Citizendia
Your Ad Here

W. G. Grace

W. G. Grace taking guard, 1883
England
Personal information
Full name William Gilbert Grace
Nickname The Doctor, WG, The Champion, The Old Man, The Big 'Un, The Leviathan
Born 18 July 1848 (1848-07-18)
Downend, South Gloucestershire, England
Died 23 October 1915 (aged 67)
Mottingham, Kent, England
Role All-rounder
Batting style Right-handed
Bowling style Right-arm roundarm medium
International information
Test debut (cap 24) 6 September 1880: v Australia
Last Test 1 June 1899: v Australia
Domestic team information
Years Team
1900-1904 London County
1869-1904 MCC
1870-1899 Gloucestershire
1877 Kent
Career statistics
Tests FC
Matches 22 880
Runs scored 1,098 54,896
Batting average 32. The England cricket team is the national cricket team which represents England and Wales. Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Downend - a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, England is located to the North East of Bristol and bordered by the Bristol City suburb of England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Mottingham is a place in London, England; located at the convergence of the London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Lewisham and the KENT (1400 AM) is a Radio station broadcasting a Adult Standards/MOR format England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland In Cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the early years of the 19th century to supersede Underarm bowling. Medium pace bowling is a style of bowling in the Sport of Cricket. This is a list of English Test cricketers. A Test match is an international Cricket match between two of the leading cricketing nations Events 3114 BC - According to the Proleptic Julian calendar the current era in the Maya Long Count Calendar started Year 1880 ( MDCCCLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Leap year The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. Events 193 - Roman Emperor Didius Julianus is Assassinated 987 - Hugh Capet is elected Year 1899 ( MDCCCXCIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. For the 18th century London club see: London Cricket Club London County Cricket Club was a short-lived cricket club founded by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC is a private members' club founded in 1787 Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations First-class cricket refers to the class of Cricket matches of three or more days scheduled duration between two sides of eleven players and officially adjudged first-class by Batting average is a Statistic in both Cricket and Baseball measuring the performance of cricket batsmen and baseball hitters, respectively 29 39. 55
100s/50s 2/5 126/254
Top score 170 344
Balls bowled 666 124,831
Wickets 9 2,876
Bowling average 26. A delivery or ball in Cricket is a single action of Bowling a Cricket ball towards the Batsman. In the sport of Cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings Meanings of wicket Set of stumps Primarily the wicket Bowling average is a Statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the Sport of Cricket. 22 17. 92
5 wickets in innings 0 240
10 wickets in match 0 64
Best bowling 2/12 10/49
Catches/stumpings 39/- 876/5

As of 23 October 1915
Source: Wisden Cricketer's Almanack

William Gilbert Grace (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English cricketer who, by his extraordinary skills, made cricket a popular spectator sport, and who developed most of the techniques of modern batting. An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of Sports &ndash most notably Cricket and Baseball during For other uses see Stump (disambiguation Stump is a term used in the Sport of Cricket where has three different meanings Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year Wisden Cricketers' Almanack (often referred to simply as Wisden or colloquially as "the Bible of Cricket" is by far the best Events 390 BC - Roman - Gaulish Wars Battle of the Allia - a Roman army is defeated by raiding Gauls, Year 1848 ( MDCCCXLVIII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries Cricket is a bat-and-ball team Sport that originated in England and is now played in more than 100 countries

He was often referred to in print by his initials, and "W. G. " became something of a sobriquet for him. A sobriquet is a Nickname or a fancy name usually a familiar name given by others as distinct from a Pseudonym assumed as a disguise but a nickname which is familiar To his family, he was generally known as Gilly[1] – but Gilby, Willy and William[2] are also said to have been used. (His mother is described as admonishing him, after he had been dismissed playing a poor shot: "How many times, Gilbert, have I told you how to play that ball?") He was also known in his later career as "The Doctor", "The Old Man" (although this came about when he was still in his early thirties) and, most auspiciously, "The Champion"[3].

In many of the tributes paid to him, he was referred to as "The Great Cricketer". Perhaps the most significant tribute to him comes from the anti-establishment writer CLR James who includes a whole section, covering four chapters and some sixty pages, about Grace in his classic work Beyond a Boundary. Cyril Lionel Robert James ( 4 January 1901 &ndash 19 May 1989) was an Afro- Trinidadian Journalist James entitles this section "WG: Pre-Eminent Victorian" and declares Grace to have been "the best-known Englishman of his time". James goes on to say of cricket that it is "the game he (Grace) transformed into a national institution".

