Rudgway House and he continued his education at home where one of his tutors was the Reverend John Dann, who was the Downend parish church curate. Like Mr Barnard before him, Mr Dann became Grace's brother-in-law, marrying Blanche Grace in 1869.Grace never went to university as his father was intent upon him pursuing a medical career. But Grace was approached by both Oxford University Cricket Club and Cambridge University Cricket Club. In 1866, when he played a match at Oxford, one of the Oxford players, Edmund Carter, tried to interest him in becoming an undergraduate.Then, in 1868, Grace received overtures from Caius College,Cambridge, which had a long medical tradition. Grace said he would have gone to either Oxford or Cambridge if his father had allowed it.Instead, he enrolled at Bristol Medical School in October 1868, when he was 20.<br /><br />Henry Grace founded Mangotsfield Cricket Club in 1845 to represent several neighbouring villages including Downend. In 1846, this club merged with the West Gloucestershire Cricket Club whose name was adopted until 1867.It has been said that the Grace family ran the West Gloucestershire almost as a private club.Henry Grace managed to organise matches against Lansdown Cricket Club in Bath, which was the premier West Country club. West Gloucestershire fared poorly in these games and, sometime in the 1850s, Henry and Alfred Pocock decided to join Lansdown, although they continued to run the West Gloucestershire and this remained their primary club.Grace recorded that he saw his first great cricket match in 1854 when he was barely six years old, the occasion being a game between William Clarke's All-England Eleven (the AEE) and twenty-two of West Gloucestershire.It was through Grace's elder brother E.M. that the family name first became famous. His mother, Martha, wrote the following in a letter to William Clarke's successor George Parr in 1860 or 1861:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLv6T-81UBSrxFqLxx8i9UE7dVXZ2wJxoCEj4pgGh9Z9qFbV6KzEYFwiz1uGMgZeHTHInorO-g4pdMbEbKI7PjykiPtu69cDUht05cB62_RjyOLxZwZ6S7Y-krxBzNZnihKJ7swVeDmwV/s1600/w+g+grace+1+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLv6T-81UBSrxFqLxx8i9UE7dVXZ2wJxoCEj4pgGh9Z9qFbV6KzEYFwiz1uGMgZeHTHInorO-g4pdMbEbKI7PjykiPtu69cDUht05cB62_RjyOLxZwZ6S7Y-krxBzNZnihKJ7swVeDmwV/s400/w+g+grace+1+new.jpg" width="185" /></a>Grace was just short of his thirteenth birthday when, on 5 July 1861, he made his debut for Lansdown and played two matches that month. E.M. had made his debut in 1857, aged sixteen.In August, Grace made his debut for West Gloucestershire, playing against Lansdown at Sydenham Field in Bath.In August 1862, aged 14, Grace played for West Gloucestershire against a Devonshire team.A year later, on his return from "a dangerous bout of pneumonia"that left him bed-ridden for several weeks, he scored 52 not out and took 6 for 43 against a Somerset XI.After this illness, Grace grew rapidly to his full height of 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m).He was one of four family members who played for Bristol and Didcot XVIII against the All-England Eleven in August 1863. He bowled well and scored 32 off the bowling of John Jackson, George Tarrant and Cris Tinley. E.M. took ten wickets in the match, which Bristol and Didcot won by an innings, and as a result E.M. was invited to tour Australia a few months later with George Parr's England team.<br /><br />E.M. did not return from Australia until July 1864 and his absence presented Grace with an opportunity to appear on cricket's greatest stages.He and his elder brother Henry were invited to play for the South Wales Club which had arranged a series of matches in London and Sussex, though Grace wondered humorously how they were qualified to represent South Wales.It was the first time that Grace left the West Country and he made his debut appearances at both The Oval and Lord's.<br /><br />Grace was still 15 when the 1864 season began and was 22 when the 1870 season ended. He lived with his parents at Downend throughout the period but began his medical career when he enrolled at Bristol Medical School on 7 October 1868.Cricket in the 1860s underwent an evolutionary phase with the legalisation of overarm bowling in June 1864 and Grace himself said it was "no exaggeration to say that, between 1860 and 1870, English cricket passed through its most critical period" with the game in transition and "it was quite a revolutionary period so far as its rules were concerned".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuTI4oQlay_oP5-WBir0cgSRWwlUn1ehmssC2MIvhWmVZc7v9Vq_mtUcXyjqTK9mMBmnwaTtfHcM4XgCBtp_XYbXzK3zQZiPGTknG4loOGsrSk4bS1QUmESXrEc-9TTc2bEm9C_lP1JBP/s1600/w+g+grace+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGuTI4oQlay_oP5-WBir0cgSRWwlUn1ehmssC2MIvhWmVZc7v9Vq_mtUcXyjqTK9mMBmnwaTtfHcM4XgCBtp_XYbXzK3zQZiPGTknG4loOGsrSk4bS1QUmESXrEc-9TTc2bEm9C_lP1JBP/s320/w+g+grace+new.jpg" width="147" /></a>Having scored 5 and 38 for the South Wales club in his first match at The Oval,Grace was outstanding in the next match and scored 170 and 56 not out against the Gentlemen of Sussex at the Royal Brunswick Ground in Hove.His innings of 170 was his first-ever century in a serious match.The third match, against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) was Grace's debut at Lord's and he was joined by E.M. who had just disembarked from his voyage.Grace scored 50 in the first innings only three days after his sixteenth birthday. His name now well known in cricketing circles, Grace played for Gentlemen of the South v Players of the South in June 1865 when he was still only 16 but already 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall and weighing 11 st (70 kg).This match is now regarded by CricketArchive as his first-class debut,He bowled extremely well and had match figures of 13 for 84. It was this performance that earned him his first selection for the prestigious Gentlemen v Players fixture.<br /><br />During this period, before the start of Test cricket in 1877, Gentlemen v Players was the most prestigious fixture in which a player could take part. This is apart from North v. South which was technically a fixture of higher quality given that the amateur Gentlemen were usually (until Grace took a hand) outclassed by the professional Players. Grace represented the Gentlemen in their matches against the Players from 1865 to 1906. It was he who enabled the amateurs to meet the paid professionals on level terms and to defeat them more often than not. His ability to master fast bowling was the key factor. Before Grace's debut in the fixture, the Gentlemen had lost 19 consecutive games; of the next 39 games they won 27 and lost only 4. In consecutive innings against the Players from 1871 to 1873, Grace scored 217, 77 and 112,117, 163, 158 and 70. In his whole career, he scored a record 15 centuries in the fixture.<br /><br />Grace's 1865 debut in the fixture did not turn the tide as the Players won at The Oval by 118 runs. He played quite well and took seven wickets in the match but could only score 23 and 12 not out. In the second 1865 match, this time at Lord's, the Gentlemen finally ended their losing streak and won by 8 wickets, but it was E.M. Grace, not W.G., who was the key factor with 11 wickets in the match. Even so, Grace made his mark by scoring 34 out of 77–2 in the second innings to steer the Gentlemen to victory.<br /><br />Just after his eighteenth birthday in July 1866, Grace confirmed his potential once and for all when he scored 224 not out for All-England against Surrey at The Oval. He was thenceforward the biggest name in cricket and the main spectator attraction. As Altham records, from then on "the successes came thick and fast". It was in August 1866 that Grace made his debut for the United South of England Eleven (USEE), with whom he was to have a long and lucrative association.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgu7ffskWxkQP0h6YMM8Po1IBhFo4MJTA0E5tvxCqCg2i25FCOMNkdtDHM5176uT3iT8bCY3pWh2cLAZnaNsDNYL9n0yMCTACy9N1ZQXznSVLn1CiTrK3Rh31tFL66Eut8OujVZBPtxvM/s1600/Dr_WG_Grace_in_1885+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgu7ffskWxkQP0h6YMM8Po1IBhFo4MJTA0E5tvxCqCg2i25FCOMNkdtDHM5176uT3iT8bCY3pWh2cLAZnaNsDNYL9n0yMCTACy9N1ZQXznSVLn1CiTrK3Rh31tFL66Eut8OujVZBPtxvM/s320/Dr_WG_Grace_in_1885+new.jpg" width="145" /></a>Although photographs of Grace in later life reveal that he was by then corpulent, he was a fit man in his younger days, as his feats in 1866 confirm. Grace was a fine athlete and an example of his physical fitness was his 440 yards hurdles victory in the National and Olympian Association meeting at Crystal Palace the day after the long innings at The Oval mentioned above. At his peak, he was 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) tall and usually weighed about 12 st (76 kg). A non-smoker, he kept himself in condition all year round by shooting, hunting or running with the beagles as soon as the cricket season was over.<br /><br />Grace was out of the game for much of the 1867 season due to illness and injury. He sustained a sprained ankle in early May which sidelined him until June and then was ill with scarlet fever for a whole month from 10 July to 10 August. On 26 August, when fielding in the All-England v Surrey and Sussex match, his right forefinger was split open, a wound that later reopened. Back to full fitness in 1868, he became the second batsman in history, following William Lambert in 1817, to score two centuries in a match. Simon Rae summarised the 1868 season by saying that Grace was "now indisputably the cricketer of the age, the Champion".<br />became a member of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 1869 after being proposed by the treasurer, Thomas Burgoyne, and seconded by the secretary, Robert Allan Fitzgerald.[43] Given an ongoing rift in the sport during the 1860s between the northern professionals and Surrey, MCC feared the loss of its authority should Grace "throw in his lot with the professionals" so it was considered vital for them and their interests to get him onside. As it happens, the dispute was nearly over but it has been said that "MCC regained its authority over the game by hanging onto W.G.'s shirt-tails". Grace wore MCC colours for the rest of his career, playing for them on an irregular basis until 1904, and their red and yellow hooped cap became as synonymous with him as his large black beard.He played for MCC on an expenses only basis but any hopes that the premier club had of keeping him firmly within the amateur ranks would soon be disappointed for his services were much in demand. The highest wicket partnership of Grace's career was 283 runs for the first wicket with Bransby Cooper for the Gentlemen of the South v the Players of the South at The Oval in 1869. Grace scored 180 and Cooper 101.<br /><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c0VcyORHhJLDnsh2Asd84Z61sA17KMZ0u64RTsIcK2br5__4FEqokLQ23_Ic_2CYJSLwbnIcaDSed3HdP-4rmAzLiQvvmG5RYXGer1wtiDdORwBJRsFMsak2B3gZDVR5URthXeaj2ljJ/s1600/W_G_Grace_and_Bobby_Abel+new.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6c0VcyORHhJLDnsh2Asd84Z61sA17KMZ0u64RTsIcK2br5__4FEqokLQ23_Ic_2CYJSLwbnIcaDSed3HdP-4rmAzLiQvvmG5RYXGer1wtiDdORwBJRsFMsak2B3gZDVR5URthXeaj2ljJ/s400/W_G_Grace_and_Bobby_Abel+new.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">Entr'acte cartoon: Bobby Abel to<br />W.G. Grace: "Look here, we players intend to be<br />sufficiently paid, as well as the so-called gentlemen!"</td></tr></tbody></table>It is generally understood that Gloucestershire County Cricket Club was formally constituted in 1870, having developed from Dr Henry Grace's West Gloucestershire club.Gloucestershire acquired first-class status when its team played against Surrey at Durdham Down near Bristol on 2, 3 & 4 June 1870. With Grace and his brothers E.M. and Fred playing, Gloucestershire won that game by 51 runs and quickly became one of the best teams in England. The club was unanimously rated Champion County in 1876 and 1877 as well as sharing the unofficial title in 1873 and staking a claim for it in 1874. Surrey and Gloucestershire played a return match at The Oval in July 1870 and Gloucestershire won this by an innings and 129 runs. Grace scored 143, sharing a second wicket partnership with Frank Townsend (89) of 234. The Grace family "ran the show" at Gloucestershire and E.M. was chosen as secretary which, as Birley points out, "put him in charge of expenses, a source of scandal that was to surface before the end of the decade". W.G., though aged only 21, was from the start the team captain and Birley puts this down to his "commercial drawing power".<br /><br />Grace, a medical student at the time, was first on the scene when George Summers received the blow on the head that caused his death four days later. This was in the MCC v Nottinghamshire match at Lord's in June. Grace was fielding nearby when Summers was struck and took his pulse. Summers recovered consciousness and Grace advised him to leave the field. Summers did not go to hospital but it transpired later that his skull had been fractured. The Lord's pitch had a poor reputation for being rough, uneven and unpredictable all through the 19th century and many players including Grace considered it dangerous.<br /><br />The United South of England Eleven (USEE) had been formed by Edgar Willsher in 1865 but the heyday of the travelling teams was over and their organisers were desperate to feature new attractions. Grace had played for the USEE previously and he formally joined the club in 1870 as its match organiser, for which he received payment, but he played for expenses only. He scored 215 for the Gentlemen which was the first time anyone scored a double century in the Gentlemen v Players fixture.<br /><br />Birley records that it was at this time, "scorning the puny modern fashion of moustaches", that Grace grew the enormous black beard that made him so recognisable. In addition, his "ample girth" had developed for he weighed 15st. in his early twenties. Grace was a non-smoker but he enjoyed good food and wine; many years later, when discussing the overheads incurred during Lord Sheffield's profitless tour of Australia in 1891–92, Arthur Shrewsbury commented: "I told you what wine would be drunk by the amateurs; Grace himself would drink enough to swim a ship."<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcJdVjs9bmY_LqhDFQ20nVflUQtdE8M6IOnk7pMwMgwSEUPoWw7yaHn0kKj_61fUnJcr-N2tL8XDnbqWmFabHJ0ynLVF144mal_VpAvIQw7N-nzpOb6S7AlvEjbcaNP96neq9abbHXHfh/s1600/WG_Grace_and_Billy_Murdoch+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUcJdVjs9bmY_LqhDFQ20nVflUQtdE8M6IOnk7pMwMgwSEUPoWw7yaHn0kKj_61fUnJcr-N2tL8XDnbqWmFabHJ0ynLVF144mal_VpAvIQw7N-nzpOb6S7AlvEjbcaNP96neq9abbHXHfh/s400/WG_Grace_and_Billy_Murdoch+new.jpg" width="292" /></a></div>According to Altham, 1871 was Grace's annus mirabilis, except that he produced another outstanding year in 1895. In all first-class matches in 1871, a total of 17 centuries were scored and Grace accounted for 10 of them, including the first century in a first-class match at Trent Bridge. He averaged 78.25 and the next best average by a batsman playing more than a single innings was 39.57, barely more than half his figure. His aggregate for the season was 2,739 and this was the first time that anyone had scored 2,000 first-class runs in a season; Harry Jupp was next best with 1,068. Grace's highest score was 268 for South v. North at The Oval. Grace produced his season highlight in the South v North match at The Oval when he made his highest career score to date of 268, having been dismissed by Jem Shaw for nought in the first innings. It was to no avail as the match was drawn.[60] But the occasion produced a memorable and oft-quoted comment by Jem Shaw who ruefully said: "I puts the ball where I likes and he puts it where he likes".<br /><br />Grace had numerous nicknames during his career including "The Doctor", after he achieved his medical qualification, and The Old Man, as he reached the veteran stage. But he was most auspiciously nicknamed "The Champion". He was first acclaimed as "the Champion Cricketer" by Lillywhite's Companion in recognition of his exploits in 1871.But Grace's great year was marred by the death of his father in December. As he was still a medical student only, he had to increase his involvement with the USEE to cover the family's loss of income.<br /><br />Grace and his younger brother Fred still lived with their mother at Downend. Their father had left just enough to maintain the family home but the onus was now on the brothers to increase their earnings from cricket to pay for their medical studies (Fred started his in the autumn of 1872). They achieved this through their involvement as match organisers of the United South of England Eleven which played six matches in the 1872 season including games in Edinburgh and Glasgow, Grace's first visit to Scotland.1872 was a wet summer and Grace ended his season in early August so that he could join the tour of North America.<br /><br />Grace made three overseas tours during his career. The first was to the United States and Canada with RA Fitzgerald's team in August and September 1872. The expenses of this tour were paid by the Montreal Club who had written to Fitzgerald the previous winter and invited him to form a team. Grace and his all-amateur colleagues made "short work of the weak teams" they faced. The team included two other future England captains in A.N. Hornby, who became a rival of Grace in future years; and the Honourable George Harris, the future Lord Harris, who became a very close friend and a most useful ally. The team met in Liverpool on 8 August and sailed on the SS Sarmatian, docking at Quebec on 17 August. Simon Rae recounts that the bond between Grace and Harris was forged by their mutual sea-sickness. Matches were played in Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, London, New York, Philadelphia and Boston. The team sailed back from Quebec on 27 September and arrived at Liverpool on 8 October. The tour was "a high point of (Grace's) early years" and he "retained fond memories of it" for the rest of his life, calling it "a prolonged and happy picnic" in his ghost-written Reminiscences.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2UCB1eyXT5i54UDs2x50Ze_PKbKGMLD3Gk3Wp5qzhTrU13YvkxtMvG0LOYzHgRRGCMvDX3-dZ0PYeYa1fhoLEXo0Uuc9ZcheZcFUB9oSb8rPmAjDr-po3b6ADhU5577HVEpnYR7RsmL0/s1600/w+g+grees+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2UCB1eyXT5i54UDs2x50Ze_PKbKGMLD3Gk3Wp5qzhTrU13YvkxtMvG0LOYzHgRRGCMvDX3-dZ0PYeYa1fhoLEXo0Uuc9ZcheZcFUB9oSb8rPmAjDr-po3b6ADhU5577HVEpnYR7RsmL0/s320/w+g+grees+new.jpg" width="134" /></a>Grace became the first batsman to score a century before lunch in a first-class match when he made 134 for Gentlemen of the South versus Players of the South at The Oval in 1873. In the same season, he became the first player ever to complete the "double" of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in a season. He went on to do that eight times in all:<br />1873 – 2,139 runs and 106 wickets<br />1874 – 1,664 runs and 140 wickets<br />1875 – 1,498 runs and 191 wickets<br />1876 – 2,622 runs and 129 wickets<br />1877 – 1,474 runs and 179 wickets<br />1878 – 1,151 runs and 152 wickets<br />1885 – 1,688 runs and 117 wickets<br />1886 – 1,846 runs and 122 wickets<br /><br />1873 was the year that some semblance of organisation was brought into county cricket with the introduction of a residence qualification. This was aimed principally at England's outstanding bowler James Southerton who had been playing for both Surrey and Sussex, having been born in one and living in the other. Southerton chose to play for his county of residence, Surrey, from then on but remained the country's top bowler. The counties agreed on residence but not on a means of deciding a championship and so the title remained an unofficial award until 1889. Gloucestershire had a very strong claim to this unofficial title in 1873 but consensus was that they shared it with Nottinghamshire. These two did not play each other and both were unbeaten in six matches, but Nottinghamshire won five and Gloucestershire won four.<br /><br />Grace visited Australia in 1873–74 as captain of "W.G. Grace's XI". On the morning of the team's departure from Southampton, Grace responded to well-wishers by saying that his team "had a duty to perform to maintain the honour of English cricket, and to uphold the high character of English cricketers". But both his and the team's performance fell well short of this goal. The tour was not a success and the only positive outcome was the fact of the tour having taken place, ten years after the previous one, as it "gave Australian cricket a much needed fillip". Most of the problems lay with Grace himself and his "overbearing personality" which quickly exhausted all personal goodwill towards him. There was also bad feeling within the team itself because Grace, who normally got on well with professional players, enforced the class divide throughout the tour. In terms of results, the team fared reasonably well following a poor start in which they were beaten by both Victoria and New South Wales. They played 15 matches in all but none are recognised as first-class.<br /><br />Grace's team landed in England on 18 May 1874 and he was quickly back into domestic cricket. The 1874 season was very successful for him as he completed a second successive double. Gloucestershire again had a strong claim to the Champion County title although some sources have awarded it to Derbyshire and Grace himself said that it should have gone to Yorkshire. Another good season followed in 1875 when he again completed the double with 1,498 runs and 191 wickets. This was his best season as a bowler.<br /><br />One of the most outstanding phases of Grace's career occurred in the 1876 season, beginning with his career highest score of 344 for MCC v Kent at Canterbury in August. Two days after his innings at Canterbury, he made 177 for Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire;[84] and two days after that 318 not out for Gloucestershire v Yorkshire, these two innings against counties with exceptionally strong bowling attacks. Thus, in three consecutive innings Grace scored 839 runs and was only out twice. His innings of 344 was the first triple century scored in first-class cricket and broke the record for the highest individual score in all classes of cricket, previously held by William Ward who made 278 in 1820. Ward's record had stood for 56 years and, within a week, Grace bettered it twice. In 1877, Gloucestershire won the championship for the third and (to date) final time, largely thanks to another outstanding season by Grace who scored 1,474 runs and took<br /><br />There was speculation that Grace intended to retire before the 1878 season to concentrate on his medical career, but he decided to continue playing cricket and may have been influenced by the arrival of the first Australian team to tour England in May. At Lord's on 27 May, the Australians took part in one of the most famous matches of all time when they defeated a strong MCC team, including Grace, by nine wickets in a single day's play. News of the match "spread like wildfire and created a sensation in London and throughout England". The satirical magazine Punch responded to it by publishing a parody of Byron's poem The Destruction of Sennacherib including a wry commentary on Grace's contribution:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpbr1AZQ9W1jeJFBjbj0o3vGWsWtftp-XseobLMPPS0w1QNumSvX34WVzCNB0gwUCN7mlwul6S66zJX6nplDzsiheGMlNLN8WUFRS43tNxgQNKO2kdKYocH0_vBTfHNvpnrF3-cY7Ndo8/s1600/Wg_grace+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIpbr1AZQ9W1jeJFBjbj0o3vGWsWtftp-XseobLMPPS0w1QNumSvX34WVzCNB0gwUCN7mlwul6S66zJX6nplDzsiheGMlNLN8WUFRS43tNxgQNKO2kdKYocH0_vBTfHNvpnrF3-cY7Ndo8/s320/Wg_grace+new.jpg" width="229" /></a>There was bad feeling between Grace and some of the 1878 Australians, especially their manager John Conway; this came to a head on 20 June in a row over the services of Grace's friend Billy Midwinter, an Australian who had played for Gloucestershire in 1877. Midwinter was already in England before the main Australian party arrived and had joined them for their first match in May. On 20 June, Midwinter was at Lord's where he was due to play for the Australians against Middlesex. On the same day, the Gloucestershire team was at The Oval to play Surrey but arrived a man short. As a result, a group of Gloucestershire players led by W.G. and E.M. went to Lord's and persuaded Midwinter to accompany them back to The Oval to make up their numbers.They were pursued by three of the Australians who caught them at The Oval gates where a furious altercation ensued in front of bystanders. At one point, Grace called the Australians "a damned lot of sneaks" (he later apologised). In the end, Grace got his way and Midwinter stayed with Gloucestershire for the rest of the season, although he did not play for the county against the Australians. Afterwards, the row was patched up and Gloucestershire invited the Australians to play the county team, minus Midwinter, at Clifton College.The Australians took a measure of revenge and won easily by 10 wickets, with Spofforth taking 12 wickets and making the top score. It was Gloucestershire's first ever home defeat.