I stumbled on this doing a search for Hambledon. Anyone been there? I made a detour earlier this week on my way back from the Isle of Wight - the village is only a few miles from Portsmouth. Nothing at all in the village itself to indicate its historic significance, apart from a rather faded shop sign, but the Bat & Ball is well worth a visit. Chock full of cricket memorabilia and photos.
I've umpired a match at Hambledon - very windy even on a still day - and drunk in The Bat & Ball Inn
Lovely ground.
My Top Ten of the 19th Century:
Dr W.G.Grace: Possibly the most amazing cricketer in history. Nobody, not even Bradman, was so far ahead of his peers. When Grace scored his 100th century nobody else had more than 27. His batting average for many years would often be close to double the next best player. He was also a fine bowler and outstanding fielder, and in his younger days (until c33-34) he was an outstanding all round athlete. Made cricket headline news - spoken about all over the country and in many places overseas.
Fuller Pilch: The greatest batsman off his day and the first of the century to be consistently the top man.
Alfred Mynn: The pre eminent fast bowler of his day and a dangerous batsman. Had he been born a little later he would have likely been the major opponent of Grace.
Fred Spofforth: That, in the early years of Test cricket, Australia could reasonably challenge the full strength of England was mainly because they had a strong hand of bowlers - and The Demon was key to that, Although he had a very fast ball in his locker I suspect, from much reading that his average pace was what we would call medium fast - but he varied so much and got so much 'work' on the ball (old term) he was truly outstanding.
George Lohmann: Another superbly skilled bowler with great variation and an incredible record. Could take wickets whatever the pitch.
Billy Murdoch: Probably Australia's first 'great' batsman, and a fine keeper to. Not quite the equal of.........
Jack Blackham: Known as "The Prince of Wicket Keepers". Pooley of Surrey and Pinder of Lancashire were likely not much, if at all, inferior but Blackham is the first great Test keeper.
K.S.Ranjitsinhji: Came to prominence, and did most of his best work, before 1900. Added elements to batting that hadn't been dreamt of before, and with style. The first 'person of colour' to make a mark on British society - to do this, and be accepted, so easily suggests amazing talent.
Tom Richardson: His incredible record over a 5 or 6 year span in the 1990s was truly amazing. He was often at his best on batsman's pitch where other bowlers were ineffective.
John Barton King: The first bowler to really understand how to swing the ball. Although he never had the chance to play Test cricket the evidence (leading an otherwise not that strong team against English Counties and touring international teams) suggests he would have been a major player.
If you extended the list to 'most important' people in 19th Century cricket you'd include William Ward - an outstanding batsman (first to get a 200 - and nobody else did for a long time) who used his wealth and position as a Governor of the Bank of England to be a great financial benefactor to the game.
Also William Clarke who started the All England XI and took quality cricket out around the country to the masses - planting great seeds and increasing the popularity of the game by a huge amount.
My Pre 1900 World Test XI
W.G.Grace
Arthur Shrewsbury
Andrew Stoddart
K.S.Ranjitsinjhi
Bill Murdoch
The Hon F.S.Jackson
George Giffen
George Lohmann
Fred Spofforth
Tom Richardson
Edmund Peate
Murdoch to keep the hens.
King invited for a trial.
Stoddart was a fantastic batsman, and great captain, for many years. By nature an opener but a hard hitter who'd be great at 3 if the openers had laid the platform, and solid if in early. Ranji would add some major dash in the middle followed by two who were great under pressure (Jackson especially) and Giffen who just liked to bat. Lohmann was considered an all rounder and Spofforth could bat as well.
A great fast bowler to lead the attack then two fine medium fast (although with superb variations) bowlers in support. A mediem paced offie who would happily bowl all day and a left arm spinner who had a short career but was considered the best of his type at least until Wilfred Rhodes appeared. Very good 'spare' bowler in Jackson with Grace and Stoddart available for a few overs if needed.