In a career spanning 44 years, Grace's batting average was 39. 45 at first class level, an average undoubtedly dragged down by playing into his late fifties. At his peak in the 1870s his first-class season batting averages were regularly between 60 and 70, at a time where uncovered, poorly-prepared pitches meant that scores were far lower than the modern game. His career bowling record of 2809 wickets at the outstanding average of 18. 14 speaks for itself.

Grace played Test cricket against Australia from 1880 onwards, but he was already past his peak at that stage. Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations

He was a doctor by profession and played cricket as a (nominal) amateur throughout his career.

Grace's portrait was used as the face of God in the 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, voiced by Graham Chapman. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python ( Graham Chapman, John Cleese Graham Arthur Chapman (8 January 1941 &ndash 4 October 1989 was an English Comedian, Actor, Writer, Physician and one of the

Contents

Family

In 1848, Grace was born in Downend, Bristol. Downend - a suburb of Bristol in South Gloucestershire, England is located to the North East of Bristol and bordered by the Bristol City suburb of Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London He found himself in an atmosphere charged with cricket, his father (Henry Mills Grace), his mother (Martha) and his uncle (Alfred Pocock) being as enthusiastic about the game as his elder brothers, Henry, Alfred and Edward Mills; indeed, with Edward Mills Grace, always known as "EM", the family name first became famous. Edward Mills ("EM" Grace (born 28 November 1841 in Bristol, England; died in Gloucestershire, England) was A younger brother, George Frederick (i.e., Fred), also added to the cricketing reputation of the family. George Frederick ("Fred" Grace (13 December 1850 in Bristol – 22 September 1880 in Basingstoke, Hampshire) was the youngest of the three WG witnessed his first great match when he was barely six years old, the occasion being a game between William Clarke's All-England Eleven and twenty-two of West Gloucestershire. William Clarke (born 24 December 1798 in Nottingham; died 25 August 1856 in Wandsworth, Surrey) was a famous English Cricketer

His mother, Martha, wrote the following in a letter to George Parr in 1859: "I am writing to ask you to consider the inclusion of my son, E. George Parr (22 May 1826 Radcliffe on Trent, Nottinghamshire – 23 June 1891 was an English Cricketer whose first-class career lasted from M. Grace—a splendid hitter and most excellent catch—in your England XI. I am sure he would play very well and do the team much credit. It may interest you to learn that I have a younger son, now twelve years of age, who will in time be a much better player than his brother because his back stroke is sounder, and he always plays with a straight bat. His name is W. G. Grace. "

Grace was married in 1873 to Miss Agnes Day. One of his sons (WG junior) played for two years in the University of Cambridge XI (and also for Gloucestershire, London County, and the MCC). Cambridge University Cricket Club is a First-class cricket team Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic For the 18th century London club see: London Cricket Club London County Cricket Club was a short-lived cricket club founded by Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC is a private members' club founded in 1787 He did not live up to his illustrious namesake, averaging 15 with the bat and nearly 40 with the ball. Another son, CB Grace, played a few matches for London County.

His great-great-great-grandsons Rupert and George are both budding cricketers themselves and are in the squad of the England U14 and U16 respectively.

Athletic abilities

As a young man, Grace was very different from the rather corpulent figure of his later days. He was muscular, powerful and was 6ft 2in (1. 88m).

He was a non-smoker, and kept himself in condition all year round by shooting, hunting, or running with the beagles as soon as the cricket season was over. Shooting is the act or process of firing Rifles Shotguns or other projectile Weapons such as bows or Crossbows Even the firing of Hunting is the practice of pursuing Animals for Food, Recreation, or Trade.

He was also a fine runner, 440yds (400m) over 20 hurdles being his best distance. Hurdling is a type of track and field race There are Sprint hurdle races and long hurdle Races. It has been quoted as an indication of his fitness that on 30 July 1866 he scored 224 not out for England v Surrey, and two days later had sufficiently recovered to win a race in the National and Olympian Association meeting at the Crystal Palace. Events 1419 - First Defenestration of Prague. 1502 - Christopher Columbus lands at Guanaja in the Bay Islands off Year 1866 ( MDCCCLXVI) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The England cricket team is the national cricket team which represents England and Wales. Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county of The Crystal Palace was a cast-iron and Glass building originally erected in Hyde Park, London, England, to house the

Grace became an enthusiast of lawn bowls when he moved to London as manager of the London County Club in 1900. Bowls (also known as Lawn Bowls or Lawn Bowling) is a precision Sport in which the goal is to roll slightly radially asymmetrical Balls He was a prime mover in the founding of the English Bowling Association in 1903 and was elected their first president. Bowls England governs the game of flat green outdoor Bowls for men and women in England. He also helped found an international competition with Scotland, Ireland and Wales, captaining England from their inaugural international, at Crystal Palace in 1903, until 1908.