<br /><br />In other matches that season, Gloucestershire made its first visit to Old Trafford Cricket Ground in July to play Lancashire and this was the match immortalised by Francis Thompson in his idyllic poem At Lord's. In a match against Surrey at Clifton, the ball lodged in Grace's shirt after he had played it and he seized the opportunity to complete several runs before the fielders forced him to stop. He disingenuously claimed that he would have been out handled the ball if he had removed it and, following a discussion, it was agreed that three runs should be awarded.<br /><br />Despite his troubles in 1878, it was another good season for him on the field as he completed a sixth successive double with 1,151 runs and 152 wickets. He made 24 first-class appearances in the season, scoring 1,151 runs, with a highest score of 116, at an average of 28.77 with 1 century and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 42 catches and 152 wickets with a best analysis of 8–23.His bowling average was 14.50; he had 5 wickets in an innings 12 times and 10 wickets in a match 6 times.But the events at The Oval had a subscript during the following winter when W.G. and E.M. were called to account by the Gloucestershire membership because of the expenses they had claimed from Surrey for that match, and which Surrey had refused to authorise.<br /><br />The enquiry at Gloucestershire took place in January 1879. W.G. and E.M. were forced to answer charges that they had claimed "exorbitant expenses", one of the few times that their money-making activity was seriously challenged. The claim had been submitted to Surrey re the controversial 1878 match in which Billy Midwinter was brought in as a late replacement, but Surrey refused to pay it and this provoked the enquiry. The Graces managed to survive "a protracted and stormy meeting" with E.M. retaining his key post as club secretary, although he was forced to liaise in future with a new finance committee and abide by stricter rules.<br /><br />The incident highlighted an ongoing issue about the nominal amateur status of the Grace brothers. The amateur was, by definition, not a professional and the dictum of the amateur-dominated Marylebone Cricket Club was that "a gentleman ought not to make any profit from playing cricket". Like all amateur players, they claimed expenses for travel and accommodation to and from cricket matches, but there is plenty of evidence that the Graces made even more money by playing than their basic expenses would allow and W.G. in particular "made more than any professional". However, in his later years he had to pay for a locum tenens to run his medical practice while he was playing cricket and he had a reputation for treating his poorer patients without charging a fee. He was paid a salary for his roles as secretary and manager of the London County club. He was the recipient of two national testimonials. The first was presented to him by Lord Fitzhardinge at Lord's on 22 July 1879 in the form of a marble clock, two bronze ornaments and a cheque for £1,458. The second, collected by MCC, the county of Gloucestershire, the Daily Telegraph and The Sportsman, amounted to £9,703 and was presented to him in 1896 in appreciation of his "Indian Summer" season of 1895.<br /><br />Whatever criticisms may be made of Grace for making money for himself out of cricket, he was "punctilious in his aid when (professional players) were the beneficiaries". For example, when Alfred Shaw's benefit match in 1879 was ruined by rain, Grace insisted on donating to Shaw the proceeds of another match that had been arranged to support Grace's own testimonial fund. After the same thing happened to Edgar Willsher's benefit match, Grace took a select team to play Kent a few days later, the proceeds all going to Willsher. On another occasion, he altered the date of a Gloucestershire match so that he could travel to Sheffield and take part in a Yorkshire player's benefit match, knowing full well the impact that his appearance would have on the gate. As John Arlott recorded, "it was no uncommon sight to see outside a cricket ground":<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkTdsolnw_awdFfCVpjhhMmFeAxRhBeCmG-vEZeTflkZ__RnOVLiSHXx7n9z93dvnmIgRr9wbWdKpKROxyLSLF88FNfYBFHpU3S13YuJe-4GU70LrkL6lxo610j0Jl2qWVzRL0H5ANFOU/s1600/w+g+grees+2+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFkTdsolnw_awdFfCVpjhhMmFeAxRhBeCmG-vEZeTflkZ__RnOVLiSHXx7n9z93dvnmIgRr9wbWdKpKROxyLSLF88FNfYBFHpU3S13YuJe-4GU70LrkL6lxo610j0Jl2qWVzRL0H5ANFOU/s400/w+g+grees+2+new.jpg" width="236" /></a>Grace and his brother Fred faced financial difficulty after their father died in December 1871 as they were still living with their mother who had been left just enough to retain the family home. As medical students, they faced considerable outlay in addition to their living expenses and it became imperative for them to make what they could out of cricket, especially the United South of England Eleven. Grace as its match organiser had to find gaps in the first-class fixture list and then pull together a team to visit a location where a suitable profit could be made. It has been estimated that the standard fee paid to the USEE was £100 for a three-day match with £5 each going to the nine professionals in the team and the other £45 to W.G. and Fred: a sizeable amount in 1872 when £100 was perhaps the equivalent of £3,000-plus at the end of the 20th century. Otherwise, Grace played for expenses but these were loaded as, for example, he is known to have claimed £15 per appearance for Gloucestershire and £20 for representing the Gentlemen. Although the money he was paid is "small beer" compared with 21st century sports stars, there is no doubt he had a comfortable living out of cricket and made far more money than any contemporary professional. To put it in context, a domestic servant earned less than £50 a year.<br /><br />Grace missed a large part of the 1879 season because he was doing the final practical for his medical qualification and, for the first time since 1869, he did not complete 1000 runs, though he did take 105 wickets.Grace made 18 first-class appearances in 1879, scoring 993 runs, with a highest score of 123, at an average of 38.19 with 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 23 catches and 113 wickets with a best analysis of 8–81. His bowling average was 13.19; he had 5 wickets in an innings 14 times and 10 wickets in a match once.<br /><br />Having qualified as a doctor in November 1879, Grace had to give priority to his new practice in Bristol for the next five years. As a result, his cricket sometimes had to be set aside and in 1883 he missed a Gentlemen v Players match for the first time since 1867. He had other troubles including a serious bout of mumps in 1882 and injury problems in 1884. He never topped the seasonal batting averages in the 1880s and from 1879 to 1882, he did not complete 1000 runs in the season.<br /><br />Gloucestershire CCC in 1880 shortly before Fred Grace's untimely death. W.G. Grace is seated front left centre. Fred (hooped cap) is third left in rear group. Billy Midwinter (directly behind W.G.) is fourth left in rear. E.M. Grace (bearded) is sixth left in rear.<br /><br />In addition, Gloucestershire had declined following its heady success in the 1870s. One of the reasons was the early death of W.G.'s younger brother Fred from pneumonia in 1880, there being a view that "the county was never quite the same without him". Apart from W.G. himself, the only players of Fred Grace's calibre at this time were the leading professionals. Unlike the south-east and northern counties, Gloucestershire had neither the large home gates nor the necessary funds that could have secured the services of good quality professionals. This was at a time when a new generation of professionals was appearing with the likes of Billy Gunn, Maurice Read and Arthur Shrewsbury. As a result, Gloucestershire fell away in county competition and could no longer match Nottinghamshire, Surrey and Lancashire who had the strongest sides in the 1880s.<br /><br />Test cricket began in 1877 when Grace was already 28 and he made his debut in 1880, scoring England's first-ever Test century against Australia. He played for England in 22 Tests through the 1880s and 1890s, all of them against Australia, and was an automatic selection for England at home, but his only Test-playing tour of Australia was that of 1891–92.Grace made 16 first-class appearances in 1880, scoring 951 runs, with a highest score of 152, at an average of 39.62 with 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 17 catches and 84 wickets with a best analysis of 7–65. His bowling average was 17.60; he had 5 wickets in an innings 9 times and 10 wickets in a match 3 times.Grace made 13 first-class appearances in 1881, scoring 917 runs, with a highest score of 182, at an average of 38.20 with 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 20 catches and 57 wickets with a best analysis of 7–30. His bowling average was 18.00; he had 5 wickets in an innings 3 times.<br /><br />Grace's most significant Test was England v Australia in 1882 at The Oval.Thanks to Spofforth who took 14 wickets in the match, Australia won by 7 runs and the legend of The Ashes was born immediately afterwards. Grace scored only 4 and 32 but he has been held responsible for "firing up" Spofforth. This came about through a typical piece of gamesmanship by Grace when he effected an unsporting, albeit legal, run out of Sammy Jones.Grace made 22 first-class appearances in 1882, scoring 975 runs, with a highest score of 88, at an average of 26.35 with 0 centuries and 8 half-centuries. In the field, he took 22 catches and 101 wickets with a best analysis of 8–31. His bowling average was 17.34; he had 5 wickets in an innings 8 times and 10 wickets in a match twice.Grace made 22 first-class appearances in 1883, scoring 1,352 runs, with a highest score of 112, at an average of 34.66 with 1 century and 9 half-centuries. In the field, he took 35 catches and 94 wickets with a best analysis of 7–92. His bowling average was 22.09; he had 5 wickets in an innings 9 times and 10 wickets in a match 4 times.<br /><br />Grace made 26 first-class appearances in 1884, scoring 1,361 runs, with a highest score of 116 not out, at an average of 34.02 with 3 centuries and 6 half-centuries. In the field, he took 30 catches and 82 wickets with a best analysis of 6–72. His bowling average was 21.48; he had 5 wickets in an innings 5 times.Grace made 25 first-class appearances in 1885, scoring 1,688 runs, with a highest score of 221 not out, at an average of 43.28 with 4 centuries and 10 half-centuries. In the field, he took 31 catches and 117 wickets with a best analysis of 9–20. His bowling average was 18.79; he had 5 wickets in an innings 8 times and 10 wickets in a match twice.<br /><br />Grace achieved his career-best bowling analysis of 10/49 when playing for MCC against Oxford University at The Parks in 1886; and he scored 104 in his only innings to complete a rare "match double".1886 was the last time he took 100 wickets in a season.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GYSHJ4nH1K5m1QBXDoRSFp8vfEzhlt8K0s6w5bEQCZ6hF7iV0SPkAEu_f3ankXvUOhODn9qmIQI9WwDpcdOiC7zqmGHhqlPP2QQW7VuDYZStE12Cx-XNQXhz4HfA6TnoWo0HfOtc7gl1/s1600/w+g+grees+1+new+a.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4GYSHJ4nH1K5m1QBXDoRSFp8vfEzhlt8K0s6w5bEQCZ6hF7iV0SPkAEu_f3ankXvUOhODn9qmIQI9WwDpcdOiC7zqmGHhqlPP2QQW7VuDYZStE12Cx-XNQXhz4HfA6TnoWo0HfOtc7gl1/s320/w+g+grees+1+new+a.jpg" width="180" /></a>The highest Test wicket partnership involving Grace was at The Oval in 1886 when he and William Scotton scored 170 for the first wicket against Australia. Grace's own score was also 170 and was the highest in his Test career.Grace made 33 first-class appearances in 1886, scoring 1,846 runs, with a highest score of 170, at an average of 35.50 with 4 centuries and 9 half-centuries. In the field, he took 36 catches and 122 wickets with a best analysis of 10–49. His bowling average was 19.99; he had 5 wickets in an innings 10 times and 10 wickets in a match once.Grace's best return in the 1880s was 2,062 runs in 1887 with six centuries.<br /><br />Grace made 24 first-class appearances in 1887, scoring 2,062 runs, with a highest score of 183 not out, at an average of 54.26 with 6 centuries and 8 half-centuries. In the field, he took 21 catches and 97 wickets with a best analysis of 7–53. His bowling average was 21.46; he had 5 wickets in an innings 7 times and 10 wickets in a match once.In 1888, he scored two centuries in one match v Yorkshire (148 and 153) and labelled this "my champion match".Grace made 33 first-class appearances in 1888, scoring 1,886 runs, with a highest score of 215, at an average of 32.51 with 4 centuries and 7 half-centuries. In the field, he took 34 catches and 93 wickets with a best analysis of 6–74. His bowling average was 18.18; he had 5 wickets in an innings 6 times.Grace had reduced his bowling somewhat in the last few seasons and he became an occasional bowler only from 1889.Grace made 24 first-class appearances in 1889, scoring 1,396 runs, with a highest score of 154, at an average of 32.46 with 3 centuries and 7 half-centuries. In the field, he took 22 catches and 44 wickets with a best analysis of 8–37. His bowling average was 23.18; he had 5 wickets in an innings twice and 10 wickets in a match once.Grace made 30 first-class appearances in 1890, scoring 1,476 runs, with a highest score of 109 not out, at an average of 28.38 with 1 century and 9 half-centuries. In the field, he took 31 catches and 61 wickets with a best analysis of 6–68. His bowling average was 19.37; he had 5 wickets in an innings 3 times.<br /><br />Injury problems, particularly a bad knee, took their toll in the early 1890s and Grace had his worst season in 1891 when he scored no centuries and could only average 19.76.Grace made 24 first-class appearances in 1891, scoring 771 runs, with a highest score of 72 not out, at an average of 19.76 with 0 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 19 catches and 58 wickets with a best analysis of 7–38. His bowling average was 16.77; he had 5 wickets in an innings 5 times and 10 wickets in a match once.<br /><br />Despite his injury problems in 1891, few doubted that Grace should captain England in Australia the following winter when he led Lord Sheffield's team to Australia in 1891–92. Australia, led by Jack Blackham, won the three-match series 2–1.Grace played in 8 first-class matches on the tour and scored 448 runs at 44.80 with one century which was his highest score of 159 not out. He scored two half-centuries. In the field, he took 17 catches but had minimal success as a bowler with only 5 wickets at a comparaatively high average of 26.80 and a best analysis of 3–64.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMCDQ7H2dO3fTo_S-oBFhqa19GH_VrHlqXO1ihPaC5gpIIvvNacbHM412fc6kYNkUOtyJVsr41VNc1m744Y9eVZG2T9gyuk4Yztki3HGppZMMIOm4iOKytOE2_OvKIZHqbnyXuyCV4me6/s1600/tuke009+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFMCDQ7H2dO3fTo_S-oBFhqa19GH_VrHlqXO1ihPaC5gpIIvvNacbHM412fc6kYNkUOtyJVsr41VNc1m744Y9eVZG2T9gyuk4Yztki3HGppZMMIOm4iOKytOE2_OvKIZHqbnyXuyCV4me6/s400/tuke009+new.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br />Grace rallied somewhat during the next three seasons, despite continuing problems at Gloucestershire.Grace made 21 first-class appearances in 1892, scoring 1,055 runs, with a highest score of 99, at an average of 31.02 with 0 centuries and 8 half-centuries. In the field, he took 14 catches and 31 wickets with a best analysis of 5–51. His bowling average was 30.90; he had 5 wickets in an innings twice.Grace made 28 first-class appearances in 1893, scoring 1,609 runs, with a highest score of 128, at an average of 35.75 with 1 century and 11 half-centuries. In the field, he took 21 catches and 22 wickets with a best analysis of 4–95. His bowling average was 38.81.Grace made 27 first-class appearances in 1894, scoring 1,293 runs, with a highest score of 196, at an average of 29.38 with 3 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 18 catches and 29 wickets with a best analysis of 6–82. His bowling average was 25.24; he had 5 wickets in an innings once.<br /><br />Against all expectation, Grace produced in 1895 a season that has been called his "Indian Summer". He completed his hundredth century playing for Gloucestershire against Somerset in May. Charles Townsend, his batting partner when he reached the milestone, said that as he approached his hundred: "This was the one and only time I ever saw him flustered..." Eventually Sammy Woods bowled a full toss which Grace drove for four to reach his century. He then went on to score 1,000 runs in the month, the first time this had ever been done, with scores of 13, 103, 18, 25, 288, 52, 257, 73 not out, 18 and 169 totalling 1016 runs between 9 and 30 May. His aggregate for the whole season was 2,346 at an average of 51.00 with nine centuries. He was aged forty-seven at the start of the season and forty-eight by its end.<br /><br />Grace made 29 first-class appearances in 1895, scoring 2,346 runs, with a highest score of 288, at an average of 51.00 with 9 centuries and 5 half-centuries. In the field, he took 31 catches and 16 wickets with a best analysis of 5–87. His bowling average was 32.93; he had 5 wickets in an innings once.Following his "Indian Summer", Grace was the sole recipient of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year award for 1896, the first of only three times that Wisden has restricted the award to a single player, there being normally five recipients.<br /><br />An oft-repeated story about Grace is that, in 1896, the Australian pace bowler Ernie Jones bowled a short-pitched delivery so close to his face that it appeared to go through the famous beard which made him so instantly recognisable. Grace reportedly reacted by demanding of Australian captain Harry Trott: "Here, what's all this?" Trott said to Jones:Steady, Jonah. To which Jones laconically replied: "Sorry, doctor, she slipped". There are multiple variations of the story and, although some sources have recorded that the incident happened in a Test match, there is little doubt that the game in question was the tour opener at Sheffield Park. This is separately confirmed by C.B. Fry and Stanley Jackson who were both playing in the match, Jackson batting with Grace at the time.<br /><br />By the time of his fiftieth birthday in July 1898, Grace had developed a somewhat corpulent figure and had lost his former agility, which meant he was no longer a capable fielder. He remained a very good batsman and at need a useful slow bowler, but he was clearly entering the twilight of his career and was now generally referred to as "The Old Man". As a special occasion, the MCC committee arranged the 1898 Gentlemen v Players match to coincide with his fiftieth birthday and he celebrated the event by scoring 43 and 31 not out, though handicapped by lameness and an injured hand.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FHKW5Ept6W0rGCr7lf6iYB48IAikd-sXXOO_SILRcS5xqJf3g8H3DBipqs2Br6tRXhVXgvq9rAhKfBgw6ReUVEuskHte7vryU6NpFNV8XzVVX_YUz75MkBje4NHM8Gg5Bv52nWLHH1rY/s1600/sipia+new+q.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1FHKW5Ept6W0rGCr7lf6iYB48IAikd-sXXOO_SILRcS5xqJf3g8H3DBipqs2Br6tRXhVXgvq9rAhKfBgw6ReUVEuskHte7vryU6NpFNV8XzVVX_YUz75MkBje4NHM8Gg5Bv52nWLHH1rY/s1600/sipia+new+q.jpg" /></a></div><br />Grace had received an invitation from the Crystal Palace Company in London to help them form the London County Cricket Club. Grace accepted the offer and became the club's secretary, manager and captain with an annual salary of £600. As a result, he severed his connection with Gloucestershire during the 1899 season.Grace captained England in the First Test of the 1899 series against Australia at Trent Bridge, when he was 51. By this time his bulk had made him a liability in the field and, afterwards, realising his limitations all too clearly, he decided to stand down and surrendered both his place and the captaincy to Archie MacLaren.It is evident that Grace "plotted" his own omission from the England team by asking C.B. Fry, another selector who had arrived late for their meeting, if he thought that MacLaren should play in the Second Test. Fry answered:Yes, I do"That settles it", said Grace, and he promptly retired from international cricket.Explaining his decision later, Grace ruefully admitted of his diminished fielding skills that "the ground was getting a bit too far away".Grace last played at Lord's for the Gentlemen in 1899 though he continued to represent the team at other venues until 1906.<br /><br />Having ended his international career, Grace then began the last phase of his overall first-class career when he joined the new London County Cricket Club, based at Crystal Palace Park, which played first-class matches between 1900 and 1904. Grace's presence initially attracted other leading players into the team, including Fry, Ranjitsinhji and Johnny Douglas, but the increased importance of the County Championship, combined with Grace's inevitable decline in form and the lack of a competitive element in London's matches, led to reduced attendances and consequently the club lost money. Nevertheless, Grace remained an attraction and could still produce good performances. As late as 1902, though aged 54 by the end of the season, he scored 1187 runs in first-class cricket, with two centuries, at an average of 37.09. But London's final first-class matches were played in 1904 and the enterprise folded in 1908.<br /><br />With the demise of London County as a first-class team, the number of Grace's appearances dwindled over the next four seasons until he called it a day in 1908. His final appearance for the Gentlemen versus the Players was in July 1906 at The Oval. Grace made his final first-class appearance on 20–22 April 1908 for the Gentlemen of England v Surrey at The Oval, where, opening the innings, he scored 15 and 25. This was his sole appearance in 1908.<br /><br />According to the statistical record used by CricketArchive, Grace's final first-class appearance in 1908 was his 870th and concluded a first-class career that had lasted 44 seasons from 1865 to 1908, equalling the record for the longest career span held by John Sherman, who played from 1809 to 1852. But according to an older version of Grace's career record, published by Wisden in 1916, Grace played in 878 first-class matches over the same span.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL5bFU_qpXpmde__Up96qZZ4eHrPxVDdRmtdyZbsATd67AzlTV-aVgg_GGf96HTP4N3Kge2QFv5cJjyKz7UvD37tnSbFcn1i9dwy74Y42HAcfzA-6wPvms2CMTs0n5YcMaZobmz7pWluD/s1600/120091+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpL5bFU_qpXpmde__Up96qZZ4eHrPxVDdRmtdyZbsATd67AzlTV-aVgg_GGf96HTP4N3Kge2QFv5cJjyKz7UvD37tnSbFcn1i9dwy74Y42HAcfzA-6wPvms2CMTs0n5YcMaZobmz7pWluD/s320/120091+new.jpg" width="229" /></a>Grace himself regarded the South Wales matches in 1864 as first-class fixtures and refers to them in his Cricketing Reminiscences as "really big" games. He was supported in his view by Lillywhite's Guide to Cricketers (1865 edition) which included his innings at Hove in a list called Scores of 100 or more made since 1850 in first-class matches. Grace's score was one of only six that exceeded 150. Despite Grace's own views on the matter, his "first-class career record" was effectively confirmed by F.S. Ashley-Cooper who produced a list of season-by-season figures to supplement Grace's obituary in the 1916 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack. These figures came to be known as Grace's "traditional" career record and granted him 126 first-class centuries, a total beaten by Jack Hobbs in 1925; it was not until Roy Webber's researches in the 1950s that Ashley-Cooper's list was challenged.