All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

17 Middlesex v Lancashire, 1865 Old Trafford, Manchester on 20, 21, 22 July 1865 (3-day match) Toss won by Lancashire Lancashire won by 62 runs Lancashire 243 and 178 (VE Walker 10-104); Middlesex 243 and 116 (R Iddison 5-45) Lancashire second innings SH Swire b VE Walker 16 FJ Crooke st Morley b VE Walker 20 JF Leese c Haines b VE Walker 0 R Iddison c and b VE Walker 6 J Makison st Morley b VE Walker 0 EJ Bousfield c Wilkinson b VE Walker 15 E Whittaker c RD Walker b VE Walker 39 AB Rowley c RD Walker b VE Walker 60 R Blackstock b VE Walker 5 +W Perry c and b VE Walker 0 FR Reynolds not out 13 Extras (lb 3, w 1) 4 Total (all out, 102.2 overs) 178 Fall of wickets 1-31, 2-33, 3-43, 4-43, 5-50, 6-67, 7-135, 8-145, 9-145, 10- 178 Middlesex bowling : T Hearne 8-6-6-0, AJA Wilkinson 7-4-6-0, RD Walker 2-1-3-0, G Howitt 36-14-49-0, W Catling 5-2-6-0, VE Walker 44.2-5-104-10 Middlesex: AJA Wilkinson, J Haines, B Robertson, RD Walker, T Hearne, VE Walker, G Hearne, W Catling, TA Mantle, G Howitt, JH Morley (wk) Walker nearly achieved his second all-ten in Middlesex’s initial first-class match, played at the Cattle Market Ground, Islington in 1864. Sussex were dismissed in their first innings for 111 and as he left the field Walker was congratulated on apparently taking all ten wickets (for 63 runs). However confusion was caused by the dismissal of Charles Payne who had top scored with 28. He had (it was thought) been stumped by a ball which had rebounded from wicketkeeper Ted Pooley’s pads while he was out of his ground. Unfortunately for Walker however Payne had touched the ball on its way through and was deemed to be run out. (Under current laws the decision would of course be stumped.) Apparently it was Charles Payne himself, later to become a first-class umpire, who was instrumental in getting his dismissal re-classified. Walker’s second all-ten therefore had to wait until July 1865, for Middlesex against Lancashire at Old Trafford. The county club had been formed in 1864, in no small part due to Walker’s efforts. He captained the county team from its inception until 1872, before handing over to his brother Isaac who carried on until 1884. V.E. was by all accounts an astute and considerate captain, encouraging to younger players. Lancashire’s county club had also been formed in 1864 and Walker’s feat came in their inaugural first-class match. As inter-county cricket was still in its early days it is not easy to assess the comparative strengths of the counties. Edward Walker