First-class career

W. G. Grace, 1877 illustration by Leslie Ward
W. G. Grace, 1877 illustration by Leslie Ward

The title of champion was well earned by one who for forty-four years (1865–1908 inclusive) was actively engaged in first-class cricket. Sir Leslie Matthew Ward ( 21 November 1851 &ndash 15 May 1922) was a British Portrait Artist and Caricaturist He represented the Gentlemen in their matches against the Players from 1865 to 1906, though his final appearance in those matches played at Lord's was in 1899. The Gentlemen v Players game was a First-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between teams consisting of amateurs (the Gentlemen and of Lord's Cricket Ground (generally known as Lord's) is a cricket When an Australian eleven visited England, he was an automatic selection to play for the mother country up to and including the first of the five contests in 1899. The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. When he was finally omitted, it was primarily because his age and bulk had made him a liability in the field.

1899 could be said to mark the beginning of the end of his career, although he would continue in first-class cricket for another nine years. Not only did he play his last Test, and for the last time in a Lord's Gentleman v Players match, but he also played his last County Championship match for Gloucestershire. The County Championship is the domestic first class Cricket competition in England and Wales. Gloucestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic This was the result of his falling out with the Gloucestershire committee over his involvement with London County. For the 18th century London club see: London Cricket Club London County Cricket Club was a short-lived cricket club founded by

As late as 1902, though aged fifty-four by the end of the seaon, he scored nearly 1,200 runs in first-class cricket, made 100 or more runs on two different occasions, and had an average of 37 runs. Moreover, his greatest triumphs were achieved when only the very best cricket grounds received serious attention — when, as some consider, bowling was maintained at a higher standard, and when all hits had to be run out. Darren_Gough_bowlingjpg|thumb|250px|right| Darren Gough bowling]] In the Sport of Cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball toward He, with his two brothers, EM and Fred, assisted by some fine amateurs, in one season turned Gloucestershire into a first-class county. Gloucestershire was "Champion County" in 1874, 1876 and 1877; they also shared the title in 1873.

It was Grace who enabled the amateurs of England to meet the paid players on equal terms in the Gentlemen v Players fixture and to beat them more often than not. The list of Gentlemen v Players matches makes for revealing reading. This is a list of all First-class cricket matches played between the Gentlemen and Players between 1806 and 1962 In the 24 matches played between 1850 and 1864 inclusive, the Players won 22, the Gentlemen just one, with one being drawn. In the 36 matches played after Grace began playing for the Gentlemen, between 1865 and 1879, the Players won just four, with eight matches being drawn and the Gentlemen winning the remaining 24.

Fielding and bowling

There was hardly a record connected with the game which did not stand to Grace's credit. He was one of the finest fieldsmen in England, in his earlier days generally taking long-leg and cover-point, later generally standing point (see Fielding positions in cricket). Fielding in the Sport of Cricket is what fielders do to collect the ball when it is struck by the Batsman, in such a way as to either He was, at his best, a fine thrower, fast runner, and safe catcher. As a bowler he was long in the first flight, originally bowling fast, but in later times adopting a slower and more tricky style, frequently very effective. Muralijpg|thumb|250px|right|The world's leading off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan sends down a delivery]] A bowler in the Sport of Cricket is usually He was unusual in persisting with a round-arm action throughout his career, when almost all other bowlers had long since switched to overarm. In Cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the early years of the 19th century to supersede Underarm bowling.