<br /><br /><br />Following further research by the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (ACS) in the 1970s and 1980s, an "amended" career record was published which reduced Grace's total of centuries to 124. This was challenged, for historical reasons, by Wisden in 1983 and the current situation re this controversy is that both sides generally accept each other's views. For example, Rae points out that the statisticians are right to criticise Victorian compilers for "including minor matches to enable Grace to reach certain milestones"; but he also respects the view of Grace's contemporaries that "any match in which he played was elevated in status by his very presence".<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbWshAC-4FqyOrvQ2ompOK8YSRrFBXz1Im7XLXoRvUgHQC7Vse_6LjPvbdxO3wyBAzrauEYZvZn_H1TkzGIYOzTjXpbdTWDhcfDdEOUsO8REhLCSDFzkr80AECS-uF-JzsCfDJLWW2vAo/s1600/wg+young+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbWshAC-4FqyOrvQ2ompOK8YSRrFBXz1Im7XLXoRvUgHQC7Vse_6LjPvbdxO3wyBAzrauEYZvZn_H1TkzGIYOzTjXpbdTWDhcfDdEOUsO8REhLCSDFzkr80AECS-uF-JzsCfDJLWW2vAo/s320/wg+young+new.jpg" width="185" /></a>Despite his age and bulk, Grace continued to play minor cricket for several years after his retirement from the first-class version. His penultimate match, and the last in which he batted, was for Eltham Cricket Club at Grove Park on 25 July 1914, a week after his 66th birthday. He contributed an undefeated 69 to a total of 155-6 declared, having begun his innings when they were 31-4. Grove Park made 99-8 in reply. "The last match of any class that W.G. played in" was a couple of weeks later for Eltham v Northbrook on 8 August.In August 1914, soon after the First World War began, Grace wrote a letter to The Sportsman in which he called for the immediate closure of the county cricket season and for all first-class cricketers to set an example and serve their country.<br /><br />Grace died during the war and MCC decided to commemorate his life and career with a Memorial Biography, published in 1919. Its preface begins with this passage:"Never was such a band of cricketers gathered for any tour as has assembled to do honour to the greatest of all players in the present Memorial Biography. That such a volume should go forth under the auspices of the Committee of MCC is in itself unique in the history of the game, and that such an array of cricketers, critics and enthusiasts should pay tribute to its finest exponent has no parallel in any other branch of sport. In itself this presents a noble monument of what W.G. Grace was, a testimony to his prowess and to his personality."<br /><br />In 1923, the W.G. Grace Memorial Gates were erected at the St John's Wood Road entrance to Lord's. They were designed by Sir Herbert Baker and the opening ceremony was performed by Sir Stanley Jackson, who had suggested the inclusion of the words The Great Cricketer in the dedication.In many of the tributes paid to Grace, he was referred to as "The Great Cricketer". H S Altham, for one, described him as "the greatest of all cricketers". John Arlott summarised him as "timeless" and "the greatest (cricketer) of them all". The anti-establishment writer CLR James, in his classic work Beyond a Boundary, included a section "W.G.: Pre-Eminent Victorian", containing four chapters and covering some sixty pages. He declared Grace "the best-known Englishman of his time" and aligned him with Thomas Arnold and Thomas Hughes as "the three most eminent Victorians". James wrote of cricket as "the game he (Grace) transformed into a national institution. Simon Rae also commented upon Grace's eminence in Victorian England by saying that his public recognition was equalled only by Queen Victoria herself and William Ewart Gladstone.<br /><br />The inaugural edition of Playfair Cricket Annual in 1948 coincided with the centenary of Grace's birth and carried a tribute which spoke of Grace as "King in his own domain" and his "Olympian personality". Playfair went on to say how Grace had "pulverised fast bowling on chancy pitches" and had then "astonished the world" by his deeds during the 1895 "Indian Summer". In the foreword of the same edition, C.B. Fry insisted that Grace would not have started the 1948 season with any notion of being beaten by that season's Australian touring team, for "he was sanguine" and would have put everything he could muster into the task of beating them with no acceptance of defeat "till after it happened". As mentioned in Playfair, both MCC and Gloucestershire arranged special matches on Grace's birthday to commemorate his centenary.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkMHNCvmDa3nwpYTsMvNf4lwVJJfXWylkmDh6ondJu8jGllS9XDsikxiCL85MPzaUjKp2cbTMrQ32wFT-shVCoEsJpz3ZUdVXzeO0DjVwuKtd-tGye-994lFVMiGaZDSz0qAYaI0u7ItR/s1600/WG+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkMHNCvmDa3nwpYTsMvNf4lwVJJfXWylkmDh6ondJu8jGllS9XDsikxiCL85MPzaUjKp2cbTMrQ32wFT-shVCoEsJpz3ZUdVXzeO0DjVwuKtd-tGye-994lFVMiGaZDSz0qAYaI0u7ItR/s320/WG+new.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />Derek Birley, who devoted whole passages of his book to criticism of Grace's gamesmanship and moneymaking, wrote that the "bleakness (of the war) was exemplified in November (sic) 1915 by the death of Grace, which seemed depressingly emblematic of the end of an era". Rowland Bowen wrote that "many of Grace's achievements would be rated extremely good by our standards" but "by the standards of his day they were phenomenal: nothing like them had ever been done before".In the 1963 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, Grace was selected by Neville Cardus as one the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. This was a special commemorative selection requested by Wisden for its 100th edition. The other five players chosen were Sydney Barnes, Don Bradman, Jack Hobbs, Tom Richardson and Victor Trumper.<br /><br />Cricket writer David Frith summed up Grace's legacy to cricket by writing that "his influence lasted long after his final appearance in first-class cricket in 1908 and his death in 1915". "For decades", wrote Frith, "Grace had been arguably the most famous man in England", easily recognisable because of "his beard and his bulk", and revered because of "his batsmanship". Even though his records have been overtaken, "his pre-eminence has not" and he remains "the most famous cricketer of them all", the one who "elevated the game in public esteem".According to Mark Bonham-Carter, HH Asquith's grandson, Grace would have been one of the people to be appointed a peer had Asquith's plan to flood the House of Lords with Liberal peers come to fruition.<br /><br />British commemorative postage stamps issued on 16 May 1973 for the County Cricket Centenary featured three sketches of W.G. Grace by Harry Furniss. The values were threepence (then first-class post); seven pence halfpenny; and ninepence.Grace's fame has endured and his large beard in particular remains familiar; for example, Monty Python and the Holy Grail uses his image as "the face of God" during the sequence in which God sends the knights out on their quest for the grail.On 12 September 2009, William Gilbert Grace was posthumously inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame at Lord's. Two of his direct descendants attended the ceremony: Dominic, his great-great-grandson; and George, Dominic's son.<br /><br />Grace himself had much to say about how to play cricket in his two books Cricket (1891) and Reminiscences (1899), which were both ghost-written. His fundamental opinion was that cricketers are "not born" but must be nurtured to develop their skills through coaching and practice; in his own case, he had achieved his skill through constant practice as a boy at home under the tutelage of his uncle Alfred Pocock.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubXm1tTnj03W3KdBcugzRzSo4dXFogPkH6ZOyeVXYnoq_-HgXCQsE1xJKFF8QqHjgnG31M0ud-NkcH6ma9180icffBwHWgVoDM4rP8-hUpyHEjJCT-jBRUIZyUQYBhZsUJoUl-Vm70Ime/s1600/Ranji_1897+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubXm1tTnj03W3KdBcugzRzSo4dXFogPkH6ZOyeVXYnoq_-HgXCQsE1xJKFF8QqHjgnG31M0ud-NkcH6ma9180icffBwHWgVoDM4rP8-hUpyHEjJCT-jBRUIZyUQYBhZsUJoUl-Vm70Ime/s320/Ranji_1897+new.jpg" width="244" /></a></div><br />Although the work ethic was of prime importance in his development, Grace insisted that cricket must also be enjoyable and freely admitted that his family all played in a way that was "noisy and boisterous" with much "chaff" (i.e., a Victorian term for teasing). W.G. and E.M. in particular were noted throughout their careers for being noisy and boisterous on the field. They were extremely competitive and always playing to win. Sometimes this went to extremes (e.g., on one occasion at school, E.M. was so upset about a decision going against him that he went home and took the stumps with him) and developed into the gamesmanship for which E.M. and W.G. were always controversial.<br /><br />It was because of gamesmanship and insistence on his rights, as he saw them, that Grace never enjoyed good relations with Australians in general, though he had personal friends like Billy Midwinter and Billy Murdoch. In 1874, an Australian newspaper wrote: "We in Australia did not take kindly to W.G.. For so big a man, he is surprisingly tenacious on very small points. We thought him too apt to wrangle in the spirit of a duo-decimo lawyer over small points of the game."<br /><br />But he was just the same in England and even his long-term friend Lord Harris agreed that "his gamesmanship added to the fund of stories about him". The point was that Grace "approached cricket as if he were fighting a small war" and he was "out to win at all costs". The Australians understood this twenty years later when Joe Darling, touring England for the first time in 1896, said: "We were all told not to trust the Old Man as he was out to win every time and was a great bluffer".<br /><br />With regard to Grace's batsmanship, C.L.R. James held that the best analysis of his style and technique was written by another top-class batsman K.S. Ranjitsinhji in his Jubilee Book of Cricket (co-written with C.B. Fry). Ranjitsinhji wrote that, by his extraordinary skills, Grace "revolutionised cricket and developed most of the techniques of modern batting" and was "the bible of batsmanship". Before him, batsmen would play either forward or back and make a speciality of a certain stroke. Grace "made utility the criterion of style" and incorporated both forward and back play into his repertoire of strokes, favouring only that which was appropriate to the ball being delivered at the moment. In an oft-quoted phrase, Ranjitsinhji said of Grace that "he turned the old one-stringed instrument (i.e., the cricket bat) into a many-chorded lyre" and that "the theory of modern batting is in all essentials the result of W.G.'s thinking and working on the game".Ranjitsinhji summarised Grace's importance to the development of cricket by writing: "I hold him to be not only the finest player born or unborn, but the maker of modern batting". Cricket writer and broadcaster John Arlott, writing in 1975, supported this view by holding that Grace "created modern cricket".<br /><br />But Grace's extraordinary skill had already been recognised very early in his career, especially by the professional bowlers. A very prescient comment was made by the laconic Yorkshire and England fast bowler Tom Emmett who, after playing against Grace for the first time in 1869, called him a "nonsuch" (i.e., a nonpareil) who "ought to be made to play with a littler bat".H.S. Altham pointed out that for most of Grace's career, he played on pitches that "the modern schoolboy would consider unfit for a house match" and on grounds without boundaries where every hit including those "into the country" had to be run in full.Rowland Bowen records that 1895, the year of Grace's "Indian Summer", was the season in which marl was first used as a binding agent in the composition of English pitches, its benefit being to ensure "good lasting wickets".<br /><br />It was through Alfred Pocock's perseverance that Grace had learned to play straight and to develop a sound defence so that he would stop or leave the good deliveries and score off the poor ones. This contrasted him with E.M. who was "always a hitter" and whose basic defence was not as sound. However, as Grace's skills developed, he became a very powerful hitter himself with a full range of shots and, at his best, would score runs freely. Despite being an all-rounder, Grace was also an opening batsman.<br /><br />As a bowler, Grace belonged to what Altham calls the "high, home and easy school of a much earlier day". Using a roundarm action, Grace was adept at varying both his pace and the arc of his slower deliveries which worked in from the leg side of the pitch. The chief feature of his bowling was the excellent length which he consistently maintained. He originally bowled at a consistently fast medium pace but in the 1870s he increasingly adopted his slower style which utilised a leg break. He called his leg break a "leg-tweeker" but he put very little break on the ball, just enough to bring it across from the batsman's legs to the wicket and he invariably posted a fielder in a strategic position on the square leg boundary, a trap which brought occasional success. He was unusual in persisting with his roundarm action throughout his career, when almost all other bowlers adopted the new overarm style.<br /><br />In his prime, Grace was noted for his outstanding fielding and was a very strong thrower of the ball; he was once credited with throwing the cricket ball 122 yards during an athletics event at Eastbourne. He attributed this skill to his country-bred childhood in which stone throwing at crows was a daily exercise. In later life, Grace commented upon a decline in English fielding standards and blamed it on "the falling numbers of country-bred boys who strengthen their arms by throwing stones at birds in the fields".Much of Grace's success as a bowler was due to his magnificent fielding to his own bowling; as soon as he had delivered the ball he covered so much ground to the left that he made himself into an extra mid-off and he took some extraordinary catches in this way.In his early career, Grace generally fielded at long-leg or cover-point; later he was usually at point (see Fielding positions in cricket).In his prime, he was a fine thrower, a fast runner and a safe catcher.<br /><br />Grace was an outstanding athlete as a young man and won the 440 yards hurdling title at the National Olympian Games at Crystal Palace in August 1866. In addition to running, he was an excellent thrower as evidenced when he threw a cricket ball 122 yards during an athletics event at Eastbourne.Grace played football for the Wanderers on several occasions although he did not feature in any of their FA Cup-winning teams.<br /><br />In later life, after his family moved to Mottingham, he became very interested in lawn bowls. He founded the English Bowling Association in 1903 and became its first president. He helped found an international competition with Scotland, Ireland and Wales, captaining England from the inaugural international at Crystal Palace in 1903 until 1908. He was also keen on curling.His interest in golf brought him into intimate contact with one of his biographers Bernard Darwin, who said that Grace played golf "with a mixture of keen seriousness and cheerful noisiness". He could drive straight and sometimes putt well but, for reasons that Darwin could not understand, "he never could play an iron shot well".<br /><br />Despite living in London for many years, W.G. Grace never lost his Gloucestershire accent. His entire life, including his cricket and medical careers, is inseparable from his close-knit family background which was strongly influenced by his father Henry Grace, who set great store by qualifications and was determined to succeed. He passed this attitude on to each of his five sons. Therefore, like his father and his brothers, Grace chose a professional career in medicine, though because of his cricketing commitments he did not complete his qualification as a doctor until 1879 when he was 31 years old. He began his medical training at Bristol Medical School in 1867 and afterwards trained at St Bartholomew's Hospital and Westminster Hospital Medical School, both in London.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRus3_zPGmJjlH724UyAKCiui2g-r-EYbrBCjCv7diqEo3Rj-NJ2VrtPr-YRWi-PuMd5Z4MgxtOrwhXbmhCRaEmx56q6UIrDXWE51dpJZVAA0hTQb_RDHwQ2Db7Jrk-QnE8bGmW7qNzjS/s1600/ome-gracem_947011j+new.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvRus3_zPGmJjlH724UyAKCiui2g-r-EYbrBCjCv7diqEo3Rj-NJ2VrtPr-YRWi-PuMd5Z4MgxtOrwhXbmhCRaEmx56q6UIrDXWE51dpJZVAA0hTQb_RDHwQ2Db7Jrk-QnE8bGmW7qNzjS/s320/ome-gracem_947011j+new.jpg" width="246" /></a></div><br />Grace was married on 9 October 1873 to Agnes Nicholls Day (1853–1930), who was the daughter of his first cousin William Day. Two weeks later, they began their honeymoon by taking ship to Australia for Grace's 1873–74 tour.They returned from the tour in May 1874 with Agnes six months pregnant. Their eldest son William Gilbert junior (1874–1905) was born on 6 July. Grace had to catch up with his studies at Bristol Medical School and he and his wife and son lived at Downend until February 1875 with his mother, brother Fred and sister Fanny.<br /><br />The Graces moved to London in February 1875 when W.G. was assigned to St Bartholomew's Hospital and lived in an Earl's Court apartment, about five miles from the hospital. Their second son Henry Edgar (1876–1937) was born in London in July 1876. A ward in the Queen Elizabeth II Wing at St Bartholomew's still bears the name "W.G. Grace Ward", caring for patients recovering from cardiothoracic surgery.<br /><br />In the autumn of 1877, the family moved back to Gloucestershire where they lived with Grace's elder brother Henry, who was a general practitioner. Grace's studies had reached a crucial point with a theoretical backlog to catch up followed by his final practical session. Agnes became pregnant again at this time and their third child Bessie (1878–98) was born in May 1878.<br /><br />Following the 1878 season, Grace was assigned to Westminster Hospital for his final year of medical practice and this curtailed his cricket for a time as he did not play in the 1879 season until June. The family moved back to London and lived at Acton. But the upheaval was worthwhile because, in November 1879, Grace finally received his diploma from the University of Edinburgh, having qualified as a Licentiate of the Royal College of Physicians (LRCP) and became a Member of the Royal College of Surgeons (MRCS).<br />After qualifying he worked both in his own practice at Thrissle Lodge, 61 Stapleton Road in Easton, a largely poor district of Bristol, employing two locums during the cricket season. He was the local Public Vaccinator and had additional duties as the Medical Officer to the Barton Regis Union, which involved tending patients in the workhouse.<br /><br />There are many testimonies from his patients that he was a good doctor, for example:"Poor families knew that they did not need to worry about calling him in, as the bills would never arrive".The family lived at four different addresses close to the practice over the next twenty years and their fourth and last child Charles Butler (1882–1938) was born.After leaving Gloucestershire in 1900, the Graces lived in Mottingham, a south-east London suburb, not far from the Crystal Palace where he played for London County, or from Eltham where he played club cricket in his sixties. A blue plaque marks their residence, 'Fairmount', in Mottingham Lane.<br /><br />Grace endured a number of tragedies in his life beginning with the death of his father in December 1871. He was badly upset by the early death of his younger brother Fred in 1880, only two weeks after he, W.G. and E.M. had all played in a Test for England against Australia. In July 1884, Grace's rival A. N. Hornby stopped play in a Lancashire v Gloucestershire match at Old Trafford so that E.M. and W.G. could return home on receipt of a cable reporting the death of Mrs Martha Grace at the age of 72. The greatest tragedy of Grace's life was the loss of his daughter Bessie in 1898, aged only 20, from typhoid. She had been his favourite child.Then, in February 1905, his eldest son W.G. junior died of appendicitis at the age of 30.Grace was distressed by the First World War and was known to shake his fist and shout at the German Zeppelins floating over his home in South London. When H.D.G. Leveson-Gower remonstrated that he had not allowed fast bowlers to unsettle him, Grace retorted: "I could see those beggars; I can't see these".<br /><br />W.G. Grace died on 23 October 1915, aged 67, after suffering a heart attack. His death "shook the nation almost as much as Winston Churchill's fifty years later".He is buried in the family grave at Beckenham Crematorium and Cemetery, Kent.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at Nottingham, Jun 1-3, 1899<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RmhWqnMN-JkYh4xnHoixWu1mesIR4xE4o6vceeOqi7ahZNE-Q61lD0aI9aWyu6r3hngV1iU_DoWF_RQn0qf8b9OZBGEves552lbKdtjI_55HvNNpl8wdBIJh7nyvR7yeHfK1eIPbiMUe/s1600/127980+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3RmhWqnMN-JkYh4xnHoixWu1mesIR4xE4o6vceeOqi7ahZNE-Q61lD0aI9aWyu6r3hngV1iU_DoWF_RQn0qf8b9OZBGEves552lbKdtjI_55HvNNpl8wdBIJh7nyvR7yeHfK1eIPbiMUe/s320/127980+new.jpg" width="203" /></a><b>First-class span</b> 1865-1908<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Profile / Articles</b><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-large;">A Doctor Of Cricket</span><br />It is more than 150 years since WG Grace was born, but there are other ways of measuring how distant he is in time. For one thing, no one still alive, not even Jim Swanton, can remember seeing him play (although in Sort Of A Cricket Person, EWS notes that "I am supposed to have watched [him] from my perambulator on the Forest Hill ground round 1910"). Eight decades have passed since Grace died, yet he dogs us still, demanding our attention at regular intervals.<br /><br />The statistics of his career are alone enough to explain why - more than 54,000 first-class runs (there are at least two different versions of the precise figure, so let's leave it at that) spread across 44 seasons, including 839 in just eight days of 1876, when he hit a couple of triple-centuries, and only one other batsman managed to top a thousand runs in the entire season; a thousand in May in 1895, when he was nearly 47; and 2800-odd wickets costing less than 18 runs apiece. I suppose we might wonder why his bowling average wasn't even more impressive, given the ropey pitches on which Dr Grace played. No modern cricketer would deign to turn out on them, which makes his batting all the more wondrous, and comparisons with Bradman or anyone since quite pointless.<br /><br />But there was not that much to Grace apart from these skills and his devotion to his family. A hand of whist appears to have marked the limit of his capacity for cerebration, and if one wished to be rude to suburbia one might identify Grace as suburban man incarnate, fluctuating mentally as well as physically between the fringes of Bristol and the London Counties, ultimately coming to rest in Eltham. His one inherited asset was that he came from a clan which was dotty about a great game and dutiful (but in some cases no more) about the general practice of medicine, with no doubt in its collective mind which came first at all times and in all places. His brother EM Grace, who was a coroner, once had a corpse put on ice until he could attend to it at close of play, and WG himself must have had one of the most prolonged medical trainings in history because he so frequently interrupted it in order to exercise his major talent at the crease. He began to study as a bachelor of 19, and was a father of three in his thirties before taking his final qualification at Westminster Hospital. His most conspicuous act as a doctor is thought to have occurred when an unfortunate fieldsman impaled himself on the boundary fence at Old Trafford.<br /><br />It was simply because the cricketing Grace totally dominated his own era that an exasperated CLR James could not understand why standard history books of the period never mentioned him. This man, for heaven's sake, opened for England at the age of 50 - and at the age of 18 he had scored 224 not out for England against Surrey, in a match which he left halfway through in order to win a quarter-mile hurdles championship at the Crystal Palace! No wonder he was the best-known Englishman apart from Mr Gladstone, so much so that Evelyn Waugh's friend, Monsignor Ronnie Knox, waggishly suggested that Gladstone and Grace were really one and the same celebrity.