WG Grace is regarded as the greatest amateur to play the beautiful sport.
8 times bagging 100 wickets and 1000 runs in a season
His famous quote “They’ve come here to see me bat, not you umpire.”
- First ever century for England
September 6, Doctor scored the first-ever test century for England. W. G. Grace smashed 152 runs in the Oval Test of 1880 against the Australian Cricket Team. His brother Edward and Fred failed to open their account in the second innings of the test. The test was also the first one to be hosted outside Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). England team won the test by five wickets.
- Last Test
June 3rd his last day in test cricket for WG Grace and he was bowled for 1. The test was unique in the sense that for first-time selectors were appointed. Prior to that members of grounds used to select the team. Australia Victor Trumper made his debut in this test. William Gunn last test. Other members of England Cricket were CB Fry, RanjitSinghji, Rhodes
- Face of the God
In the movie Monty Python & the Holy Grail his image was used as the face of God. Colman’s Mustard
- Arthur Conan Doyle tribute
The Sherlock writer wrote a 19-verse poem after dismissing the legendary player W.G.Grace, his only first-class victim. On 25th August 1900, he took the prized wicket of W.G. Grace when the doctor skied/mistimed one of Doyle’s delivery only to be caught by wicketkeeper during a match against London County at Crystal Palace.
Read more about Arthur Conan Doyle and his relationship with cricket
- Rare Incident
The only instance of play being abandoned due to the death of nonplaying eleven. 132 years ago the Old Trafford match between Lancashire County Cricket Club and Gloucestershire County Cricket Club was abandoned due to the death of W. G. Grace’s mother Martha grace.
She became the first woman whose name was included in Wisden’s Births and Deaths of Cricketers section.
- Wisden All-time World XI
Wisden of their all-time world XI to mark their 150th anniversary – J.B.Hobbs, W.G.Grace, D.G.Bradman (c), S.R.Tendulkar, I.V.A.Richards, G.S. Sobers, A.Knott (w/k), W.Akram, S.K.Warne, M.Marshall, S.F.Barnes
- Billy Midwinter fiasco
June 20, Grace wanted Midwinter to open for Gloucestershire as he has signed a contract with the county, but Aussies wanted to represent his national side. A long fight broke out between Grace and the Australian team of the took place outside The Oval, ended with Midwinter to play for Gloucestershire.
The other member of Gloucestershire were William Woof, Walter Gilbert, Carleton Haynes, Edward Wright, wicket-keeper James Bush, James Cranston, Thomas Matthews, Grace and his brother EM Grace.
- Clifton College Close incident.
Grace was batting against Surrey when a throw from a fielder , stuck the ball in his shirt and he ran several more runs before the fielders stopped. He argued that if he had taken the ball out, would have been given handled the ball.
- WG Grace in pictures