In 1884, Grace unusually took up position as wicket-keeper in a Test against Australia, so that the usual wicket-keeper, Alfred Lyttelton could bowl. Cricket wicket keeperjpg|thumb|300px|A wicket-keeper in characteristic position ready to face a delivery Alfred Lyttelton (7 February 1857 in London – 5 July 1913 in London was a British politician and sportsman who excelled at both football and Cricket. Billy Midwinter was immediately caught behind, down the legside. William ("Billy" Evans Midwinter ( 19 June 1851 in St Briavels, Gloucestershire, England – 3 December Grace remains the only Test wicket-keeper to have taken a catch off the first ball bowled with him behind the stumps. [1]

Profession

Dr W. G. Grace in 1885
Dr W. G. Grace in 1885

By profession, W. G. Grace was a medical man, although he did not finish qualifying as a doctor until he was thirty-one. He was finally awarded his L. R. C. P. by the University of Edinburgh in 1879, having been admitted to the Bristol Medical School on 27 October 1867 (thus following in the footsteps of his father and three older brothers). The University of Edinburgh (Oilthigh Dhùn Èideann founded in 1582 is a renowned centre for teaching and research in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 1867 ( MDCCCLXVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year starting The apparently eternal nature of his studies was a cause for a fair amount of friendly abuse from his cricketing friends.

After his time at Bristol Medical School, Grace trained first at St Bartholomew's Hospital and then at Westminster Hospital Medical School, both in London. St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England. The Westminster Hospital Medical School was formally founded in 1834 by George Guthrie, an ex-military surgeon - although students had been taken on at Westminster Hospital After qualifying he worked both in his own practice at 51 Stapleton Road in Easton, Bristol. Easton is both the name of a council ward in the city of Bristol in the United Kingdom, and an Inner city area that lies partly within that which was a largely poor district of Bristol, employing two locums during the cricket season, and for the Bristol Poor Law Union. Bristol ( ˈbrɪstəl is a city, Unitary authority and ceremonial county in South West England, west of London Locum, short for the Latin phrase locum tenens (lit " place-holder," akin to Lieutenant) is a person who temporarily fulfills (There is now a leisure centre on the site. ) There are many testimonies from his patients that he was a good doctor. Poor families knew that they did not need to worry about calling him in, as the bills would never arrive.

It seems that, despite his amateur status, the greater part of his income came from cricketing activities. He was the recipient of two national testimonials: the first, amounting to £1,500, was presented to him in the form of a clock and a cheque at the Lord's ground by Lord Charles Russell on 22 July 1879; the second, collected by the MCC, the county of Gloucestershire, the Daily Telegraph, and the Sportsman, amounted to about £10,000 and was presented to him in 1896. The Pound Sterling ( symbol £; ISO code: GBP) subdivided into 100 pence (singular penny) is the Currency Circadian Locomotor Output Cycles Kaput, or Clock is a gene which encodes proteins regulating Circadian rhythm. A cheque (spelled check in American English) is a Negotiable instrument instructing a Financial institution to pay a specific amount of Lord's Cricket Ground (generally known as Lord's) is a cricket Events 1099 - First Crusade: Godfrey of Bouillon is elected the first Defender of the Holy Sepulchre of The Kingdom of Year 1879 ( MDCCCLXXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC is a private members' club founded in 1787 History See also History of Gloucestershire Gloucestershire is a historic county mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle in the 10th century For "The Daily Telegraph" in Australia see The Daily Telegraph (Australia.

In later years, Grace became the (paid) secretary and manager of the London County Cricket Club, based at Crystal Palace in Penge, London, which played first-class cricket from 1900 to 1904. For the 18th century London club see: London Cricket Club London County Cricket Club was a short-lived cricket club founded by Crystal Palace is a residential area in South London, England named from the erstwhile local landmark The Crystal Palace, which occupied the Penge is a place in the London Borough of Bromley. It is a suburban development situated south east of Charing Cross. London ( ˈlʌndən is the capital and largest urban area in the United Kingdom.

He lived for some years in Mottingham, a south-east London suburb (a blue plaque marks his residence, 'Fairmont' in Mottingham Lane, where he died on 23 October 1915). Mottingham is a place in London, England; located at the convergence of the London Borough of Bromley, the London Borough of Lewisham and the In the United Kingdom, a blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person or event Events 4004 BC - Creation of the world begins according to the calculations of Archbishop James Ussher 42 BC - Year 1915 ( MCMXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common year He is buried in Beckenham Crematorium.