<br /><br />Athletic is not a word that obviously comes to mind when contemplating Grace in his prime, though a slim young man did precede the pot-bellied genius, who in middle age was far too heavy for any horse to bear. I have often wondered how stylishly he played his strokes ever since I saw some film in which he appeared to be brandishing his bat as though he was about to poke the fire with it. Something tells me that he never hit the ball as gracefully as Victor Trumper did in the famous photo of his straight drive; Grace, I suspect, was much more about power than aesthetics.<br /><br />That, at any rate, would fit what we know of his character in general. Apart from tenderness to his relatives and a generous soft spot for children, he was not, I think, a particularly attractive man, though he could sometimes (and it is usually recorded as remarkable) encourage a young player on his own side with - as the saying went in his day - bluff good humour. After the Australians had experienced him for the first time, a commentator Down Under observed that, "For so big a man, he is surprisingly tenacious on very small points." He was notorious for employing, in order to pursue victory or personal achievement, a variety of wiles and tricks that may be thought of as, well, hardly cricket. He was also, throughout his career, quite breathtakingly grasping when his eye caught the glint of hard cash.<br /><br />It was the social historian Eric Midwinter who, some years ago, pointed out that on Grace's first tour of Australia in 1873-74 (when he was a medical student simultaneously enjoying his honeymoon) he extracted a fee of £1500 from the organisers, which would be well over £100,000 at present values. On his second tour in 1891-92, one-fifth of the entire cost of transporting 13 English cricketers across the world, supporting them in Australia and paying them for what they did there, went into Grace's pocket. He regularly collected testimonials - one, worth £1458, was organised by MCC so that he might buy a medical practice - and overall probably took something like £1 million in today's currency out of the game; and, remember, there was no sponsorship nor endorsements in those days to inflate a star's income. This was in a period when the prosperous middle classes were earning no more than £1000 a year, a highly skilled artisan £200, and a labourer half as much if he was lucky. A good professional county cricketer in the second half of the 19th century saw his wages rise from £100 to £250. No wonder it cost twice as much to get into some English grounds if Grace was playing than if he was not.<br /><br />The astonishing thing about the mercenary Grace, of course, is that he was classified and has ever since been glorified as an amateur. Nothing more exposed the humbug that used to smother the entire topic of Gents v Players than an examination of Grace's financial rewards from the game; and nothing more reveals the intellectual dishonesty at the heart of the humbug than something Grace once said when trying to argue the Gloucestershire committee into playing more amateurs than professionals. He declared his fear for the future of cricket if it became wholly professional. "Betting and all kindred evils will follow in its wake, and instead of the game being followed up for love, it will simply be a matter of £ s d." Prophetic words, perhaps; but it ill became WG Grace to mouth them.<br /><br />It will be gathered from the above that he has never been a hero of mine, not since the day in adolescence when I discovered that he was sometimes a shameless cheat in a game that, I was being asked to believe, was wholly honourable. I shall nevertheless drink to his memory on July 18 because his tremendous gifts, especially his phenomenal batting, were largely responsible for the elevation of cricket from just another 19th-century game, which had become popular partly because it lent itself to gambling.<br /><br />Grace's towering presence, more than any other single factor, transformed it into the unrivalled spectator sport of summer, first of all in England, subsequently in other lands spread widely across the world. I would even suggest that a true measurement of WG's unique stature is that he is instantly identifiable, even by some who are uninterested in his vocation, by his initials alone. I cannot think of another human being in any sphere, not even WC Fields, of whom this is also true.<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">most recognisable, the most important and arguably the greatest cricketer of all time WG Grace, </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">In the late 1800s, one man was synonymous with cricket, and enchanted all who came to see him bat. Truly was he nearly as big as the game</span><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvhktjE6wuwvmYCpb1x-IO94ZueSJxrF1ml6WS7YikBHXg9sXwsx97VljQdA8RXWk7ixvjFpFiw5U_mROKms3aEDdCFMFko3QRKaCspyqepo5EKq9OP7T_9XTFMkudEjywQGmencYCG4k/s1600/9781843580959+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixvhktjE6wuwvmYCpb1x-IO94ZueSJxrF1ml6WS7YikBHXg9sXwsx97VljQdA8RXWk7ixvjFpFiw5U_mROKms3aEDdCFMFko3QRKaCspyqepo5EKq9OP7T_9XTFMkudEjywQGmencYCG4k/s320/9781843580959+new.jpg" width="180" /></a>Today's iconic image of William Gilbert Grace is a little misleading. The waistline was not always so protuberant and, equally obviously, the beard was not always streaked with grey. One of England's finest amateur athletes in the 1870s, "WG" became a truly legendary figure not only on the strength of his phenomenal performances on the cricket field over several decades but through his extraordinarily dominant - sometimes bumptious - character.<br /><br />In a cricket environment that few moderns would comprehend, having played his first first-class match in 1865, when just short of 17, and failed to score, WG began totting up first-class centuries the following year with a huge 224 not out for an England XI against Surrey at The Oval. By the time of his final first-class appearance, just over 40 years later, he had laid down statistics that seemed likely to be forever unmatchable.<br /><br />And in one sense they have been just that. While he was not to be the only batsman ever to reach 100 centuries, in his day a run truly was a run. It was one of cricket's all-time sensations when he registered 10 centuries in 1871. Few pitches in the 1870s and 1880s were batsman-friendly, and WG drew gasps of amazement and admiration as he clamped down on fast shooters on imperfect pitches - even at Lord's - and whipped the ball to the boundary. His performances amazed and enchanted all who saw him play and read about him in the newspapers, especially in 1874, when he became the first to pass not only a thousand runs but a hundred wickets. Two years later he set yet another breathtaking mark, with the 1000-200 double.<br /><br />Although he was no lofty intellectual, from his rural boyhood he had devised a technique that took batting from its middle ages of development into something that moderns will instantly recognise. In the only brief film clip of WG Grace batting, in which he makes a few hits in the nets for the newly invented movie camera, what catches the eye is that large waistline and grizzled beard as he plays with a slightly angled bat, showing disdain for the ball. But here was the man who, when young, worked out a way of responding to all the bowling that came his way, pioneering the combination of forward play and back, cleverly using his feet, and venting that extraordinary confidence first perceived by his mother as she played with her little lad in the Gloucestershire apple orchard.<br /><br />His reputation for gamesmanship and as a bully was emphasised with each passing summer, and was facilitated by timid umpires and opponents and sycophants who, overwhelmed by his force of character, allowed him to prevail. In 1876, one of his greatest summers, in a non-first-class match for the travelling United South XI against Twenty-Two of Grimsby he was excused a plumb lbw when 6 because, conceded the umpire, the crowd had indeed come to see him play. He went on to 400 not out. In reality, as the players left the field, the scorer made it 399, but WG urged him to round it up to 400, and that was exactly what he did.<br /><br />It was a warm-up for one of the most purple of patches, as shortly afterwards the cricket world marvelled at the first triple-century, 344 for his beloved Gloucestershire in the follow-on against Kent at Canterbury in 1876. He then went straight back to Clifton and made 177 for his county against Notts. And with the visiting Yorkshire players now expecting him to be exhausted, he followed it all with 318 not out against them at Cheltenham.<br /><br />Came 1895 and all of England was poised to celebrate his 100th first-class century. He made sure with 288 against Somerset at Bristol, and the banquets and testimonials began. WG demonstrated how he could drink anyone under the table, coupling his love of companionship with an aversion to long speeches. Three years later the event of the summer, the Gentlemen (amateurs) v Players (professionals) match at Lord's, was dedicated to his 50th birthday. There he and all the other players were filmed as they walked by the pavilion. Grace's amateurs lost in a thrilling finish, but there could now be no doubt that his was the most famous face in Britain, apart from Queen Victoria's and possibly Gladstone's, and his popularity was enormous.<br /><br />Although revered by the nation, Grace sometimes aired an abrasive nature that naturally caused upset. Charles Kortright, the fastest bowler of the age, once knocked his castle over and said, as WG reluctantly departed: "Surely you're not going, Doc? There's still one stump standing!"<br /><br />Nor did his two trips to Australia - in 1873-74 and 1891-92 - do much to enhance his reputation. There was no diplomacy about him when he perceived local umpires as inept or biased. So local spectators let him know what they thought of him. That first tour had been his and Agnes' honeymoon, while on the second tour, financed by the Earl of Sheffield, Grace again took his wife, now with their two youngest children as well, and all for a very fat fee. Alas, if it was thought that the great cricketer's presence in Australia would counter republican sentiments, His Lordship had picked the wrong man.<br /><br />The great George Lohmann found Grace too much during that tour and stated he would never tour with him again, "not for a thousand a week". The skipper simply could not help himself. It was the same back in 1878, when Billy Midwinter of Gloucestershire defected to the touring Australians. Grace took a hansom cab from The Oval to Lord's and kidnapped the player just as he was preparing to bat for the touring team against Middlesex, escorting him to the county match over the river.<br /><br />WG's other overseas tour had been to North America in 1872, where his celebrity status was confirmed as the collection of carefree amateurs roughed their way through often difficult territory and capitalised on an enthusiastic social life.<br /><br />Test cricket in the 19th century was a narrow avenue by comparison to the cluttered highway of today. Grace played no more than 22 times for England, fittingly scoring his country's maiden Test hundred, 152, on his debut against Australia at The Oval in 1880 (when two of his brothers, EM and GF - Fred - also played). Six years later he made 170 against the visiting colonials, also at The Oval, though it was not until 1888, for his 10th Test, that he was appointed captain. He was pre-eminent and he was an amateur, but the tall and often brusque West Country doctor was not actually an establishment figure and was not quite of the social standing of Lord Harris, AG Steel and AN Hornby.<br /><br />It is less likely that any of those three would have run out young Australian batsman Sammy Jones as he was tapping down a divot, as WG Grace did in the famous 1882 Oval match, which saw the birth of the Ashes legend. This so fired up "Demon" Spofforth that he bowled with an irresistible fury that brought him a further seven petrified English wickets - though not WG's: he made 32 out of the sickly 77, leaving the mother country eight runs short of victory.<br /><br />His last Test was at Trent Bridge in 1899, soon after the death of his daughter Bessie. (A son, Bertie, died in 1905). At 51 he knew he had had enough at the highest level: "I can still bat," he lamented, "but I can't bend!" A painful breach with his beloved Gloucestershire after 30 years led to a spell as manager and match organiser for the new London County club at Crystal Palace from 1900 to 1904, when he took the opportunity to invite old friends like WL Murdoch and promising young players to enjoy a few matches each summer.<br /><br />He so loved the game that he played as long as he possibly could, his last first-class appearance coming in 1908, at The Oval, where his major cricket had begun 43 years earlier. His final innings in any match was 69 not out for Eltham in July 1914, when he was 66. It was estimated that he had scored over 101,000 runs in all kinds of cricket (with at least 220 centuries), in addition to taking over 7500 wickets with his cunning round-armers.<br /><br />His bowling was accompanied by chatter that would be appreciated by modern chirpers in the field, though it was frowned upon in an age when courtesy and good manners were cherished. Naïve batsmen were sometimes invited to look at a flock of birds (sometimes imaginary) flying over a corner of the field - always directly across a dazzling sun of course. At his favourite position of point, he liked to air his views on batsmen and the state of the game, a practice even more annoying in view of his surprisingly high-pitched voice.<br /><br />With that failing voice he cursed the sinister German zeppelins circling over London with their bombs at the ready. The stress brought on the stroke which killed him in October 1915.<br /><br />Where did the "Doctor" come from? It can seem as if WG Grace spent all his time either playing cricket or raising a family or playing golf, lawn bowls or curling, or out with the beagle hounds or fishing. But he qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879 and was a conscientious GP for some years. But cricket was his life. Some have written of his "emotional immaturity", his limited reading, his rather off-hand attitude towards wife Agnes. Perhaps one of his recorded utterances best sums it up: he believed that there was no such thing as a crisis, only the next ball.(David Frith(August 2, 2010))<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkj-ODS7_bJfeCNJJ-vIZZ0OAOtaUB4CUxRuFhrWrFzqBbSjc7fPPMIkDe9ClKDndPECUsLfAARXwwEKMTdKMbglmtr5OLkq0FDvuE0Txml5dWJNASYf-__pH14Qnb5tqCm9xfMWGznLU/s1600/WGGRACEMURALDOWNEND+new.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimkj-ODS7_bJfeCNJJ-vIZZ0OAOtaUB4CUxRuFhrWrFzqBbSjc7fPPMIkDe9ClKDndPECUsLfAARXwwEKMTdKMbglmtr5OLkq0FDvuE0Txml5dWJNASYf-__pH14Qnb5tqCm9xfMWGznLU/s320/WGGRACEMURALDOWNEND+new.jpg" width="213" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="font-size: x-large;">An early pioneer</span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red; font-size: large;">The sheer longevity of WG Grace's career was remarkable, and some of the records he set might never be equalled</span><br /><br />Comparing WG Grace with other modern-day greats is a near-impossible task - at least statistically - due to the period in which he played. His international numbers hardly look imposing, but that needs to be judged in the context of the period he played in. While his first-class record was superb, what stood out more than anything was the sheer longevity of his career: Grace began his first-class career when he was 16, and finished at 60, for a remarkable career that stretched 44 years - a time span that is mind-boggling in today's age.<br /><br />His impact on the game obviously went far beyond the stats, but he didn't do badly on the field either. His overall first-class numbers were outstanding: he finished with 54,211 runs at an average of 39.45, and a wickets tally of 2809 at 18.14. Apart from the sheer number of runs and wickets, what's also remarkable is that his batting average was more than twice his bowling average, a feat few have managed to achieve in the last 50 years. And if his overall batting average doesn't seem as impressive as some of the more recent batsmen, remember that he played his entire cricket on pitches that were hardly as well laid out as the tracks we're used to.Over his four-and-a-half decade first-class career, Grace had several highlights. Here's a list of his amazing achievements, some of which might never be equalled.<br /><br />In 1871, aged 23, he scored 10 centuries and 2739 first-class runs at 78.25. The next best average was 37.66 with just one hundred.Even 31 seasons later, he scored 1187 at 37.09, while Victor Trumper, at age 24, averaged 48.49 (Trumper's best season).In 1876, he scored 839 runs in a mere eight days, with a sequence that read 344, 177 and 318 not out. It was a season when only one other batsman topped 1000 runs. His 344 was also the first triple-century in first-class cricket.<br /><br />Between 1868 and 1880, he topped the first-class averages 10 times, including seven times straight till 1874. Between 1868 and 1876, he scored 54 first-class hundreds; the next highest didn't even manage 10.<br />In the decade 1871 to 1880 he averaged 49, a period during which nobody else averaged more than 26 or scored even a third of his runs. He also took 1174 wickets in the 10 years, which was the second-best in the country after Alfred Shaw.<br /><br />In 1895, as a 47-year-old Grace reeled off scores of 288, 52, 257, 73 not out, 18 and 169 - the last bringing him 1000 runs before the end of May (the first man to reach that landmark). His 288 was also his 100th century, making him the first player to the milestone.<br />Grace played 870 first-class matches in his career, which is the third-highest on the all-time list, after Wilfred Rhodes (1110) and Frank Woolley (978). His tally of 54,211 runs is the fifth-highest, while his haul of 2809 wickets puts him in 10th place.<br />Grace played only 22 Tests - all of them against Australia - but he had some noteworthy achievements in that format too. At the time of retiring he was one of only six batsmen to have scored more than 1000 Test runs; in his first Test he scored 152 at The Oval, making him only the second batsman - after Charles Bannerman - to score a century on debut. In the first innings of that match, he added 120 runs for the second wicket with Bunny Lucas, which was the first century partnership in Test cricket. (Click here for all century stands before 1900.) The only other century Grace scored was in his eighth Test, when he made 170 at the venue where he started his Test career. In 14 matches after that he topped 50 five times but never managed to go past 75; in his last seven innings, his highest score was 28.<br /><br />Grace also led England in 13 Tests, winning eight and losing only two. The last time he captained the team was in the summer of 1899, when he was all of 50 years and 320 days old - no other captain has come within five years of matching that feat. It's a record that, like several of his other first-class feats, will probably never be equalled.(By S Rajesh(August 2, 2010)<br />---------------------------------------------------------------------------<br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: large;">Grace bat to go </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" face=""trebuchet ms" , sans-serif" style="color: purple; font-size: large;">under the hammer</span><br />(this Article Written In 2009© ESPNcricinfo)<br /><br />A 113-year-old bat used by WG Grace will be auctioned at Sotheby's in London for an expected £30,000. The legendary cricketer used the bat while bringing up his 1,000th run in Test cricket against Australia at Lord's in June 1896.Grace subsequently gave the bat to his Australian opponent Syd Gregory, who in turn passed it on to his fellow tourist and brother-in-law Harry Donnan on their return to Australia.<br />"I would expect it to go for somewhere in the region of £25,000-30,000," said auctioneer Graham Budd. "From the evidence of the cording, Grace had probably used this bat for some time, culminating in his 1,000th Test run."The bat, to be sold on May 12, displays the autographs of Grace's England colleagues, Australian bowler Fred Spofforth and future British prime minister David Lloyd George.<br />Grace played 22 times for England and scored the country's first Test hundred against Australia, at the Oval in 1880, and was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1896. Although an automatic choice for England at home, his professional duties as a doctor meant he only travelled on one Test-playing tour of Australia, in 1891-92.<p></p>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-72068087337694421792023-03-27T21:52:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:52:39.160+05:00George Frederick Grace (1850-1880) Test Cap # 23<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYZZthuHazxMYcWBLQ2fe8HTokwq_4mGOZ-rKygK7L2fwYXWSSLwYR219zTIrZy6PaXPSJdUtrzKcjY5PlgZ-OO0aa7MRtPK4qzckEZanQXJHlbOC1eHlCqjnEiNZvouUPPSnCi_VUE/s1600/George+Frederick+Grace.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiznYZZthuHazxMYcWBLQ2fe8HTokwq_4mGOZ-rKygK7L2fwYXWSSLwYR219zTIrZy6PaXPSJdUtrzKcjY5PlgZ-OO0aa7MRtPK4qzckEZanQXJHlbOC1eHlCqjnEiNZvouUPPSnCi_VUE/s200/George+Frederick+Grace.JPG" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: 12.8px;">© en.wikipedia.org<br /></span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 10.24px; text-align: left;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> George Frederick Grace<br /><b>Born</b> December 13, 1850, Downend, Bristol<br /><b>Died</b> September 22, 1880, Basingstoke, Hampshire (aged 29 years 284 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Gloucestershire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Relation Brother</b> - H Grace, Brother - EM Grace, <b>Brother </b>- WG Grace, <b>Cousin</b> - GHB Gilbert,<b> Cousin</b> - WR Gilbert, <b>Nephew</b> - AH Grace, <b>Nephew</b> - WG Grace jnr, <b>Nephew</b> - CB Grace, <b>Nephew</b> - NV Grace<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />George Frederick ("Fred") Grace (1850–1880) was the youngest of the three Grace brothers to play Test cricket for England.Although his elder brothers E. M. and W. G. were always "known by (their) initials", the younger Grace was known as Fred, although his initials were used in scorecards like those of all other English cricketers.Gloucestershire CCC in 1880 shortly before Fred Grace's untimely death. Fred Grace (hooped cap) is third left in rear group. W. G. Grace is seated front left centre. Billy Midwinter (directly behind WG) is fourth left in rear (next to Fred). E. M. Grace (bearded) is sixth left in rear.<br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEfJ1Uc4g4TqT187K8E-HszryzaDhj8b-WmLMgGu3zM4X5hhajj9HUdY433oj8ugNX8q1S33FU-u3dMvuh_6WrHX7xsWzUgdBtM0leJUug1qKbUHUGlp0zIDp9lV7knhenornJqtMJ5gW/s1600/George+Frederick+Grace+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUEfJ1Uc4g4TqT187K8E-HszryzaDhj8b-WmLMgGu3zM4X5hhajj9HUdY433oj8ugNX8q1S33FU-u3dMvuh_6WrHX7xsWzUgdBtM0leJUug1qKbUHUGlp0zIDp9lV7knhenornJqtMJ5gW/s320/George+Frederick+Grace+new.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">© Cricketer International</div></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />Born 13 December 1850 in Bristol, Grace was "an attractive batsman",but one who "lacked the concentration and resolve to build a long innings".Like his two famous brothers he made a duck on his first-class debut.Grace was selected along with his two brothers to play in the inaugural Test in England, which took place at The Oval in 1880 against Australia.He was out for nought in both innings but held a "skyscraping catch" at the Vauxhall End off the giant Australian batsman George Bonnor<br /><br />On 22 September 1880, Two weeks after his Test appearance, Fred Grace died in Basingstoke, Hampshire of pneumonia, caught, it was said, as the result of sleeping in a damp bed.W. R. Gilbert, a cousin of the Graces, wrote to The Daily Telegraph: "It having come to my knowledge there is a rumour abroad that Mr. G. F. Grace's fatal illness was caused by sleeping in a damp bed at the Red Lion Hotel, Basingstoke, I beg to contradict it. He had a bad cold before he left home, and on my arrival at Basingstoke he told me that he had received another chill whilst waiting at Reading Station. By inserting this you will greatly oblige me, and also do justice to the members of a family whose attention and kindness to my cousin all through his illness could not have been surpassed had he been at home." The Times wrote, "His manly and straightforward conduct and genial manners won him not only popularity, but the esteem of hosts and friends".3,000 people followed his coffin and the touring Australians wore black armbands during their last match.