All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

52 caps, some consolation for a centuryless 121-match first-class career. Last man in Arthur Mold was a fine bowler, albeit with a suspect action, who twice took nine wickets in an innings during the season. However he was no batsman, and Woods soon had his all-ten. Cambridge struggled to get the 72 they needed to win before a cool 19 not out by debutant Jackson, foreshadowing greater things to come, saw them home by four wickets. Woods’ innings and match figures (fifteen for 88) are still Cambridge records and he is still the only bowler who has taken an all-ten at Fenner’s. One or two have got close since, notably Fred Titmus who took the University’s first nine second innings wickets in 1962 before (very) occasional leg-spinner Bob Gale caught and bowled the last man. For both Thornton and de Paravicini it was the third match involving an all-ten in which they had participated. For umpire Robert Carpenter, having played in the matches in which Lillywhite, Wootton and Walker achieved a full house, it was a fourth. In all matches for Cambridge between 1888 and 1891 Woods took 190 wickets, a total exceeded by only three other bowlers. He had been an immediate success there, and such was his impact that in his first season he was selected for the Gentlemen against the Players and for the touring Australians, including in all three Tests. Eight years later in South Africa he would play another three Tests, this time for England. Woods’ last University Match in 1891 was appropriately dramatic. Cambridge were left just 90 to win, but struggled in poor light and when he went in the score was 89 for eight. Not expecting to bat, he was without pads or gloves. He ran from the Lord’s pavilion to the Nursery End, ran out to the first ball, and drove it to the long on boundary. It was a fitting end to a glittering career which also included three rugby Blues (but no degree!). Woods’ qualification to play for Somerset was perhaps a little tenuous, although this was also to be true of a number of future Somerset heroes. He became one of the pillars of the side, scoring over 12,000 runs and taking nearly 600 wickets. As his powers as a bowler declined his batting prospered. His natural game was aggressive, his reach enabling him to drive the ball hard on both sides of the pitch. Appointed captain in 1894 many rated his leadership of a constantly changing side over a 12- year period very highly. For most of his tenure he was also a paid joint- secretary, a not uncommon arrangement. For Woods, it was really just a way of ensuring that he stayed with Somerset; it is unlikely he did much secretarial work. Woods was naturally gifted at many sports, achieving particular success at rugby playing 13 times for England as a wing forward. He never married, had a proper job, or his own home (usually staying with one of many friends or taking a room in a pub or hotel). His death in 1931 came a few days after his 64th birthday. Sammy Woods