Early career

Grace played his first "great" match in 1863 when, being only fifteen years of age, he scored 32 against the All-England Eleven against the bowling of Jackson, Tarrant, and Tinley. The scores that first brought him to prominence, however, were made in 1864: 170 and 56 not out for the South Wales Club against the Gentlemen of Sussex. Sussex is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It was in 1865 that he first took an active part in first-class cricket, being then 6ft (1. 83 m) high, and 11 stone (70 kg) in weight, and playing twice for the Gentlemen v the Players, but his selection was mainly due to his bowling powers, the best exposition of which was his aggregate of 13 wickets for 84 runs for the Gentlemen of the South v the Players of the South. In the Physical sciences weight is a Measurement of the gravitational Force acting on an object In the sport of Cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings Meanings of wicket Set of stumps Primarily the wicket His highest score was 400 not out, made in July 1876 in a non-first-class match against twenty-two of Grimsby. On three occasions he was twice dismissed without scoring in matches against odds, a fate that never befell him in important cricket matches.

Tours

Grace and Australian Billy Murdoch
Grace and Australian Billy Murdoch

Grace visited Australia in 1873–1874 (captain), and in 1891–1892 with Lord Sheffield's Eleven (captain). William (Billy Lloyd Murdoch ( 18 October 1854 – 18 February 1911) was an Australian Cricketer, who captained the Australian He visited the United States and Canada in 1872, with R A Fitzgerald's team.

Records and statistics

NOTE. This article uses the career figures for Grace that have been accepted since the 1916 Wisden. Since 1961, the first-class status of a few matches included in these statistics has been disputed, with the result that alternative career totals for runs, centuries, catches and wickets may appear in some sources. For a fuller explanation of this, please see Variations in First-Class Cricket Statistics. This article seeks to explain the key differences in alternative versions of English First-class cricket statistics

Highest score

In first-class matches Grace's highest score was 344, made for the MCC v Kent at Canterbury in August 1876; two days later he made 177 for Gloucestershire v Notts, and two days after that 318 not out for Gloucestershire v Yorkshire, the latter two innings against counties with exceptionally strong bowling attacks. Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, who represent the historic county of Yorkshire, are one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket Thus in three consecutive innings Grace scored 839 runs, and was only out twice. An inning, or innings, is a fixed-length segment of a game in any of a variety of Sports &ndash most notably Cricket and Baseball during The 344 was the first triple century scored in first class cricket. William Ward's 278 scored in 1820 had stood as a record for 56 years, within a week Grace bettered it twice. William Ward (born 24 July 1787 at Islington, London; died 30 June 1849 at Westminster was a noted English cricketer.

His 344 was the third highest individual score made in a big match in England up to the end of 1901. He also scored 301 for Gloucestershire v Sussex at Bristol in August 1896. Sussex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county of His 318 against Yorkshire stood as a Gloucestershire record for 128 years until it was broken by Craig Spearman's 341 against Middlesex in June 2004. Craig Murray Spearman (born 4 July, 1972 in Auckland) played 19 Tests and 51 One Day Internationals for New Zealand from Middlesex County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county

Double centuries

Grace made over 200 runs on ten occasions, the most notable perhaps being in 1871, when he performed the feat twice, each time in benefit matches, and each time in the second innings, having been each time got out in the first over of the first innings. Against Middlesex, he carried his bat for 221, and sat up the whole night in between beside the bed of a patient.

Centuries

Grace scored over 100 runs on 126 occasions, the hundredth score being 288, made at Bristol for Gloucestershire v Somerset in 1895. Somerset County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English domestic Cricket structure representing the historic county

He made every figure from 0 to 100, on one occasion closing the innings when he had made 93, the only total he had never made between these limits.

In 1871 he made ten centuries, ranging from 268 to 116.

In the matches between the Gentlemen and Players he scored three figures fifteen times, and at every place where these matches have been played.

He made over 100 in each of his first appearances at Oxford and Cambridge.

Three times he made over 100 in both innings of the same match:

Partnerships and other miscellaneous statistics

In 1869, playing at the Oval for the Gentlemen of the South v the Players of the South, Grace and B B Cooper put on 283 runs for the first wicket, Grace scoring 180 and Cooper 101. In 1886 Grace and Scotton put on 170 runs for the first wicket of England v Australia; this occurred at the Oval in August, and Grace's total score was 170.

In consecutive innings against the Players from 1871 to 1873 he scored 217, 77, and 112, 117, 163, 158, and 70.