<br /><br /><b>Only Test </b>England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880 <span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br /><b>First-class span</b> 1866-1880Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-4766723166119848072023-03-27T21:50:00.004+05:002023-03-27T21:50:57.937+05:00Edward Mills Grace (1841-1911) Test Cap # 22<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-AnmO6OUwpIU-IoyI_P5T2NXKJo3iNWmAQiOrjN6uix_TGzam3B80xjpVAAQst7YnyHGYqRWVgQkoNxpPbSon-PDcsHJCZ5JWt_KXUPpI4Cs5xha2xPaabA-glt1kIgPxY0wlJR3H6Nu/s1600/Edward+Mills+Grace+NEW.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3-AnmO6OUwpIU-IoyI_P5T2NXKJo3iNWmAQiOrjN6uix_TGzam3B80xjpVAAQst7YnyHGYqRWVgQkoNxpPbSon-PDcsHJCZ5JWt_KXUPpI4Cs5xha2xPaabA-glt1kIgPxY0wlJR3H6Nu/s320/Edward+Mills+Grace+NEW.jpg" width="211" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© Wisden Cricket Monthly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Edward Mills Grace<br /><b>Born</b> November 28, 1841, Downend, Bristol<br /><b>Died</b> May 20, 1911, Park House, Thornbury, Gloucestershire (aged 69 years 173 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Gloucestershire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Relation Brother</b> - H Grace, <b>Brother</b> - WG Grace, <b>Brother</b> - GF Grace, <b>Cousin</b> - GHB Gilbert, <b>Cousin</b> - WR Gilbert, <b>Son</b> - NV Grace, <b>Nephew</b> - WG Grace jnr<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1BSda4WRmxUEZEtAbULOYVcT6D3wL79JhvtP5p-obJ_K3A1rcBAAkpfPax1O4cwpx7wVo8zPNohCO9-kW-Ye4XVud9-IfTFkCBBRlPYaXZBC80P6e8_t2GQiGLso0Jg8CSQwBEQhHxci/s1600/Edward+Mills+Grace+1+NEW.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK1BSda4WRmxUEZEtAbULOYVcT6D3wL79JhvtP5p-obJ_K3A1rcBAAkpfPax1O4cwpx7wVo8zPNohCO9-kW-Ye4XVud9-IfTFkCBBRlPYaXZBC80P6e8_t2GQiGLso0Jg8CSQwBEQhHxci/s400/Edward+Mills+Grace+1+NEW.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© Wisden Cricket Monthly</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Edward Mills Grace died on May 20 after a long illness at his residence, Park House, Thornbury, Gloucestershire. But for the accident that his own brother proved greater than himself, E. M. Grace would have lived in cricket history as perhaps the most remarkable player the game has produced. Barring W.G., it would be hard indeed to name a man who was a stronger force on a side or a more remarkable match winner. Primarily, he was a batsman, but his value in an eleven went far beyond his power of getting runs. As a fieldsman at point--at a time when that position was far more important than it is in modern cricket--he never had an equal, and, though he did not pretend to be a first-rate bowler, he took during his career thousands of wickets. In his young days he bowled in the orthodox round-arm style, but his success in club cricket was gained by means of old-fashioned lobs. Fame came to him early in life. Born on November 28th, 1841, he made his first appearance at Lord's in 1861, and a year later he was beyond question the most dangerous bat in England. It was in the Canterbury Week in 1862 that, playing as an emergency for the M.C.C. against the Gentlemen of Kent, he scored 192 not out, and took all ten wickets in one innings. This was a 12 a-side and one man was absent in the second innings when he got the ten wickets. He reached his highest point as a batsman in 1863, scoring in all matches that year over 3,000 runs.<br /><a name='more'></a>After the season was over he went to Australia as a member of George Parr's famous team, but it cannot be said that in the Colonies he did all that was expected of him. He was handicapped by a bad hand, but, as he himself stated, there was another reason for his comparative lack of success. At the start of the tour he fell into rather a reckless style of batting, and, try as he would, he could not get back to his proper method. Still, he did some good things, scoring, for example, 106 not out in a single-wicket match. He had not been back in England more than two years before W.G., as a lad of eighteen, began to put him in the shade. The two brothers were in the Gentlemen's eleven together in 1865--W. G.'s first year in the representative match--and had a share in gaining for the Gentlemen their first victory at Lord's since 1853. While he was qualifying as a surgeon E. M. Grace to a certain extent dropped out of first-class cricket, but he came very much to the front again on the formation of the Gloucestershire County Club in 1871. He was secretary from the start, and held his post without a break till his resignation in 1909.<br /><br />In Gloucestershire's early days he renewed the successes of his youth, batting especially well in August 1872, when W.G. was away in Canada with the amateur eleven captained by the late R. A. Fitzgerald. It is matter of common knowledge that chiefly through the efforts of the three Graces--G. F. died in 1880-- Gloucestershire rose to the top of the tree, being champion county in 1876 and again in 1877. Not till the first Australian team played at Clifton in 1878 did the Gloucestershire eleven know what it was to be beaten at home. One of the greatest triumphs of E. M. Grace's career came in 1880, when, strictly on his merits, he was picked to play for England at the Oval in the First Test Match with Australia in this country. After an extraordinary game England won by five wickets, the task of getting 57 runs in the last innings against Palmer and Boyle costing the side five of their best batsmen. E. M. and W. G. opened England's first innings, and scored over 90 runs together. W. G. made 152, and in Australia's second innings W. L. Murdoch just beat him by scoring 153 not out. Never has a finer match been seen.<br /><br />E. M. Grace continued to play for Gloucestershire for many years, dropping out of the eleven after the season of 1894. Thenceforward his energies were devoted to club cricket, chiefly in connection with his own team at Thornbury. Lameness gradually robbed him of his old skill as a run-getter, but even in 1909, 119 wickets fell to his lobs. As a batsman E. M. Grace was unorthodox. Partly, it is thought, through using a full-sized bat while still a small boy, he never played with anything like W. G.'s perfect straightness, but his wonderful eye and no less wonderful nerve enabled him to rise superior to this grave disadvantage. He was perhaps the first right-handed batsman of any celebrity who habitually used the pull. In his young days batting was a very strict science, but he cared little for rules. If an open place in the field suggested runs the ball soon found its way in that direction. Personally, E. M. was the cheeriest of cricketers--the life and soul of the game wherever he played. It was a great misfortune that he could never be induced to write his recollections of the cricket field. His good stories could be numbered by the hudred, and in conversation he told them with immense vivacity.<br /><br /><b>Only Test</b><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1862-1896Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-73169400315635361062023-03-27T21:49:00.006+05:002023-03-27T21:49:44.385+05:00William Barnes (1852-1899) Test Cap # 21<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI02gRLGHEinMA9VuP9vWwH7HnJRZuneQzEDS0AjRA_pIK8QD8dkX4NtKOahrgGT3RBatoXd4uiy35Q7MQyG0BhY1JCHGzRn0vy1NpD8ld0VeUUMduARXYcD7fZYRvsdx4jim_Lax6pGFc/s1600/William+Barnes+1+NEW.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI02gRLGHEinMA9VuP9vWwH7HnJRZuneQzEDS0AjRA_pIK8QD8dkX4NtKOahrgGT3RBatoXd4uiy35Q7MQyG0BhY1JCHGzRn0vy1NpD8ld0VeUUMduARXYcD7fZYRvsdx4jim_Lax6pGFc/s320/William+Barnes+1+NEW.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> William Barnes<br /><b>Born</b> May 27, 1852, Sutton-in-Ashfield, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Died</b> March 24, 1899, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottinghamshire (aged 46 years 301 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm fast-medium<br /><b>Other</b> Umpire<br /><div style="text-align: right;"></div><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ_iLC5jpsa9xxKCK-EMGyR7ArMw3gsyV6POzBZNPUbJWuVQyCiGsLMFbm0J_lchGs2fIjPnP95v7OyKWFkBTsr4DY6G5BRK5u7iYD_yhi3Wcx6Tb4TRVwLZuYP9d3tPF2EDWxMMvSYdi/s1600/William+Barnes+NEW.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieZ_iLC5jpsa9xxKCK-EMGyR7ArMw3gsyV6POzBZNPUbJWuVQyCiGsLMFbm0J_lchGs2fIjPnP95v7OyKWFkBTsr4DY6G5BRK5u7iYD_yhi3Wcx6Tb4TRVwLZuYP9d3tPF2EDWxMMvSYdi/s320/William+Barnes+NEW.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: x-small; text-align: left;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</span></td></tr></tbody></table>HS Altham described him as "a sparkling player who batted as though he loved it" Barnes was a forceful batsman with strong offside shots, as well as a fine medium pacer whose bowling won at least two Test matches. An excellent close field, and an automatic first choice for England from the first test played on English soil to 1890. His finest hour was in the first Test ever played in Adelaide where his 134 on a rain-damaged wicket ensured the win for England. In the next Test of that series, at Melbourne, he bowled England into a 2-0 lead with second-innings figures of 38.3-26-31-6.<br /><br />At Sydney two years later he did likewise - 6 for 28 off 46 (four-ball) overs, a match in which England were skittled for 45 on the first morning and still won. Legend has it that Barnes once made a match-saving century for Nottinghamshire after having more than one shandy too many. Appropriately, he later became landlord of a pub, and was only 46 when he died in Nottingham in 1899.<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Test debut</b> England v Australia at The Oval, Sep 6-8, 1880 </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 11-12, 1890 </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>First-class span </b>1875-1894</div></div>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-59510155880187017102023-03-27T21:49:00.001+05:002023-03-27T21:49:08.120+05:00Alexander Josiah Webbe (1855-1941) Test Cap # 20<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_L7A3U1zobaT3HfRuaTkdLhfAiOOQyadD_LnE4qe29dereZkP-9t7oEcJE3yClICP4vBg5rnfd9n-tsZ1NsRmd_YlpPDGXwv20V_ERD-ekEJ8b5MfCLf67_UfBcqZq1URxaODcWPuAOA/s366/058868.player.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="260" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_L7A3U1zobaT3HfRuaTkdLhfAiOOQyadD_LnE4qe29dereZkP-9t7oEcJE3yClICP4vBg5rnfd9n-tsZ1NsRmd_YlpPDGXwv20V_ERD-ekEJ8b5MfCLf67_UfBcqZq1URxaODcWPuAOA/s320/058868.player.jpg" width="227" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Name:Alexander Josiah Webbe</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Born:January 16, 1855, Bethnal Green, London</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Died:February 19, 1941, Fulvens Farm, Hoe, Abinger Hammer, Surrey, (aged 86y 33d)</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Batting Styule:Right hand bat</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Bowling Style:Right arm fast</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Fielding Position:Wicketkeeper</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Education:Harrow School; Oxford University</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Teams:England,Middlesex</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Profile</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Mr. Alexander Josiah Webbe, of high renown in Harrow, Oxford University and Middlesex cricket, died on February 19, at his home, Fulvens Farm, Abinger Hammer, Surrey, aged 86. Born on January 16, 1855, he had not been seen on a cricket field in active pursuit of the game in an important fixture for over forty years, but during all that time he still exercised much influence at Lord's as President of Middlesex and member of the Marylebone Club Committee, to which he was first elected in 1886.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Like the Walkers before him, he first made his name in Harrow cricket, and was a member of the Eleven from 1872 to 1874, finishing as captain of the School Eleven when, in the big match at Lord's notwithstanding his personal contributions of 77 and 80, Eton were victorious by five wickets. Going up to Trinity College, Oxford, Webbe got his Blue as a freshman, and on his first appearance against Cambridge he made 55, the highest score in the match, and 21, so helping materially in a narrow victory by six runs. As evidence of his popularity and excellence as a cricketer, he was twice captain of Oxford, and, when first the leader, his side won handsomely by ten wickets, he and his brother, H. R. Webbe, hitting off 47 runs needed for victory. It is of special interest to recall that he and W. S. Patterson, the Cambridge captain, both played that year for Gentlemen against Players at Lord's, in what was described as the glorious match, which the Gentlemen won by one wicket when everybody present anticipated a triumph for the Players. W. S. Patterson and A. J. Webbe were the last survivors of the twenty-two engaged in that game and, after Patterson passed away in October 1939, A. J. Webbe remained as the oldest living University captain.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Another very interesting episode during his early period at Oxford was that in 1875 he played for the Gentlemen at Lord's and, going in first, helped W. G. Grace make 203 in the opening stand, his share being 65; the champion scored 152. Writing in his book, W. G. Grace said of that occasion, In a sticky-wicket season, batting suffered, but one young player, Mr. A. J. Webbe, came to the front with a rush; when we put on 203 runs his defence and patience were perfect. Those attributes expressed by the greatest of batsmen fairly described some of Webbe's characteristics at the wicket.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Webbe also started playing for Middlesex during his first year at Oxford when twenty years of age, and his success in the strongest company still serves as an example of how the best schoolboy cricketers in those days quickly reached the front rank. In every particular a great batsman, he possessed skill in defence, with untiring patience and remarkable power in stroke play. True to type, like many Harrow batsmen of the period, he stood at the wicket with legs wide apart, a position well suited to playing back in defence or cutting--something like the posture adopted and made memorable in later years by Gilbert Jessop, the Croucher. Webbe cut splendidly, both square and late, used the Harrow drive, now known as the hit through the covers, and placed the ball to the on or hit to leg with perfectly timed strokes. In fact, an admirable exponent of the batsman's art. Of middle height and good build, his early stamina had proof in an innings of 299 not out for Trinity College against Exeter; also in 1875 he made his first hundred in important cricket, 120 for the University against Gentlemen of England.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Ripening to maturity, Webbe got more runs as pitches became less favourable to bowlers, and in 1887 he enjoyed his best season, scoring 1,244 runs, with an average of 47, his highest innings being 243 not out against Yorkshire at Huddersfield; 192 not out at Canterbury off the Kent bowlers was another highly meritorious display. When set he exemplified what Robertson-Glasgow now calls a Difficult Target. Altogether in first-class cricket A. J. Webbe scored 11,761 runs, with an average of 23.75, as given in Sir Home Gordon's Form at a Glance.</div><span></span><div dir="rtl" style="text-align: right;" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Lord Harris accepting an invitation from the Melbourne Club for a team of Amateurs to visit Australia in the autumn of 1878, A. J. Webbe was one of the chosen. The impossibility of finding amateur bowlers able to go necessitated the inclusion of Tom Emmett and George Ulyett of Yorkshire. By no means representative of England, the side lost the one match against Australia. The death of A. J. Webbe leaves as the only survivor of that touring team F. A. Mackinnon, head of the clan Mackinnon, who has maintained his interest in Kent, his cricketing county, by going to the Canterbury Festival regularly up to 1939.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Free to give practically all his time to cricket, A. J. Webbe kept up his close connection with the game, as known to the public, for nearly seventy years--from his presence in the Harrow eleven to his resignation of the Middlesex Club presidency of 1937; and even to the last, as a trustee of M.C.C., he held an honoured place in cricket.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Besides his first-class activities, A. J. Webbe, on leaving school, went on the annual tours of Harrow Wanderers, under the lead of I. D. Walker, and he took teams to Oxford and Cambridge each season. After captaining Oxford Harlequins for several years, he was elected president of the club. For such sides he used to bowl medium pace, but really his skill was confined to batsmanship and fielding. Good everywhere, he excelled in the deep, and some magnificent catches stand to his credit.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">At other games A. J. Webbe ranked high. He represented Oxford twice at racquets in the doubles, and in 1888 he won the tennis silver racquet at Lord's. Added to his fondness for games and skill in their practice, he served on hospital committees and in many ways helped to relieve the troubles and sufferings of people less fortunate than himself.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">TRIBUTES TO AJ WEBBE Sir Pelham Warner, who succeeded Mr. A. J. Webbe as President of Middlesex in 1937, wrote directly after the loss of his old captain:--</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I played my first match for Middlesex under his captaincy at Taunton in August 1894 and, among the many happy things which cricket has brought me, I am glad to remember that I was in the eleven when he played his last match for Middlesex at Worcester in July 1909--his only appearance for the County that season. He saves us from impending defeat by playing a splendid innings of 59 not out, half the total made on a very difficult wicket. After that, when in turn he was honorary secretary and president of Middlesex, it was easy to know where to go for encouragement and sympathy; this attitude towards successive captains he maintained to the end of his life. Mr. F. T. Mann, Mr. Nigel Haig, Mr. R. W. V. Robins, Mr. H. J. Enthoven and Mr. I. A. R. Peebles will fully endorse this.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Just as the Walkers made Middlesex cricket, Webbie continued in their tradition. No County captain ever had a more helpful and understanding supporter. We may count ourselves a very lucky band. Webbe was the soul of Middlesex cricket. He was a fine leader, kindness itself, with a rare charm of manner, and no one ever had a more loyal and truer friend. To lame dogs and in the troubles which from time to time befall cricketers he was a veritable champion. He lived to a great age and his passing was to be expected, but none the less one feels that a landmark has been removed and that something very tangible and visible has gone out of one's life. He fully earned almost every honour that cricket can give--for he was a great cricketer--and Lord's will not be the same without him to hundreds of others besides myself.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Mr. A. J. H. Cochrane, an Oxford Blue in 1885, 1886 and 1888, who played for Derbyshire, and remains, at the age of 77, in close touch with first-class cricket, writes:--</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">I am glad to pay a brief tribute to the memory of A. J. Webbe, as one among the many devoted friends who lament him, not only as a famous cricketer, but as a man whose long life was full of kindly deeds and kindly thoughts. His death breaks a line with the heroic past, for as an admiring small boy I watched him play in the early 80's, when I. D. Walker's Middlesex champions came North in August, and their matches at Nottingham or Sheffield were the great events of the summer holidays. I remember an innings of his against Yorkshire in 1882--the light was bad and the wicket, ruined by rain, was exactly suited to the left-hand slow of Peate who, that season, was the best bowler in England.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Middlesex, with a splendid batting side, had to get something like 140 to win, and lost by 20 runs. Webbie went in first and, while his gifted colleagues, failed one after the other, carried out his bat for 62. His watchfulness and correct timing were remarkable, and he never made a mistake or looked like getting out.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">At Oxford a few years later I came to know him, for he brought down teams against us every summer. He always seems to me to have been the central figure of any match or gathering at which we met, as much for his personal characteristics as for his cricket reputation. In the field his keenness knew no bounds, making him impetuous and somewhat impatient in his comments, which, while a little disturbing to strangers, were a source of amusement to his acquaintances. At that date, half a century ago, first-class amateurs had more time than they have to-day for minor engagements, and Harlequin or Harrow Wanderers tours formed what I am sure Webbie found an enjoyable part of his summer campaign. I once played for the Harlequins with him at Woolwich, where our hospitable hosts regarded him as a well-known and welcome guest. On these festive occasions he had more opportunities of bowling than in county games, and he was very fond of bowling. He was not at all a bad change either and often got a wanted wicket.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">During the last forty years, brought together by other associations as well as cricket, I got to know Webbie well. We met by appointment whenever I went to Lord's during the summer, and I always envied him his memory for faces, among the crowds of all ranks and ages, who saluted him with affection. He and his wife used to stay with us in the country, and we delighted in their visits. Our long talks wandered over many subjects, past and present; we spoke of old comrades and old opponents; and his judgements, mellowed no doubt by increasing years, were always charged with that charity which is the greatest of virtues.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Mr. J. T. Hearne, who played for Middlesex from 1888 for over twenty years and, in 1920, had the rare distinction for a professional of being elected on the Committee of his county club, writes of his old captain:--</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">It would be impossible for me to express in words the high esteem in which Mr. A. J. Webbe was held by me and how greatly I feel his loss. The whole of my cricket life has been very happy and I have played under many fine captains, but to me he was the best of them all, and I look back on the period of years when playing under his leadership as the most zestfully happy time of all. Ever ready with encouragement, at the same time giving such advice as to inspire one with absolute confidence in his judgement of the game, he could but succeed in getting the best out of one. Added to all this was his wonderfully kind nature, and it was my good fortune to realise quite early that I had in him a true friend to whom I could appeal both on and off the field; a friendship most highly valued which, by many an act of kindness, remained unbroken up to the time of his lamented death. I can in no way overstate how truly I revere the memory of so great a friend.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">Two incidents in matches I have never forgotten. Mr. Webbe and I have often spoken of them through the years. Quite early in the 90's when playing Lancashire at Lord's, little Johnny Briggs was making a lengthy stand against us when, after several changes. Mr. Webbe put himself on to bowl--a rare occurrence--I believe at the Nursery end. I was fielding orthodox third man, but was brought up to what is now known as the gully, and had the satisfaction of catching Briggs off him in his first over. I vividly remember his delight at having broken up a dangerous partnership.