All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

14 Edward Walker Vyell Edward (Teddy) Walker is one of only four bowlers to have taken all- ten in a first-class match more than once. He was born in Southgate, then a village north of London and now part of the London Borough of Enfield, in 1837, the fifth of seven brothers all of whom played for Middlesex. None of the brothers married, although all of their five sisters did. V.E. began his cricket at preparatory school in Stanmore, learning the game on The Common (where Angus Fraser and Mark Ramprakash would later play). Later at Harrow he changed from bowling round arm to under arm. The Walkers were a wealthy family because of their famous brewery. They were great benefactors and the eldest son, John, relaid the bumpy Chapel Fields pitch at Southgate to produce what is now the famous Walker Cricket Ground. In 1855 he founded the Southgate Cricket Club which has played there ever since. At first Southgate played local teams, but at the end of 1858 they became more ambitious and arranged a match against the United England Eleven. Southgate won (albeit they had 16 players), V.E.Walker top scoring in both Southgate innings. Annual matches against one of the great itinerant teams of the day continued into the 1860s, giving the people of Southgate and further afield the chance to see many contemporary leading players. These matches were festive occasions, in some ways the forerunners of later county cricket festivals. Entrance was free, crowds were estimated at around 10,000, the Great Northern Railway ran special trains to the local station, and the ground was ringed with marquees and tents. Middlesex also played one match there in June 1859, against Kent. The county team had not yet been organised on a formal basis and John Walker arranged the match at his own expense, together with a return at Canterbury. Middlesex won both matches, each time including five Walkers, John Wisden and Thomas Hearne (another famous Middlesex surname). Middlesex returned to the ground again for a few seasons in the 1990s. Surrounded by trees and with the spire of Christ Church as a backdrop it still has a pleasant rural feel. England v Surrey, 1859 Kennington Oval, Kennington on 21, 22, 23 July 1859 (3-day match) Toss won by England England won by 392 runs Umpires: T Barker, T Sewell England 172 (W Caffyn 5-84) and 390 (VE Walker 108); Surrey 131 (VE Walker 10-74) and 39 (J Jackson 6-21) Surrey first innings W Mortlock b Walker 5 *FP Miller c Grundy b Walker 1 F Burbidge st Stephenson b Walker 25 FB Caesar c Grundy b Walker 23 W Caffyn st Stephenson b Walker 0 HH Stephenson c Daft b Walker 0