He only twice scored over 100 in a big match in Australia, nor did he ever make 200 at Lord's, his highest being 196 for the MCC v Cambridge University in 1894. Cambridge University Cricket Club is a First-class cricket team

Season totals

Grace's highest aggregates were 2,739 (1871), 2,622 (1876), 2,346 (1895), 2,139 (1873), 2,135 (1896), and 2,062 (1887). 1871 was arguably his greatest season. A total of 17 centuries were scored in first-class matches, and Grace accounted for 10 of them. He averaged 78. 25; the next best average by a batsman playing more than a single innings was 39. 57, barely more than half his figure. Only two other batsmen exceeded 1,000 runs (though Grace did play in considerably more matches than most players). [2]

Other feats

Grace scored three successive centuries in first-class cricket in 1871, 1872, 1873, 1874, and 1876.

Playing against Kent at Gravesend in 1895, he was batting, bowling, or fielding during the whole time the game was in progress, his scores being 257 and 73 not out. Gravesend is a town in northwest Kent, England, on the south bank of the Thames, opposite Tilbury in Essex.

His portrait was used as the face of God in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail and was also used on occasion in Monty Python's Flying Circus. Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a 1975 film written and performed by the comedy group Monty Python ( Graham Chapman, John Cleese Monty Python’s Flying Circus (also known as Flying Circus or during the final series just Monty Python) is a BBC Sketch comedy

It is said that he once hit a ball 36 miles after a shot landed on a passing steam train.

While playing against F Townsend's XI at Cheltenham in 1874, Grace agreed to bat with a broomstick while everyone else was to use a normal bat. Education In spite of this, he made 35 runs, the second highest score.

The Double

Grace scored over 1,000 runs and took over 100 wickets in seven different seasons:

(statistics taken from CricketArchive [3] and [4]). CricketArchive is a Website that aims to provide a comprehensive Archive of records relating to the Sport of Cricket.

Bowling records

Grace never captured 200 wickets in a season, his best being 191 in 1875. Playing against Oxford University in 1886, he took all the wickets in the first innings, at a cost of 49 runs, having scored 104 in his only innings of the match.

1895

In 1895 Grace not only made his hundredth century, but actually scored 1,000 runs in the month of May alone, his chief scores in that month being 103, 288, 256, 73, and 169, he being then forty-six years old. He also made during that year scores of 125, 119, 118, 104, and 103 not out, his aggregate for the year being 2,346, and his average 51; his innings of 118 was made against the Players (at Lord's), the chief bowlers being Richardson, Mold, Peel, and Attewell; he scored level with his partner, Andrew Stoddart (his junior by fifteen years), the pair making 151 before a wicket fell, Grace making in all 118 out of 241. Andrew Ernest Stoddart ( 11 March, 1863 – 4 April, 1915) was an English Cricketer and Rugby union player This may fairly be considered one of his most wonderful years.

Gentlemen v Players, 1898

In 1898 the match between Gentlemen v Players was, as a special compliment, arranged by the MCC committee to take place on Grace's birthday, and he celebrated the event by scoring 43 and 31 not out, though handicapped by lameness and an injured hand.

Unconfirmed stories

Entr'acte cartoon: Bobby Abel, to W. G.:—"Look here, we players intend to be sufficiently paid, as well as the so-called gentlemen!"
Entr'acte cartoon: Bobby Abel, to W. G. :—"Look here, we players intend to be sufficiently paid, as well as the so-called gentlemen!"

There are several unconfirmed stories regarding Grace. The most popular holds that Grace was bowled out on the first ball of a charity match, but continued to play, exclaiming "They came to see me bat, not to see you umpire". Essentially the same story is told of Harry Jupp (although it is more easily verifiable with him, as eye-witness Lord Harris relates the story in his autobiography). Henry ("Harry" Jupp ( 19 November 1841 in Dorking, Surrey – 8 April 1889 in Bermondsey, London

The above may be a version of the true story that Grace, playing for a London County XI against an Irish side in Dublin, was caught and bowled for a duck by Arnold Harvey, later to become a Bishop. (Thomas Arnold Harvey (born 17 April 1878 in Dublin, Ireland; died 25 December 1966 in Dublin was Another future Irish Bishop, Jack Crozier, did a cartwheel as Grace walked reluctantly to the pavilion. Grace allegedly complained to the umpire that the crowd had come to see him bat and not to watch Harvey bowl!