</div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on"><br /></div><div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">The other happened when we were playing Yorkshire at Bradford. Rain had driven us to the pavilion, and the usual precaution of stringing off the pitch had been taken, with two policemen placed on guard. After some delay and all of us sitting in front of the dressing-room, Mr. Webbe was the first to notice that the two guards had absentmindedly stepped over the rope and were patrolling side by side up and down the pitch, and, as captain, he shouted them from the pavilion to get off!</div>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-44928963387266270842023-03-27T21:42:00.000+05:002023-03-27T21:42:00.222+05:00Sandford Spence Schultz (1857-1937)Test Cap # 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdLuIYHyCFCyz4y6O5iRtmBgiVl5FNN9VhZqwTB0R_oZnXBcInpsnkocz0Rf9E5wZYSfTb_fRjEJQqZsIxYZ6yrAXqthexIptd-91vnN1r4TKewP_u4o3tpSYUMHplgbYsmvtFKjb7OBfviPmV6qv9rlqXo_jwp0xBpAIznA_zQl7vdTw1KBdFdYy/s1127/Sandford_Schultz_c1878.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="909" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwdLuIYHyCFCyz4y6O5iRtmBgiVl5FNN9VhZqwTB0R_oZnXBcInpsnkocz0Rf9E5wZYSfTb_fRjEJQqZsIxYZ6yrAXqthexIptd-91vnN1r4TKewP_u4o3tpSYUMHplgbYsmvtFKjb7OBfviPmV6qv9rlqXo_jwp0xBpAIznA_zQl7vdTw1KBdFdYy/w161-h200/Sandford_Schultz_c1878.jpg" width="161" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p><b style="text-align: center;"></b></p><b>Full name:</b>Sandford Spence Schultz<br /><b>Born:</b>August 29, 1857, Birkenhead, Cheshire<br /><b>Died:</b>December 18, 1937, Brompton, Kensington, London, (aged 80y 111d)<br /><b>Major teams:</b>England,Cambridge University,Lancashire<br /><b>Batting style:</b>Right hand Bat<br /><b>Bowling Style:</b>Right arm Medium<p></p><p><b>profile</b><br />Sandford Spence Schultz known in later life as Sandford Spence Storey, was an English cricketer, who played for Cambridge University and Lancashire and played one Test match for England.Schultz was born in Birkenhead, Cheshire, the son of George Edward Schultz and his wife Emma. He was educated at Uppingham and Jesus College, Cambridge.</p><p>Although Schultz was only an occasional player in first-class cricket, he was prolific in club cricket and was selected as an amateur in Lord Harris's side that toured Australia in 1878-79, and played in the one Test match of that tour. Schultz was a fast round-arm bowler and made a lot of runs in club cricket. His Wisden obituary in 1938 recalled a less happy batting experience related in a letter to The Times by a Mr Edmund Peake about a match on the Christchurch ground at Oxford in 1881:</p><p>The fast bowler (I blush to say it) committed such havoc as would have made him famous in these days. The Gentlemen refused to continue and the match was begun all over again in The Parks. One batsman – SS Schultz – was out first ball each time. Twice first ball in one innings – a record. Schultz married Mabel Durrant in 1885. He was a stockbroker, working on the London Exchange for a firm known as Messrs Hedderwick and Schultz. In 1914, around the time of the start of World War I, Schultz changed his Germanic-sounding name to Sandford Spence Storey. He died in Brompton, Kensington, aged 80. He was the only English Test cricketer with a 'z' in his surname for over a century, until Usman Afzaal played three Tests in 2001.</p><p><b>Only Test:</b>Australia vs England at Melbourne - January 02 - 04, 1879<br /><b>Span:</b>1876 - 1885</p>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-37798301490456917272023-03-27T21:40:00.004+05:002023-03-27T21:40:24.225+05:00Vernon Peter Royle (1854-1929) Test Cap # 18<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YWsxNSOaLpTqZAexb2zzBxolGHRo8CLnjS_FMjHUV1RjHIibMUijBqZbl7w8AzPSpTx3kcffuSeFsmeBoEESWIks0hDefWurlJlOuHAeQ5ZY0pvpYev2DJujEn44xndu7CcDWHQ_S34/s1600/Vernon+Peter+Royle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4YWsxNSOaLpTqZAexb2zzBxolGHRo8CLnjS_FMjHUV1RjHIibMUijBqZbl7w8AzPSpTx3kcffuSeFsmeBoEESWIks0hDefWurlJlOuHAeQ5ZY0pvpYev2DJujEn44xndu7CcDWHQ_S34/s200/Vernon+Peter+Royle.jpg" width="156" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">© the-saleroom.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> The Reverend Vernon Peter Royle<br /><b>Born</b> January 29, 1854, Brooklands, Cheshire<br /><b>Died</b> May 21, 1929, Stanmore Park, Middlesex (aged 75 years 112 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Lancashire, Oxford University<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />he Reverend Vernon Peter Fanshawe Archer Royle (29 January 1854 – 21 May 1929) was an English first-class cricketer who played in a single Test match for England in Australia and later became a schoolmaster.He was born at Brooklands, then considered part of Sale, Cheshire and died at Stanmore, Middlesex, England.He was the third son of a surgeon, Peter Royle, and Mariann Fanshawe, and was educated at Rossall School and Brasenose College, Oxford.<br /><a name='more'></a>Royle played cricket for Lancashire from 1873 and for Oxford University in 1875 and 1876, winning a Blue both years. His record at Oxford was modest, and he passed 50 only once, making an unbeaten 67 in the match against Middlesex at Prince's Cricket Ground, Chelsea in 1876, when he batted at No 9 and where his runs were part of an Oxford total of 612, the highest score ever made at Prince's.After Oxford, he returned to fairly regular cricket for Lancashire for two seasons and in 1878 he hit his highest score, an innings of 81 against Kent at Town Malling.<br /><br />Despite this fairly modest record as a batsman (which was little different from that of several other amateur members of the team), Royle was a member of Lord Harris's cricket team to tour Australia in 1878–79, which played one match against Australia. This game has since been recognised as a Test match, the third such game ever played; Royle scored 3 and 18 as the Australians won by 10 wickets, and he also took two catches.[5] In fact, it was Royle's fielding that won particular attention on this tour, and was remembered in glowing terms 50 years later: "He was ambidextrous, very quick on his feet and smart in return," said the obituary in Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 1930.He is generally regarded as being the greatest "cover point" of all time, and many books have described the fear he engendered in batsmen when on the pitch. Only a rash batsman dared to try for a quick run. A remark of Tom Emmett’s, the famous Yorkshire cricketer, is recalled in Royle's obituary in The Times: "Woa, mate, there's a policeman," he said when his partner called him for a short run while Royle was at cover point.In 1919, when The Times was wanting to make a comparison with Jack Hobbs' prowess as a cover-point field, it cited Gilbert Jessop and Syd Gregory, two long-standing and famous cricketers, plus the relatively unknown Vernon Royle, as Hobbs' only equals.<br /><br />However, after the tour he retired from cricket and took up full-time teaching at Elstree School, though he returned to Lancashire and to various amateur teams for occasional matches through to 1886 and as late as 1891 played for Lancashire in a game against MCC at Lord's. He was ordained in 1892 when he was a schoolmaster at Elstree; he subsequently became headmaster fleetingly at Elstree before moving to Stanmore Park school.Royle kept a diary of his tour, which has now been published. In it he outlines the lavish welcome afforded the touring party, which was one of the great benefits of the tour. Royle also briefly mentions his views on the Sydney Riot of 1879. He was president of the Lancashire County Cricket Club.<br /><b><br /></b><b>Only Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1873-1891Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-70144007486172941932023-03-27T21:39:00.006+05:002023-03-27T21:39:43.505+05:00Francis Alexander MacKinnon (1848-1947) Test Cap # 17<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP91jZNxHzpCddpYX8xqWR4SGBIkMLyKUnteZNWJhWiweZz-YrXSR6HFni5zrnix_i6xLEqf75_DAOcC0sTh_uWfVilJuVP5B9qF-PJuonyvcjKJGwxfjkYh_vk-y-eutmCADVr0mt5Px/s1600/Francis+MacKinnon.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIP91jZNxHzpCddpYX8xqWR4SGBIkMLyKUnteZNWJhWiweZz-YrXSR6HFni5zrnix_i6xLEqf75_DAOcC0sTh_uWfVilJuVP5B9qF-PJuonyvcjKJGwxfjkYh_vk-y-eutmCADVr0mt5Px/s320/Francis+MacKinnon.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</div></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Francis Alexander MacKinnon<br /><b>Born</b> April 9, 1848, Paddington, London<br /><b>Died</b> February 27, 1947, Drumduan, Forres, Morayshire, Scotland (aged 98 years 324 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Cambridge University, Kent<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />The MacKinnon of Mackinnon (35th Chief Of The Mackinnon Clan), the title to which Francis Alexander Mackinnon succeeded on the death of his father in 1903, passed away at his home, Drumduan, in Forres, Morayshire, on February 27. He would have been 99 years old on April 9. As it was he reached a greater age than attained by any other first-class cricketer, surpassing that of Herbert Jenner-Fust Cambridge captain in the first match with Oxford in 1827, who died in 1904 when his exact age was 98 years 5 months and 7 days. MacKinnon was within forty days of 99 years at his passing.<br /><a name='more'></a>Born at Acryse Park, in Kent, he went to Harrow without getting into the eleven, but at Cambridge he played in the historic match of 1870 when Cobden did the hat-trick by dismissing the last three Oxford batsmen and gaining for the Light Blues a dramatic victory by two runs. He played ten years for Kent, and in 1884, going in first, he helped, with scores of 28 and 29, in the only victory gained by a county over the Australians. Of the winning side, Mr. Stanley Christopherson, President of M.C.C. during the war years, who finished the match by taking three wickets for 12 runs, Mr. M. C. Kemp, wicket-keeper, and Alec Hearne, seven wickets for 60, are three survivors of that eleven.During that year he scored 115 against Hampshire and 102 against Yorkshire, his average being 33, second to 41 by Lord Harris. He was President of the Kent County Club in 1889.In the winter of 1878 he went with Lord Harris to Australia. A strong batting side included only two professionals, George Ulyett and Tom Emmett, the Yorkshiremen. MacKinnon was a victim of F. R. Spofforth in a hat-trick in the only match with the full strength of Australia, who won by ten wickets.<br /><br />Born on April 9, 1848, three months before W. G. Grace, he married in 1888 the eldest daughter of Admiral, First Baron Hood, the Hon. Emily Hood, who died in 1934. There survive a son and a daughter, who accompanied her father on his cricket visits to the South.The oldest Harrovian, University Blue and Test cricketer, he was also the senior member of M.C.C., to which he was elected in 1870. Until the last he retained a keen interest in the game he loved so well by following the reports of the matches played by the England team in Australia.Although he gave up County cricket sixty-two years ago, he maintained to a remarkable extent a close touch with the game, as his memory and good physique gave evidence. Using two sticks, he walked firmly, and enjoyed meeting old friends on Kent grounds as well as at Lord's. During the Tunbridge Wells Cricket Week in 1946 he watched the cricket from the Band of Brothers' tent or from the pavilion. One afternoon, accompanied by his daughter and the Marchioness of Abergavenny, he visited Rose Hill School and examined the old desk where he used to sit as a pupil eighty-nine years before. He gave a talk to the whole school, besides inspecting the Sea Scout Troop.<br /><br />Several opportunities occurred for me to speak to the MacKinnon, and he related some of his experiences in the happiest way. He liked Canterbury better even than Lord's, his second love. An amusing tale was how, at The Oval when playing for Kent, Lord Harris put him to field at a particular spot-- `Mac, by that worm cast.' After some hits just out of reach, my captain said: `You have left cast.'`No, George, I haven't. That's another worm's cast.'Referring to Cobden's Match, he said with a smile, I really won the match, for I scored two (the margin of victory). That was his second innings, after a useful 17 not out at a time when runs were never more difficult to get than at Lord's on the big occasion.Among those who chatted with him in the Lord Harris Memorial garden, where he enjoyed a picnic lunch with his daughter during the University match, was the Rev. T. R. Hine Haycock, an Oxford Blue in 1883, who played for Kent when MacKinnon was finishing his active cricket career and is now 85 years old.<br /><br />MacKinnon wore an I. Zingari tie, and on his watch chain showed with pride a gold medallion bearing the insignia of crossed bats presented to all the team captained by Lord Harris in Australia. His wonderfully clear conversation and strong handshake revealed his hearty enjoyment in meeting any cricket acquaintance. Among the last active signs of his fondness for the game was the presentation to Canterbury of a picture of the Kent and Sussex match at Hove a hundred years ago, in which the players, among them Alfred Mynn, the Lion of Kent, and Fuller Pilch, are wearing tall hats.When 98 years of age, in reply to a question by telephone from London as to his health, he said: "I am going into hospital tomorrow -- but only for the annual meeting at which I shall preside. I am very well in health--very well indeed. I still do a lot of work in the garden: weeds don't like me at all."<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Only Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879 </div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>First-class span </b>1870-1885</div>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-6988114728380686372023-03-27T21:39:00.001+05:002023-03-27T21:39:05.821+05:00Alfred Perry Lucas (1857-1923) Test Cap # 16<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7TsuY4Gb2gyxROMTfPqgpCEBx07TQD_QVlhZ8AvGiJ6mor79EFEjONHPbrwzCwhcczaVuMuxX6GvcPCLoX7lErow9yodYBEgDtqmf7IvEAvDl1Pr0sD0vco03rfHVXsJ9gC-5dyXkTlE/s1600/AP_Lucas+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7TsuY4Gb2gyxROMTfPqgpCEBx07TQD_QVlhZ8AvGiJ6mor79EFEjONHPbrwzCwhcczaVuMuxX6GvcPCLoX7lErow9yodYBEgDtqmf7IvEAvDl1Pr0sD0vco03rfHVXsJ9gC-5dyXkTlE/s200/AP_Lucas+new.jpg" width="134" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© En.wikipedia.org</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Alfred Perry Lucas<br /><b>Born</b> February 20, 1857, Westminster, London<br /><b>Died</b> October 12, 1923, Great Waltham, Essex (aged 66 years 234 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Cambridge University, Essex, Middlesex, Surrey<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm slow<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />Bunny Lucas had a reputation as an ultra-cautious opening batsman, but was regarded by contemporaries as anything but dull thanks to his exquisite footwork and textbook technique. He was also a useful round-arm slow bowler. Uppingham educated, he won Blues for four years for Cambridge, and in a first-class career which extended 33 years he played for three counties - Surrey, Middlesex and Essex.<br /><a name='more'></a>Alfred "Bunny" Lucas died at his home at Great Waltham, on Friday, October 12. Though his career in the cricket field began half a century ago, Mr. Lucas played so long--he captained the M. C. C. at Lord's against the Australian Eleven of 1902, and played his last match for Essex in 1907--that his doings will be fresh in remembrance. He was one of the finest of batsmen--almost unique in his combination of perfect style and impregnable defence. As regards the early development of his powers he belonged to a very select band. Like Mr. R. A. H. Mitchell, Mr. Alfred Lubbock, Mr. C. F. Buller, Mr. A. J. Webbe, and, in later days, Mr. MacLaren and Mr. Spooner, he was good enough while still at school to play for the Gentlemen. One is thinking only of public school batsmen. Mr. W. G. Grace--outside all comparisons--actually played for the Gentlemen at Lord's before he was 17, and had no small share in winning the match. Mr. Lucas did not appear for Gentlemen v Players as a schoolboy, but he came very near it. In 1874 -- the year he left Uppingham -- he was picked for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the North at Prince's, and scored 48 and 23. His form in those two innings--against Alfred Shaw and Morley at their best--left no doubt as to his class. It was felt by all good judges that a new star had been discovered. Mr. Lucas had been most carefully coached at Uppingham by H. H. Stephenson -- he was by far the best of all Stephenson's pupils -- and throughout his career he never tired of saying how much he owed to his teacher. When he jumped into fame at Prince's, Mr. Lucas was under seventeen and a half; to be quite exact he was born on February 20, 1857. He never looked back. Going up to Clare College, Cambridge, he won his Blue as a Freshman and was in the Eleven four years -- 1875 to 1878. He shared in all the other victories of the great team of 1878, but illness kept him out of the crowning triumph at Lord's against the first Australian Eleven. In his four matches against Oxford he was twice on the winning and twice on the losing side, his own record being wonderfully good. His scores in the four matches were 19 and 5; 67 and not out 23, 54 and 8, 4 and 74. In the Cambridge averages Mr. Lucas was fourth in 1875 with 23, first in 1876 with 50 and first again in 1877 with 33,but in 1878,despite his success in the big match, he dropped to the sixth place, and averaged only 20.<br /><br />In county cricket Mr. Lucas had a varied experience. He came out in 1874 for Surrey, played some years later for Middlesex, and finally in 1889, with the view of helping his life-long friend, Mr. C. E. Green, threw in his lot with Essex. While in his prime he was chosen, as a matter of course, year after year for Gentlemen v Players. In these matches he played some of his best cricket, scoring 91 at Lord's in 1878 and 107 in 1882.For England against Australia he appeared four times -- at the Oval in 1880 and 1882 and at Manchester and Lord's in 1884. Possibly he could recall nothing in his career more vividly than the last innings of the disastrous match at the Oval in 1882 when England, after seeming certain of victory, lost by seven runs. He stopped any number of Mr. Spofforth's terrible break-backs, but at last played one of them on to his wicket. The misfortune was that, while showing such superb defence, he could not relieve the tension by a hit to the boundary.<br /><br />Mr. Lucas was in the truest sense of the word a classic batsman. A master of both back and forward play, he represented the strictest orthodoxy. No doubt if he had allowed himself a little licence he might have made more runs, but his method served him so well that right into middle age he kept up his form. It may fairly be said of him that no defensive batsman of any generation was better worth looking at. He played the ball so hard and his style was so irreproachable that one could watch him for hours without a moment of weariness. Having played against all the great Australian bowlers from Spofforth and Frank Allan to Hugh Trumble, he thought Spofforth and George Palmer the best of them. Mr. Lucas was not much of a traveller, but he went to Australia with Lord Harris's team in 1878-79. During that tour he had to do far more bowling than he had expected, the side being almost wholly dependent on Emmett and George Ulyett. How with such limited resources they ever managed to get their opponents out remains to this day a marvel.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at Lord's, Jul 21-23, 1884<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1874-1907Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-86685578456781212482023-03-27T21:37:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:37:19.447+05:00Albert Neilson Hornby (1847-1925) Test Cap # 15<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKiic9M8OU561hpz0XA8XAh8fnPP7hckC879fs96KRiMTSWepxTZzRl_pK8RdV5EYM0u2tuRuekXPW3oi9_zi1bfdsHU6x8LqEQyvv50VH4iCueBjfSXXMDyTDKlCBWC4L2zQlIxZlQmH/s1600/Albert+Neilson+Hornby.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvKiic9M8OU561hpz0XA8XAh8fnPP7hckC879fs96KRiMTSWepxTZzRl_pK8RdV5EYM0u2tuRuekXPW3oi9_zi1bfdsHU6x8LqEQyvv50VH4iCueBjfSXXMDyTDKlCBWC4L2zQlIxZlQmH/s320/Albert+Neilson+Hornby.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="192" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© <span style="font-size: xx-small;">ESPNcricinfo Ltd</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Full name</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Albert Neilson Hornby</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Born</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> February 10, 1847, Brook House, Blackburn, Lancashire</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Died</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> December 17, 1925, Nantwich, Cheshire (aged 78 years 310 days)</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Major teams</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> England, Lancashire</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Batting style</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Right-hand bat</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Profile</b><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Albert Neilson Hornby, commonly designated A. N. Hornby, nicknamed Monkey Hornby (Blackburn, Lancashire, 10 February 1847 – 17 December 1925 in Nantwich, Cheshire) was one of the best known sportsmen in England during the nineteenth century excelling in both rugby and cricket. He was the first of only two men to captain the country at both rugby and cricket but is also remembered as the England cricket captain whose side lost the Test match which gave rise to the Ashes, at home against the Australians in 1882. Additionally, he played football for Blackburn Rovers.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">He was the sixth son of William Henry Hornby, a cotton mill proprietor and director of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway who was Member of Parliament (MP) for Blackburn from 1857 to 1865. His brothers, Edward and William, were also MPs for Blackburn from 1869 to 1874, and from 1886 to 1910 respectively. Edward and another brother Cecil also played first-class cricket. Albert attended Harrow School and from there returned to Lancashire to join the family business.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Whilst at Harrow, his family had moved to Shrewbridge Hall, Nantwich, Cheshire, and he first played cricket for that county in 1862 and played in 20 matches between then and 1876. His club cricket was for the East Lancashire Club, Blackburn and he was first tried for Lancashire County Cricket Club in 1867. It was with his county that he was to play his finest cricket. He went on to play for Lancashire for 33 years, 17 as captain (in 1879–1893 and 1897–1898). For many years he provided an ideal attacking foil to the careful defence of his opening partner,</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><a name='more'></a><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">His lack of stature and excess of energy earned him the nickname "Monkey" whilst at school and this stuck, while his players called him "The Boss", for his martinet approach to captaincy. In all cricket sources, however, he is referred to by his initials, and never by a nickname. His prowess as a forceful front-foot player, was matched by his fielding abilities. Between 1870 and 1881 he was the only player for Lancashire to reach a century for the club, which he did on seven occasions and in 1881 he topped the national averages, with his 1531 runs including three centuries.Hornby was unable to carry his county form with the bat into the Test arena, his 3.50 average being a testament to this fact. In his debut Test on the 1878–79 Australian tour he lost his wicket in both innings to Spofforth and this was to be repeated in his next Test in 1882. The Test match in 1882 was a one-off game played at The Oval in London, England, and the English cricket team lost it to Australia by seven runs. In response, the Sporting Times printed the following "obituary" to English cricket:</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval on 29th AUGUST, 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances R.I.P. N.B. – The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.Thus was born the greatest rivalry in cricket which to this day is known as The Ashes. AN Hornby captained England in only one more Test (his last), standing in for Lord Harris (who had stood out in protest) in the first Test of 1884. The match was played at Old Trafford on 10, 11 and 12 July 1884 and was drawn. Hornby avoided Spofforth but his 0 and 4 in the two innings remained undistinguished.In addition to his county and country, he also played first-class cricket for Marylebone Cricket Club between 1873 and 1898. Aside from his playing for Lancashire, Hornby also held the posts of Lancashire chairman from 1878 to 1898, and Lancashire president from 1894 to 1916.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Hornby first played for the Preston Grasshoppers and thence on to Manchester Football Club. His first game for England was on 5 February 1877 under the captaincy of Edward Kewley, a fellow Lancastrian. This match was the first 15-a-side international and was between England and Ireland at the Oval. He played as a three-quarter and despite being 30 years old, kept his place. He was present in the team in 1878 but due to his overseas international cricketing commitments in 1879 was unable to play rugby for his country that year. He was recalled to the side in 1880 as a full-back and it was in this position that he was called upon to captain his country in 1882. The game was played in Manchester on 4 March 1882 against Scotland who won by 2 tries to nil. When, later that year, Hornby led the England cricket team out at the Oval to play the Australians he became the first man to captain his country in both sports and this in his 36th year. He is one of only two men to have captained England at both these sports, the other being Andrew Stoddart.As well as becoming captain of the national side for both cricket and rugby, Hornby was also selected to play for Blackburn Rovers in their inaugural game at Alexandra Meadows, against Partick Thistle on 2 January 1878. He played for them in a few subsequent matches.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">In 1876 he married Ada Sarah Ingram, the daughter of Herbert Ingram MP, the founder and proprietor of The Illustrated London News. With Ada he lived in Church Minshull, Nantwich and they had four sons all of whom went to Harrow. George Vernon (1879–1905) died in South Africa, having served in the Boer War whilst Walter Ingram (1878–1918) died of wounds received in France. The youngest, John (1880–1927) was also wounded during the First World War and was awarded the Military Cross and later died when exploring in the north of Canada. The eldest son, Albert Henry (1877–1952) went on to Trinity College, Cambridge and like his father played and captained Lancashire. Between 1899–1914 he played 283 matches – only nine matches less than his father.Hornby was also a Captain of 1st Royal Cheshire Militia. He died at Parkfield, Wardle near Nantwich in Cheshire on 17 December 1925, and was buried in the churchyard of St Mary's Church in nearby Acton.</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Test debut</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879</span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">Last Test </b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">England v Australia at Manchester, Jul 10-12, 1884 </span><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: pre; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> </span><br style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;" /><b style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;">First-class span</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px;"> 1867-1906</span>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-11315307900675061352023-03-27T21:32:00.002+05:002023-03-27T21:32:17.251+05:00Leland Hone (1853-1896) Test Cap # 14<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJdTjwL3MwJaJ1f76GV4o2_OJjd5FPC-b8j7zwW_7CoQXiAohF-1BKtTwmAUy8W4hiZcIk-uCbtMZvJmg3nf6o36Fde1gS2rgL9BXyP_z_Wp9eEzXSUs66ALAGck8fCU5XSPWsv_fZWSy/s1600/Leland_Hone-1+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTJdTjwL3MwJaJ1f76GV4o2_OJjd5FPC-b8j7zwW_7CoQXiAohF-1BKtTwmAUy8W4hiZcIk-uCbtMZvJmg3nf6o36Fde1gS2rgL9BXyP_z_Wp9eEzXSUs66ALAGck8fCU5XSPWsv_fZWSy/s200/Leland_Hone-1+new.jpg" width="190" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© trialx.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Leland Hone<br /><b>Born</b> January 30, 1853, Dublin, Ireland<br /><b>Died</b> December 31, 1896, St Stephen's Green, Dublin, Ireland (aged 43 years 336 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Marylebone Cricket Club<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Fielding position</b> Wicketkeeper<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />Leland Hone (30 January 1853 in Dublin, Ireland – 31 December 1896 in Dublin, Ireland was a cricketer who played for both England and Ireland, in addition to playing first-class cricket for the MCC.A right-handed batsman and wicket-keeper,Hone made his debut for Ireland in August 1875 playing against I Zingari. He played three more matches against I Zingari in August of each of the following three years, scoring 74 not out in 1877, his highest score for Ireland.In 1878, he made his first-class debut, playing for the MCC against Cambridge University. After one more game against Oxford University he was chosen to tour Australia under the captaincy of Lord Harris.<br /><a name='more'></a>When it became clear that the side lacked a regular wicket-keeper, Hone was drafted in for the only Test of the tour, playing against Australia in January 1879, becoming the first player to represent England without playing county cricket and the first Irishman to represent England.<br /><br />He played four more first-class matches on the tour, two each against New South Wales and Victoria,and returned to the Ireland team for matches against the MCC and Surrey that summer.He played one final first-class match for the MCC in 1880 against Oxford University at Lord's.He continued playing club cricket, and represented Ireland twice in 1883 before a final game against I Zingari in August 1888.In his matches for Ireland, he scored 321 runs at an average of 24.69. He took sixteen catches and six stumpings.In his only Test match, he scored 13 runs and took two catches. In first-class cricket, he scored 85 runs at an average of 7.08, taking nine catches and two stumpings.Hone came from a cricketing family. His brothers William and Nathaniel also played for Ireland, as did his cousins William, Thomas and Jeffery. His nephew Pat Hone also played for Ireland.<br /><br /><b>Only Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1878-1880Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-87167007018772763132023-03-27T21:31:00.005+05:002023-03-27T21:31:41.623+05:00George Robert Canning Harris (1851-1932) Test Cap #13<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcGft0nQk9SuCogpkQLF3nHxeB8P7s2iqXAiuHHtU3MmZREC6RN-kyp8SHhZTiMOaSiRNaUG7kIJNENMVlqsjClQFM8gemdGAmKphAaHSnmpE21lq6XMr8DZgCeiaQMZ-EKQqknaE4mER/s1600/George+Robert+Canning+Harris+new+%2528Lord+Harris%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcGft0nQk9SuCogpkQLF3nHxeB8P7s2iqXAiuHHtU3MmZREC6RN-kyp8SHhZTiMOaSiRNaUG7kIJNENMVlqsjClQFM8gemdGAmKphAaHSnmpE21lq6XMr8DZgCeiaQMZ-EKQqknaE4mER/s320/George+Robert+Canning+Harris+new+%2528Lord+Harris%2529.jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">© Marylebone Cricket Club</span></td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> George Robert Canning Harris<br /><b>Born</b> February 3, 1851, St Anne's, Trinidad<br /><b>Died</b> March 24, 1932, Belmont, Faversham, Kent (aged 81 years 50 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Kent, Oxford University<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><br /><b>profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ae-EBcdC9aXQw_sRqLwnrOzDJbbQs8Mz9CTpQasmly1cxTADW8jI_LUogXrFukQhan6fstJAmsBSYsiXSv0QA3CxKg5-0k_-DaSDl1wDaFFV9gJBEMbOfeaItGUkqpbL4A0cchWE_pcm/s1600/George+Robert+Canning+Harris+new%2528Lord+Harris%2529+1.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9Ae-EBcdC9aXQw_sRqLwnrOzDJbbQs8Mz9CTpQasmly1cxTADW8jI_LUogXrFukQhan6fstJAmsBSYsiXSv0QA3CxKg5-0k_-DaSDl1wDaFFV9gJBEMbOfeaItGUkqpbL4A0cchWE_pcm/s640/George+Robert+Canning+Harris+new%2528Lord+Harris%2529+1.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</td></tr></tbody></table>Lord Harris was perhaps the single most influential man to have been involved in cricket, as a player and then more significantly as an administrator. He rebuilt Kent, led a side to the USA and Canada and then captained the fifth side to tour Australia in 1878-79. In 1880 he assembled and captained the England XI for the first Test in the country. He was governor of Bombay from 1890 to 1895, during which time he did much to lay down foundations for the expansion of the game in India. On his return he overshadowed the game, fighting on behalf of professionals and leading the campaign to stamp out throwing. He was also a stickler for the Laws and was particular obsessive about players qualifications for representing counties. Those who crossed him - and there were many - found him autocratic and intolerant, but there was no questioning his influence. Outside cricket he was a leading politician, serving as under-secretary of state for India and then under-secretary of state for War.<br /><a name='more'></a>A great batsman and a brilliant field in his younger days, and all his life a commanding figure in the world of cricket, Lord Harris, who died on March 24, was born at St. Anne's, Trinidad on February 3, 1851, and so, at the time of his death had entered upon his 82nd year.As a boy, he had a private tutor in town and in this way saw a lot of Lord's where he enjoyed the benefit of considerable coaching with the result that, even before he went to Eton, he knew a good deal about batting. At that famous school his cricket education advanced, under the direction of R. A.H. Mitchell and the Rev. G. R. Dupuis, and he obtained his place in the Eleven in 1868 and the two following years. On leaving Eton, he was sent up to Oxford and secured his blue as a Freshman. He also played against Cambridge in 1872 and 1874, and would, no doubt, have played in 1873 but early that season he bruised his hand so badly when practising catching in the longfield that he found himself compelled to stand down.<br /><br />Prior to his career with Oxford there had commenced that close association with Kent which during the rest of his life commanded so much of Lord Harris's energy and enthusiasm. Indeed, so far back as 1870 he played for Kent, and was elected to the Committee of the County Club -- his father at that time being President -- and in 1874 he succeeded to the honorary secretaryship which for 25 years previously had been held by W. de Chair Baker.Twelve months later, he became captain of the Eleven and so continued for fifteen seasons, resigning after the summer of 1889 on his appointment to the Governorship of Bombay which kept him out of England from 1890 to 1895. Even after the five years in India, he, when in the middle forties, played occasionally for Kent in 1896 and 1897. He was president of that county so far back as 1875 when he also officiated as secretary and captain. During the latter years of his life, he was not only a trustee but also chairman of the County Club.<br /><br />A great figure at the Canterbury week over a period of 60 years, Lord Harris first participated in the Festival in 1870 when, appearing for the Gentlemen of Kent against the M.C.C., he was in each innings bowled for eight by F. C. Cobden who, a few weeks earlier, performing the hat-trick when Oxford, wanting three runs for victory, had three wickets to fall, had snatched a memorable victory for Cambridge. Later in the same Canterbury Week the Hon. George Harris -- as Lord Harris was then -- made top score -- 64 -- for I Zingari against the Gentlemen of Kent.Always keenly interested in the Cricketers' Fund Friendly Society, he had been President of that body for many years to the time of his death.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at The Oval, Aug 11-13, 1884<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1870-1911Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-71034569115771674112023-03-27T21:30:00.007+05:002023-03-27T21:30:48.454+05:00Charles Alfred Absolom (1846-1889) Test Cap #12<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZmOxy4HC6j9e_Di7s8T3RjGt-Ddx14O39JAWFn3H0ZAHiFXd80AVmqP9NZcXUCKKPuWbYYTu5mT932E7m8Tv36NUraZbOgipvWJ9Cb6aA3Azf3tDtGiWR9ZG9QHTpF9tPDxRLi4TqAE/s1600/de8b6411-71e5-4d53-af79-ac417d5d9fb3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="970" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZmOxy4HC6j9e_Di7s8T3RjGt-Ddx14O39JAWFn3H0ZAHiFXd80AVmqP9NZcXUCKKPuWbYYTu5mT932E7m8Tv36NUraZbOgipvWJ9Cb6aA3Azf3tDtGiWR9ZG9QHTpF9tPDxRLi4TqAE/s200/de8b6411-71e5-4d53-af79-ac417d5d9fb3.jpg" width="184" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: left;">© cricketcountry.com</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><b>Full name</b> Charles Alfred Absolom<br /><b>Born</b> June 7, 1846, Blackheath, Kent<br /><b>Died</b> July 30, 1889, Port of Spain, Trinidad (aged 43 years 53 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Cambridge University, Kent<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm medium<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />Charles Alfred Absolom played cricket for Cambridge University, Kent and England in the period from 1866 to 1879.Absolom was born at Blackheath, Kent, the son of Edward Absolom. He was educated at a school in Calne, Wiltshire and at Trinity College, Cambridge and was awarded cricket and athletics Blues at Cambridge University.He was nicknamed "Cambridge Navvy", presumably because of his physique.In 18 matches for the university he took over 100 wickets, and played in the Varsity Match in 1866, 1867, 1868 and 1869. He took 27 wickets in the four matches and was on the winning Cambridge side in 1868 and 1869.<br /><a name='more'></a>He played several games for Gentlemen vs Players and in 1868 started playing for Kent.After Cambridge he enrolled at Inner Temple but did not complete his law studies.As an amateur cricketer, Absolom toured Australia with Lord Harris's team in 1878/9 and played in the only Test of that tour. Although selected as a bowler, his main performance was with the bat. After Australia's "demon bowler" Fred Spofforth had taken a hat-trick which helped reduce the English team to 26 for 7, Absolom came in and made 52. However, he was not one of the seven Englishmen to bowl in the Australian innings. Australia went on to win the game by 10 wickets.Absolom completed his career with Kent in the summer of 1879 after taking 87 wickets in 57 matches.Absolom enjoyed travel, particularly in the Americas, and he became a ship's purser. He died aged 43 when he was accidentally buried by a misplaced load of sugar whilst loading at Port of Spain in Trinidad.<br /><br />A fine University cricketer who went on to play for Kent, Charles Absolom made a single Test appearance. He came to the wicket after Spofforth, with the first Test hat-trick, had reduced England to 26 for 7, and made a fine half century batting at No. 9. Despite his excellent slow-medium bowling record, he was not asked to bowl in the Australian innings, although seven others were, and he fared less well against Spofforth in the second innings as England lost by 10 wickets. Known as the "Cambridge Navvy", presumably because of his impressive physique, he took 25 wickets in the four University matches he appeared in. His career in cricket was short, as he chose to travel, becoming a purser, and he came to an unfortunate end when he was buried under a misplaced load of sugar whilst loading at Port of Spain.<br /><br /><b>Only Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Jan 2-4, 1879<br /><b>First-class span</b>1866-1879Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-48697901074218162152023-03-27T21:30:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:30:12.031+05:00George Ulyett (1851-1898) Test Cap # 11<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7U7YBc3_L6AA8rUTRlDywmuxWCYnLufUnnxq7zoiXVSb6WqlEvMWNtgAkDtAkEPNy_dccm6ouBBsuNOAReWCeHSMdZWXDHunxbI-pfZ_nxjaaPk9WjB_OfRIWzSLKLpTbekczI1N5Fs/s1600/ulyett-george-image.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir7U7YBc3_L6AA8rUTRlDywmuxWCYnLufUnnxq7zoiXVSb6WqlEvMWNtgAkDtAkEPNy_dccm6ouBBsuNOAReWCeHSMdZWXDHunxbI-pfZ_nxjaaPk9WjB_OfRIWzSLKLpTbekczI1N5Fs/s200/ulyett-george-image.jpg" width="154" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.7273px; text-align: left;">© famousbirthdays.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> George Ulyett<br /><b>Born</b> October 21, 1851, Crabtree, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, Yorkshire<br /><b>Died</b> June 18, 1898, Pitsmoor, Sheffield, Yorkshire (aged 46 years 240 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Yorkshire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm fast (roundarm)<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YsZ7Y2_EGn8HcgSfSn7RkBQw2lLCCx6mGCbFR_7ZimGbbDipNNU3HX11o_pdN8Rzw78Gx2EmNOnmBpglkZSlqx4wokGyOxxR34Sh1nxkw5H6kdP7Ho64-rXm3Q4NvM8fCrZ7TCRWJ47O/s1600/George+Ulyett+1+new.jpg" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8YsZ7Y2_EGn8HcgSfSn7RkBQw2lLCCx6mGCbFR_7ZimGbbDipNNU3HX11o_pdN8Rzw78Gx2EmNOnmBpglkZSlqx4wokGyOxxR34Sh1nxkw5H6kdP7Ho64-rXm3Q4NvM8fCrZ7TCRWJ47O/s320/George+Ulyett+1+new.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Wisden Cricket Monthly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcTVM04x1nCuFzjYZ13P3dVkQM2cQ9sqcHDeI_p0sDDRgf26sdxW2Dmb5WafmwwLklPWAEJX_gqBzVMlP6C7d1CyU8ktYNJoTpD_vBPBu6qKlTardstUGYzfCbwAJW8ls-OQPvfR2EGCX/s1600/George+Ulyett+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEcTVM04x1nCuFzjYZ13P3dVkQM2cQ9sqcHDeI_p0sDDRgf26sdxW2Dmb5WafmwwLklPWAEJX_gqBzVMlP6C7d1CyU8ktYNJoTpD_vBPBu6qKlTardstUGYzfCbwAJW8ls-OQPvfR2EGCX/s320/George+Ulyett+new.jpg" width="141" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">©getty image</td></tr></tbody></table>George Ulyett died on Saturday evening, June 18th. He was only in his forty-seventh year, his last season in the Yorkshire eleven being 1893. His health had been failing for some time, but the immediate cause of death was an acute attack of pneumonia, contracted at Bramall Lane during the Yorkshire and Kent match. Yorkshire has always been rich in first-rate cricketers, but a finer player than Ulyett the county has never produced.<br /><br />He was for years the best bat in the team, and even if he had not been able to get a run he would have been worth his place for his bowling and fielding. His career for the county extended over a period of twenty years, his first appearance in the eleven dating back to July, 1873. It was seen at once that a player of remarkable gifts had been discovered, and before very long he was at the top of the tree. To begin with, if one remembers rightly, he was played as much for his fast bowling as for his batting. One talent, however, developed to a much greater extent than the other, and in two or three seasons he was quite as good a bat as Ephraim Lockwood, who, when Ulyett came out, was the bright particular star of the Yorkshire eleven. Once having established his position Ulyett never looked back. There was no doubt his class as a batsman after his first visit to Australia with James Lillywhite's team in the winter of 1876-77, and from that time till 1891 he was always in the front rank. Of course, like other great batsmen, he did much better in some seasons than others, but he never lost his place as a representative cricketer.<br /><a name='more'></a>A peculiar interest attaches to the tour of James Lillywhite's team - not, in some respects, very brilliant - as it was then that the Australians first ventured to play an English eleven on even terms. Thanks to a wonderful innings of 165 by Charles Bannerman, Australia won the first match, but in the return the Englishmen had their revenge, Ulyett's batting deciding the fortunes of the game. It was the fine play they showed that season that led the Australians to pay their first visit to England, a momentous chapter in the history of modern cricket being thus opened.<br /><br />At home Ulyett of course played many times for England against Australia, and in two memorable encounters at Lord's he contributed in a very marked degree to England's success. The first of the two matches was in 1884, when A. G. Steel scored 148 - the innings of his life. On the Tuesday afternoon the Australians, with a balance of 150 runs against them, went in for the second time. The wicket had not worn well, and Peate, bowling from the Nursery end, had the batsmen from the first in obvious difficulties. After a little time, however, to everyone's surprise,<br /><br />Lord Harris took him off and gave Ulyett the ball. Never was a captain better justified by results. The broken places on the pitch which had made Peate difficult rendered Ulyett well-nigh irresistible. Bowling his fastest, and repeatedly breaking back several inches, he had one of the strongest of all Australian teams at his mercy. At the drawing of stumps that evening four men were out for 73, and the next morning the Australians were all out for 143, England winning the match by an innings and five runs. Ulyett took seven wickets in 39 overs and a ball, and had only 36 runs hit from him. It was on that eventful Tuesday afternoon that Ulyett caught and bowled Bonnor in a way that no one who was present will ever forget. Bonnor's mission was to knock the fast bowler off, and he did his best. He drove a half-volley with all his force, but the ball - travelling faster than an express train - went into Ulyett's right hand instead of to the boundary. Bonnor wandered disconsolately back to the Pavilion, and the England players gathered round Ulyett, curious, perhaps, to know what manner of man he was, and anxious to congratulate him on his escape from imminent danger. One can remember, even now, the look of wonder on the faces of A. G. Steel and Alfred Lyttelton. Ulyett himself was very modest about the matter. Complimented on the catch, when the day's play was over, he said simply that if the ball had hit his fingers instead of going into his hand he should have played no more cricket that season.<br /><br />The other England match was in 1890. England had much the stronger side, and won in the end by seven wickets, but on the first day there was a period of great anxiety. The ground had suffered a good deal from rain, and after the Australians had been put out for 132, England lost W. G. Grace, Shrewsbury, W. W. Read and Gunn - the four best bats on the side - for 20 runs. Turner and Ferris were bowling their best, and the outlook was, to say the least, cheerless. However, Maurice Read and Ulyett saved the side from collapse. They put on 72 runs in an hour and a half, and next morning Ulyett carried his own score to 74. That was the highest innings he ever played for England against Australia in this country, and, curiously enough, he never appeared for England again. The Yorkshire authorities would not let him off for The Oval match in 1890, and when the Australians paid us their next visit, in 1893, his star had waned.Of Ulyett's doings for Yorkshire and in the Gentlemen and in the Gentlemen and Players matches a column could easily be written. He was at his very best for this county in the season of 1887, when he and Louis Hall did great things. The one brilliancy itself, the other a miracle of patience, they were an ideal pair to start an innings. It is a moot point whether bowlers were the more disturbed by Ulyett's hitting or by Hall's unwearying defence. Some preferred to bowl at Ulyett because he hit at so many balls that there was always a chance of getting him out. Alfred Shaw for one never despaired of seeing him caught if the ground was large enough to allow of the outfields being placed very deep. To say that Ulyett was the greatest batsman Yorkshire ever possessed would scarcely be exceeding the truth, but Lockwood in the past and F. S. Jackson in the present must in fairness be classed with him.