Another, is that the Australian pace bowler Ernie Jones bowled a short-pitched delivery so close to Grace's face that it appeared to go through the great and famous beard which made him so instantly recognisable, and raced away to the boundary for four byes. Ernest Jones (30 September 1869 Auburn South Australia 23 November 1943 Magill South Australia) was an Australian sportsman playing Test cricket Jim Swanton wrote thus of an incident whose authenticity has been so frequently called into question: "This 1896 Test was probably the scene of the most famous ball ever bowled, the one by Ernest Jones that went through his beard. Ernest William (Jim Swanton CBE ( 11 February 1907 &ndash 22 January 2000) is chiefly known for being a Cricket writer I raise the doubt because there is conflicting evidence. P F, who became Sir Pelham Warner, in his history Lord's 1787-1945, says that the first ball of England's first innings was very short and very fast. Sir Pelham Francis Warner ( 2 October 1873 in Port of Spain, Trinidad - 30 January 1963 at West Lavington West Sussex J J Kelly, the wicketkeeper, 'lost sight of it in Grace's beard and it went to the sight screen'. Lord Harris, in his reminiscences, confirms the ball, the place and the occasion and adds that it also touched the top of the bat handle - which, of course, probably made it a chance to the keeper.

"The great Harris's word was law. Yet C. B. Fry, in his autobiography Life Worth Living, declared that the encounter had taken place previously at Sheffield Park. Charles Burgess Fry ( 25 April 1872 – 7 September 1956) was an English Polymath; an outstanding Sportsman He was playing for Lord Sheffield's XI there, as was Jackson, who went in first with W G and, according to Fry, said likewise. 'What the hell are you at, Jonah?' or alternatively 'What, what, what?' cried W G. Both versions agree on the immortal reply, 'Sorry, doctor, she slipped'. The question never to be answered is whether she slipped twice. "[4]

F. S. Jackson, however, recalled in the 1944 edition of Wisden that the event had occurred in the Sheffield match: "I went in first with W. G. Grace and we had to dance about a bit. One ball from Jones hit W. G. under the arm, and later in the innings another one went head-high past him and over Kelly's head to the boundary. This was the ball about which the Beard Story originated. I can see W. G. now. He threw his head back, which caused his beard to stick out. Down the pitch went W. G. , stroking his beard, to Harry Trott and said: 'Here, what is all this?' And Trott said: 'Steady, Jonah. George Henry Stevens "Harry" Trott (5 August 1866 &ndash 10 November 1917 was an Australian Test cricketer who played 24 Test matches as an ' To which Jones made that famous remark: 'Sorry, Doctor, she slipped. ' I do not think the ball actually touched W. G. 's beard. That story was told after-wards, and I believe I was responsible. When I was out and returned to the Pavilion, I said: 'Did you see that one go through W. G. 's beard?'" That, then, would seem to go some way towards clearing up this long-debated issue. Forever thereafter, Grace referred to Jones as "the fellow who bowled through my beard".

It is also widely rumoured that W. G. Grace refereed the first ever match for Gloucester City A.F.C. against Bristol Rovers in 1883. Gloucester City are a semi-professional football club based in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, currently playing in the Southern League. Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football team based in Bristol. Year 1883 ( MDCCCLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common

Career overview

During his first-class career from 1865 to 1908, Grace scored over 54,000 runs, with an average of 39, and in bowling he took more than 2,800 wickets, at an average cost of about 18 runs per wicket. He made his highest aggregate (2,739 runs) and had his highest average (78) in 1871; his average for the decade 1868–1877 was 57 runs. In twenty-six different seasons he scored over 1,000 runs, in three of these years being the only man to do so, and five times being one of only two.

His style as a batsman was more commanding than graceful, but as to its soundness and efficacy there were never two opinions; the severest criticism ever passed upon his powers was to the effect that he did not play slow bowling quite as well as fast. Mike Powell cricketerjpg|thumb|200px| Warwickshire batsman Mike Powell]] A batsman in the sport of Cricket is depending on context Any

He played Test cricket against Australia in the 1880s, but he was already past his peak at that stage. Test cricket is the longest form of the Sport of Cricket. It has long been considered the ultimate test of playing ability between cricketing nations He played his last Test at the age of 51.

His final match

The last game of cricket in which W. G. Grace batted was for Eltham 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 Doctor had 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. That year, on 26 June, he scored his final century (111 not out for London County v Whitgift Wanderers, a match in which he also took seven wickets, including a hat-trick).