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877<br /><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at Lord's, Jul 21-23, 1890<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1873-1893Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-74270957977384362162023-03-27T21:28:00.004+05:002023-03-27T21:28:38.094+05:00James Southerton (1827-1880) Test Cap # 10<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBYy9OX6f-hPt3dfVKQJbGgA1-ahMWC9SUZFmkt0X9XyLQ1Ad4AcrDCSpXuZBajRe-d3AF7UXXtFNNWhRSY8u9tbwmThyphenhyphenHyCDlCv7XyPJh83g0dz8NScG__tZwKZqFZ8k3NV861XivrEM/s1600/James+Southerton+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpBYy9OX6f-hPt3dfVKQJbGgA1-ahMWC9SUZFmkt0X9XyLQ1Ad4AcrDCSpXuZBajRe-d3AF7UXXtFNNWhRSY8u9tbwmThyphenhyphenHyCDlCv7XyPJh83g0dz8NScG__tZwKZqFZ8k3NV861XivrEM/s200/James+Southerton+new.jpg" width="150" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> James Southerton<br /><b>Born</b> November 16, 1827, Petworth, Sussex<br /><b>Died</b> June 16, 1880, Mitcham, Surrey (aged 52 years 213 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Relation Son</b> - SJ Southerton<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />James Southerton played first-class cricket between 1854 and 1879.In 1876-77 he toured Australia as part of James Lillywhite's side. This led to him playing in the two first-ever Test matches. Southerton was 49 years 119 days old when he made his Test debut, making him the oldest ever Test debutant, a record unlikely to ever be beaten. In 1880, he also became the first Test cricketer to die. However, as the games were not designated as official Test matches till much later, Southerton never knew about any of his records.<br /><a name='more'></a>Southerton played much of his first-class cricket for Surrey County Cricket Club, though he did also turn out for other county teams. In 1867 he managed to turn out for three of them, Surrey, Sussex and Hampshire.In 1861, Southerton was engaged at Southampton and resided at the Antelope Ground. He remained there until 1867.At 49 years 119 days, James Southerton is the oldest player to make a Test debut, a record unlikely to be eclipsed - he was also the first Test cricketer to die. The bulk of his first-class career came before his appearances in the first two Tests (in 1876-77).Initially a batsmen, he turned his hand to slow round-arm bowling (then a rarity) and as time went on metamorphosed into a more conventional slow left-armer. He was a capable batsman and a sound slip fielder. In 1867 he represented three counties (Hampshire, Surrey, Sussex) in an era before strict rules on qualification. In his final years he was landlord of the famous "Cricketers" pub on Mitcham Green.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19,1877<br /><b>Last Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 31-Apr 4,1877<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1854-1879Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-23646916273998559262023-03-27T21:27:00.003+05:002023-03-27T21:27:55.797+05:00Alfred Shaw (1842-1907) Test Cap No:Test Cap # 9<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQLtpDiawIJu08aze1QQIzaldBJi50awsvpEwWzLR71_PU_D_ITwyeR_C-TUA7gR5XSPJ-KN6kwUC5fXKltuN6dz1PSKfWTDk6FklBxZU71vBZ-EbuRsjOh2Yi8iqrjBwj2xQrU5ofAw/s1600/037009.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQLtpDiawIJu08aze1QQIzaldBJi50awsvpEwWzLR71_PU_D_ITwyeR_C-TUA7gR5XSPJ-KN6kwUC5fXKltuN6dz1PSKfWTDk6FklBxZU71vBZ-EbuRsjOh2Yi8iqrjBwj2xQrU5ofAw/s1600/037009.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.7273px; text-align: left;">© englandcricketplayers.blogspot.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> Alfred Shaw<br /><b>Born</b> August 29, 1842, Burton Joyce, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Died</b> January 16, 1907, Gedling, Nottinghamshire (aged 64 years 140 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Nottinghamshire, Sussex<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm slow<br /><b>Other</b> Umpire<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hR7t942jiyXC9jDcxOqmIevSRYKjJaLspmUegbxb6Dq0LtEYQMxs8VzYzCB8jcXb-H_9PeytD9rG8KhjREgsxgvxFVe53FHFZr3lYtYYZhS-4_KZpuU13ehUX_mDVkGfq4M4EioftIk0/s1600/Alfred+Shaw+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-hR7t942jiyXC9jDcxOqmIevSRYKjJaLspmUegbxb6Dq0LtEYQMxs8VzYzCB8jcXb-H_9PeytD9rG8KhjREgsxgvxFVe53FHFZr3lYtYYZhS-4_KZpuU13ehUX_mDVkGfq4M4EioftIk0/s200/Alfred+Shaw+new.jpg" width="171" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© The Cricketer International</span></td></tr></tbody></table>Alred Shaw, after a long illness, died at his home, Gedling, near Nottingham, on January 16th. In him there passed away one of the greatest figures in modern cricket. His connection with the game lasted more than forty years, only ending in 1905, when, despite shattered health, he managed somehow to get through his duties as one of the umpires in county matches. It was felt, however, that he no longer possessed the strength for the work, and when the county captains met at Lord's to select the umpires for the following season, his name was omitted from the list. Born at Burton Joyce on August 29th, 1842, Alfred Shaw played his first match at Lord's in 1864 for the Colts of England against the M. C. C. and Ground.<br /><br />The Colts were beaten by ten runs, but Shaw did great things, taking thirteen wickets and dividing the honours of the game with the late William Oscroft, who,also appearing at Lord's for the first time, scored 51 and 76. Both men were at once given places in the Notts eleven, and in the following year Alfred Shaw had the distinction of being picked for Players against Gentlemen, both at Lord's and the Oval. In this early part of his career Shaw's bowling was faster than in later years, and he was essentially an all-round man. Indeed, so good was his batting that in the Gentlemen and Players' match at the Oval in 1866 he made a score of 70. His great days began about 1870 or 1871. With a decrease of speed he got far more spin and break on the ball, and from 1872 to 1880 he was, beyond all question, the best slow bowler in England. After his first trip to Australia he was laid aside in the season of 1877 by a severe attack of bronchitis, but otherwise his success was uninterrupted. After being on the M. C. C.'s ground staff from 1865 to 1867, inclusive, he had a year with the All Egland Eleven, but in 1870, he returned to Lord's, and for the M. C. C. and Notts most of his best work was done. His position as the leading bowler of his day once established he paid less regard to batting, contending that no bowler who wished to remain for any length of time at his best ought to get many runs. For his self-denial in this respect he was well rewarded, his form with the ball being uniformly good till he was close upon forty years of age<br /><a name='more'></a>Of all his feats, perhaps the most remarkable was accomplished in a match at Lord's in 1875, between Notts and the M. C. C. In the M. C. C.'s second innings he sent down forty-one overs and two balls for seven runs and seven wickets, bowling out, among other batsmen, W. G. Grace, A. W. Ridley, C. F. Buller, and Lord Harris. On May 27th, 1878, he played for the M. C. C. at Lord's in the sensational match against the first Australian Eleven, and it was no fault of his that the Club suffered a nine wickets' defeat, he and the late Fred Morley getting the Australians out for a total of 41. A little over two years later Shaw appeared for Englandagainst Australia at the Oval in the first Test match ever played in this country. After 1880 his bowling began to show some falling-off, and in the great match at the Oval in 1882 England's slow bowler was Peate. In the meantime the only regrettable incident of Shaw's career had occurred, he being one of the prime movers in the strike of the Notts professionals in 1881. The quarrel was made up before the end of the season, but it left some feeling of soreness behind. Shaw continued to play for Notts for some years longer, dropping out of the eleven in 1887. Though he was at that time a man of 45, it was probably a mistaken policy on the part of the Notts committee to dispense with his services. He had great influence over the other Notts professionals, and for that reason, together with his long experience and fine knowledge of the game, was most valuable as captain. When a few years later the fortunes of Nottshad declined, a member of the team was heard to say, very sorrowfully, We never went down the hill while we had Shaw with us. That the veteran had a good deal of cricket left in him was proved when he afterwards played, under the residential qualification, for Sussex. Time had robbed him of much of his spin, but his bowling was still wonderfully steady. However, he soon found the strain of county cricket too much for him at his age, and without any formal farewell, he retired from the active pursuit of the game, and in due course took up umpiring.<br /><br />As a bowler Alfred Shaw placed his chief reliance on accuracy of pitch. In this respect he has never been surpassed. When in his prime he could keep up his end for hours, without ever becoming short or getting in any way loose. In being able to get through so much work he was greatly helped by his delivery, which, from the beginning of his career to its close, was beautifully easy and natural. When the ground helped him, he broke back a good deal, but he never set much store on a big break, always arguing that the most dangerous ball was the one that did just enough to beat the bat. Unlike most of the present-day bowlers, he regarded the off theory as more or less a waste of time, preferring to keep on the wicket and trust to variations of pace and elevation to deceive the batsmen. It may be interesting here to quote W. G. Grace's opinion of him. In his book on cricket Mr. Grace says: The great power of his bowling lay in its good length and unvaried precision. He could break both ways, but got more work on the ball from the off; and he was one of the few bowlers who could very quickly cause a batsman to make a mistake if he was too eager to hit. An impatient batsman might make two spanking hits in succession off him, but he would not make a third. Shaw was sure to take his measure and get him in a difficulty. On a good wicket, when batting against him, I did not find it difficult to play the ball; but I had to watch him carefully, and wait patiently before I could score.<br /><br />In Shaw's great days scores were by no means so big as they are now, and as compared with the doings of even the best of his successors his figures seem very wonderful. To give only one example, he took in 1880 177 wickets in first-class matches for less than nine runs apiece. It must be said, however, that at that time batsmen had not acquired anything like their present ability to get runs on wickets spoilt by rain. The arts of pulling and hooking have made a great advance during the last quarter of a century. Still, Shaw contended that even modern batsmen would not have dared to pull so much if the bowling had been as steady in length as it was in his time. In conjunction with James Lillywhite, and the late Arthur Shrewsbury, Shaw, beginning in the winter of 1881-82, took four teams to Australia. The first three trips answered very well, but the fourth venture-in 1887-88-resulted in financial disaster, another English eleven, with the late Mr. G. F. Vernon as captain, touring Australia at the same time. The Melbourne Club were responsible for the visit of Mr. Vernon's side, and they, like Shaw and Shrewsbury, suffered heavily in pocket. Shaw went to Australia for the last time as manager of Lord Sheffield's eleven in 1891-92, and discharged a difficult task with unfailing tact and judgment. It was through Lord Sheffield that he first became associated with Sussex cricket, being engaged while still a member of the Notts eleven to coach the young Sussex players.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877<br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Last Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 10-14, 1882</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>First-class span</b> 1864-1897</div>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-78613019498213902932023-03-27T21:24:00.007+05:002023-03-27T21:24:48.535+05:00John Selby (1849-1894) Test Cap # 8<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2FYrni0rCGiSndVRtrMIQXXxuxissyn5wr_AmM23gs4vza6-2KQgtj5uxwuPF78JrarCLILmOt7I_njFxW8vWkPZegvA-ovazJyDeTIglar4qLiK_S2tSYv5i3YEi9AphkPqulElpL9l/s1600/jhon+selby+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX2FYrni0rCGiSndVRtrMIQXXxuxissyn5wr_AmM23gs4vza6-2KQgtj5uxwuPF78JrarCLILmOt7I_njFxW8vWkPZegvA-ovazJyDeTIglar4qLiK_S2tSYv5i3YEi9AphkPqulElpL9l/s320/jhon+selby+new.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; text-align: left;">© live.cricketfunda.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> John Selby<br /><b>Born</b> July 1, 1849, Nottingham<br /><b>Died</b> March 11, 1894, Standard Hill, Nottingham (aged 44 years 253 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Nottinghamshire<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Right-arm medium<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br />A middle-order batsman, John Selby played professionally for Nottinghamshire between 1870 and 1887 and in 1878 he heading the averages with 938 runs at average of 31.82. Selby toured Australia in 1876-77 and 1881-82, playing a total of six Test matches on those tours, including the first of all at Melbourne in March 1877, and he also toured North America in 1879. Like many contemporaries, he became a pub landlord on retirement, but his financial dealings were unsuccessful. He died after suffering a paralytic stroke.<br /><a name='more'></a>He was playing cricket for the Nottingham Exchange club in 1866 and with Trinity United in 1867. He went out as professional with Dewsbury in 1868, and was at Oxford University and Sale in 1869. In 1870 he was at Perth with Lord Kinnaird, in 1871 at Oxford University and in 1872-73 at Cambridge University. In 1874 he was engaged at Cardiff Castle with Lord Bute, 1875 at Leek, in Staffordshire and 1879-87 at Oxford University. He was an all-round athlete and was a professional sprinter under the pseudonym of “Bendigo’s Novice.” His debut for Nottinghamshire in 1870 was the first of 222 first-class matches in which he played, 164 of them for Nottinghamshire and six of them being Test Matches.<br /><br />He toured Australia in 1876/7 and 1881/2 and North America in 1879. His last first-class match was in 1887 and at one time he was landlord of the Earl of Lincoln Arms, Woodborough Road, Nottingham. His financial dealings were however unsuccessful and led to a disagreement with the law. He suffered a paralytic stroke and died at Nottingham General Hospital.At the time of the 1881 Census he was living at 39 Mayfield Grove, Nottingham, aged 31, a professional cricketer, with his wife Annie M., aged 26, born Burton Joyce, and John F. Thorman, a 3 year old nephew. There was one domestic servant.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877<br /><b>Last Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 10-14, 1882<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1870-1887Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-5858410761515459072023-03-27T21:24:00.002+05:002023-03-27T21:24:12.080+05:00James Lillywhite junior (1842-1929) Test Cap # 7<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICB4C5tWIiRsYwW_UKFq8KmxRk9JcLGEPgSlZswWqEfwH1Mk1o87u2fapIJ3uQt1pM8N-3g223_LX0o4eSjQFB4ooq5t2pptrNRDBpzg1eyMGUN9WvCjZGYGCn99iSqk1kS-URzAAI1l-/s1600/James+Lillywhite+junior+new.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgICB4C5tWIiRsYwW_UKFq8KmxRk9JcLGEPgSlZswWqEfwH1Mk1o87u2fapIJ3uQt1pM8N-3g223_LX0o4eSjQFB4ooq5t2pptrNRDBpzg1eyMGUN9WvCjZGYGCn99iSqk1kS-URzAAI1l-/s1600/James+Lillywhite+junior+new.jpg" width="177" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px; text-align: left;">© historyorb.com</td></tr></tbody></table><b>Full name</b> James Lillywhite junior<br /><b>Born</b> February 23, 1842, Westhampnett, Sussex<br /><b>Died</b> October 25, 1929, Westerton, Chichester, Sussex (aged 87 years 244 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Sussex<br /><b>Batting style</b> Left-hand bat<br /><b>Bowling style</b> Slow left-arm orthodox<br /><b>Other</b> Umpire<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcT_J65oJobN0A6IQx6E-Y0FwtVzUh9kL7hzd4dioBGGSMDzSSNXYm6GiEtjGlVgrbqo0b3Sye11BtT-llpZefFK2_Ff5n22OUj2ITta7K5e2pj9anpRh1yor5lRPaDcwo88qAGnRA-I7/s1600/James+Lillywhite+junior+1+new.jpg" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcT_J65oJobN0A6IQx6E-Y0FwtVzUh9kL7hzd4dioBGGSMDzSSNXYm6GiEtjGlVgrbqo0b3Sye11BtT-llpZefFK2_Ff5n22OUj2ITta7K5e2pj9anpRh1yor5lRPaDcwo88qAGnRA-I7/s400/James+Lillywhite+junior+1+new.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.3333px;">© guardian.co.uk</td></tr></tbody></table>Jim Lillywhite was a slow left-armer with a high and accurate delivery, a hard-hitting lower-order batsman and a sound fielder. He came from a notable cricketing family - five close relations had played for Sussex - and between 1862 and 1881 he appeared in all of Sussex's matches. He toured Australia six times, captaining England in the inaugural Test of 1876-77 (he was the last survivor of that match and outlived the rest of his team by seven years). He also toured America in 1868 and for some years was secretary of the United South of England XI as well as being a more than capable umpire.Jim Lillywhite Junior, born at West Hampnett, Sussex, on February 23, 1842, died at Westerton, Chichester, on October 25,aged 87. He was the last survivor of the team which, under his captaincy, went to Australia in the winter of 1876-77, and played what is now known as the first Test Match against Australia. There had been previous combinations to tour that country, but not until March, 1877, did the Australians regard themselves as strong enough to engage an English eleven on level terms. That their faith in themselves was justified is proved by the fact that they won by 45 runs, but in the return match played just afterwards England, who on the previous occasion had been compelled to take the field without a regular wicket-keeper, were successful by four wickets. Of the twenty-two men who took part in that historic game there are now only three left, and they are all in Australia--Charles Bannerman, J. McCarthy Blackham, and Tom Garrett.<br /><a name='more'></a>James Lillywhite came of a great cricketing family, of whom the best known was his uncle, William, the " Nonpareil." He bowled, as he batted, left-handed, was rather slow with a high delivery, and like others of the same period was exceptionally accurate in his pitch. His first appearance at Lord's was in June, 1862, in a match between Sussex and the M.C.C. when he took fourteen wickets for 57 runs--nine in the second innings for 29 runs. A curious feature of the contest was that there was no change of bowling in any one of the four innings, Lillywhite and Stubberfield bowling unchanged for Sussex and Jimmy Grundy and George Wootton for Marylebone.For Sussex he bowled unchanged through a match twelve times --once with Stubberfield, on five occasions with Southerton, and six times with Fillery. Three of the instances with the last-named were in consecutive matches in 1873--v. Surrey at the Oval, v. Kent at Lord's, and v. Gloucestershire at Brighton. In two other big games he and Southerton were on unchanged throughout--for Players of South v. 14 Gentlemen of South at Southampton in 1865 and for South v. North at Liverpool in 1872. Playing against odds in Australia, during the tour of 1873-4, he took eighteen for72 v.15 of New South Wales and Victoria at Sydney and twelve for 61 v. 18 of Victoria at Melbourne. Three seasons later he obtained nine for 23 v. 22 of South Australia at Adelaide. In 1872 he took ninety-four wickets for 13 runs each ; in 1873, 101 at the same cost ; and in 1876, ninety-one wickets for 14 runs each. He was, in his early days, a smart field, either at slip or mid-on, and, like most left-handers, a vigorous batsman. Twice he reached three-figures for Sussex, making 105 against Hampshire at Brighton in 1864, and 126 not out against Middlesex on the Old Cattle Market Ground at Islington. His first match for Sussex was played in 1862, and his last against Yorkshire, in 1883, and for the county he took 917 wickets for 14.75 runs apiece. For twenty seasons, 1862 to 1881 inclusive, he appeared in every game played by the side.<br /><br />He visited the United States and Canada in 1868 as a member of Willsher's team and paid six visits to Australia, first as a member of the side W. G. Grace took out in 1873-74, next as captain of the team in 1876-77, and four times afterwards when he joined in undertakings with Alfred Shaw and Arthur Shrewsbury, but devoted himself mainly to the business side of those enterprises, not all of which proved successful pecuniary speculations. For a time he was Secretary of the United South of England Eleven, and, after his playing days, he proved an efficient umpire. His first benefit match, at Brighton in 1881, produced a memorable struggle, the Players making 204 and 112 and the Gentlemen 204 and 111. (He himself had taken part in several games between such sides, and in them had obtained thirty-five wickets for 20 runs each). His second benefit was North v. South at Chichester in 1889. He arranged the fixture lists of the first two Australian teams which visited England --those of 1878 and 1880.<br /><br /><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Dec 31, 1881 - Jan 4, 1882</div><div style="margin: 0px;"><b>Last Test </b>England v Australia at Manchester, Jul 17-19, 1899<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1862 - 1885</div>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8546473960842777955.post-24833401019726348582023-03-27T21:23:00.004+05:002023-03-27T21:23:34.948+05:00Henry Jupp (1841-1889) Test Cap # 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrLLAetILjgWFOEcLEt7d22eq0xMmQFvnEuAIXSeoEofRf6I3P35KG2n3rezHR6uXKxLeqdMifAGH4nW8CwTVXt1opqsQVKF-EkwEI0Seallb_p01rwOaVNRlBD01icUQsrsqPzIo2Qw/s1600/henry-jupp.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlrLLAetILjgWFOEcLEt7d22eq0xMmQFvnEuAIXSeoEofRf6I3P35KG2n3rezHR6uXKxLeqdMifAGH4nW8CwTVXt1opqsQVKF-EkwEI0Seallb_p01rwOaVNRlBD01icUQsrsqPzIo2Qw/s200/henry-jupp.jpg" width="171" /></a><span style="text-align: left;"> </span></div><p><b>Full name</b> Henry Jupp<br /><b>Born</b> November 19, 1841, Dorking, Surrey<br /><b>Died</b> April 8, 1889, Bermondsey, London (aged 47 years 140 days)<br /><b>Major teams</b> England, Surrey<br /><b>Batting style</b> Right-hand bat<br /><b>Fielding position</b> Wicketkeeper<br /><br /><b>Profile</b><br /></p><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ-dumaHvWrukYeWsZHrdMe0bPkHInTvdQISOuxbU5qKk2oIaMaObSAknGoiOWX03VNWJ0OpfGLQ483Ghl8P-ER6PoU9UZLukhorC-pqXBx39Vnd3Rl9GqKdfWdTgGdEgZYXYPRmGPZrn/s1600/harry+jupp+net.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJQ-dumaHvWrukYeWsZHrdMe0bPkHInTvdQISOuxbU5qKk2oIaMaObSAknGoiOWX03VNWJ0OpfGLQ483Ghl8P-ER6PoU9UZLukhorC-pqXBx39Vnd3Rl9GqKdfWdTgGdEgZYXYPRmGPZrn/s200/harry+jupp+net.jpg" width="157" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">© ESPNcricinfo Ltd</span></div></td></tr></tbody></table><p>Harry Jupp was a broad-shouldered opening batsman for Surrey whose strong defensive technique earned him the sobriquet of 'Young Stonewaller.' He opened the batting in the first two Tests, in 1876-77, and top-scored for England with 63 in the first innings at Melbourne. A reliable fielder in the outfield or a cover point, he turned out for Surrey for 19 years before retiring at the end of 1881.<br /></p><a name='more'></a><p>He once replaced the bails after being bowled from the first ball of a local match, and the umpire asked why he wasn't leaving. 'Not at Dorking I ain't,' he said.Originally a bricklayer, he first went out as a cricket professional when he was at Wellesley House, Twickenham, in 1862-63. In 1862 he made his first appearance for Surrey, the first of 378 first-class appearances, 252 of them for Surrey and two Test Matches against Australia. He toured North America in 1868 and Australia twice in 1873/4 and 1876/7. In 1866 he appeared for Buckinghamshire. In 1875 he became landlord of the Horns Tavern, Lower Norwood, and in December 1880 he moved to the Sun Hotel, at Weston, near Southampton. In 1875 his first wife died, but he subsequently remarried. In 1884 he was living at Dorking, by 1887 he was at 44 Hanover Street, Pimlico, London and died at the address of Mrs.Thompson, his sister at 7 Catlin Street, Rotherhithe New Road, London.For the 1881 Census he was at the Sun Hotel, Hampshire, aged 39, hotel keeper and professional cricketer, with his wife Rose E., aged 35, born West Dean, Wiltshire. The only other occupant was Elizabeth A. Leese aged 13, a niece.<br /><br /><b>Test debut</b> Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 15-19, 1877<br /><b>Last Test </b>Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 31-Apr 4, 1877<br /><b>First-class span</b> 1862-1881</p>Abu Ul Hassanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14162570494195275641noreply@blogger.com0