During the Great War he was known to shake his fist and shout in his famously shrill voice at the German Zeppelins floating over his home in South London. World War I (abbreviated WWI; also known as the First World War, the Great War, and the War to End All A Zeppelin is a type of Rigid airship pioneered by the German Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin in the early 20th century based on designs he had outlined When a friend remonstrated that he had not allowed Ernie Jones' thunderbolt deliveries to unsettle him, Grace retorted "But I could see them!" It was also at about this time, at Grace's Eltham home, that HDG Leveson-Gower famously asked him to name the greatest batsman whom he had known in all his fifty years' cricketing experience. Ernest Jones (30 September 1869 Auburn South Australia 23 November 1943 Magill South Australia) was an Australian sportsman playing Test cricket Grace stroked his silvery beard, and there was certainly a twinkle in the eyes behind those bushy brows as he announced with complete certainty that he himself ought to be regarded as the finest ever. Regarding second place, however, Grace's answer was quick and decided, and has been quoted innumerable times since then: "Give me Arthur. Arthur Shrewsbury ( 11 April, 1856 &ndash 19 May, 1903) was an English Cricketer who was widely rated as competing with "

WG Grace died on October 23, 1915, aged 67 after suffering a stroke.

Preceded by
Walter Read		 English national cricket captain
1888		 Succeeded by
Sir Aubrey Smith
Preceded by
Sir Aubrey Smith		 English national cricket captain
1890		 Succeeded by
Walter Read
Preceded by
Walter Read		 English national cricket captain
1891/2-1893		 Succeeded by
Andrew Stoddart
Preceded by
Lord Hawke		 English national cricket captain
1896		 Succeeded by
Andrew Stoddart

Bibliography

W. G. Grace's grave in Beckenham cemetery
W. Walter William Read (born 23 November 1855 in Reigate, Surrey, died 6 January 1907 in Addiscombe Park, This is a list of all English national cricket captains, comprising all of the men boys and women who have captained an English national cricket team at official This is a list of all English national cricket captains, comprising all of the men boys and women who have captained an English national cricket team at official Walter William Read (born 23 November 1855 in Reigate, Surrey, died 6 January 1907 in Addiscombe Park, Walter William Read (born 23 November 1855 in Reigate, Surrey, died 6 January 1907 in Addiscombe Park, This is a list of all English national cricket captains, comprising all of the men boys and women who have captained an English national cricket team at official Andrew Ernest Stoddart ( 11 March, 1863 – 4 April, 1915) was an English Cricketer and Rugby union player Lord Hawke redirects here For other holders of the title see Baron Hawke Martin Bladen Hawke 7th Baron Hawke ( Gainsborough 16 This is a list of all English national cricket captains, comprising all of the men boys and women who have captained an English national cricket team at official Andrew Ernest Stoddart ( 11 March, 1863 – 4 April, 1915) was an English Cricketer and Rugby union player G. Grace's grave in Beckenham cemetery

Grace supposedly wrote four separate autobiographies, but he was no writer and these were all "ghost written" for him according to Alan Gibson (see The Cricket Captains of England, 1989, p51). Beckenham is a town in the London Borough of Bromley, England. A ghostwriter is a professional Writer who is paid to write books articles stories reports or other content which are officially credited to another person Norman Alan Stanley Gibson (28 May 1923 at Sheffield, Yorkshire – 10 April 1997 at Taunton, Somerset) was an English journalist writer and These are:

Biographies of Grace and works containing profiles of him include (not an exhaustive list):

See also

References

  1. ^ Eric Midwinter: W G Grace: His Life and Times
  2. ^ Lillywhite, Frederick William: Frederick Lillywhite's Cricket scores and Biographies of Celebrated Cricketers from 1746 (Marylebone cricket Club, 1925), p. 539.
  3. ^ In the famous poem At Lord's by Francis Thompson, Grace is hailed as "The Champion of the Centuries"
  4. ^ Swanton, E. Francis Thompson ( December 18, 1859 – November 13, 1907) was an English poet and Ascetic. W. : Grace's Close Shave With A Rough Diamond (The Daily Telegraph, 17 June 1996).

External links

Cricinfo is the largest Cricket -related website and one of the largest websites in the world with more than 20 million users
© 2009 citizendia.org; parts available under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License, from http://en.wikipedia.org
 Dapyx Software network: MP3 Explorer | Ebook Manager | Zenithic