All Ten: The Ultimate Bowling Feat

62 Bill Howell Australians v Surrey, 1899 Kennington Oval, Kennington on 15, 16, 17 May 1899 (3-day match) Toss won by Surrey Australians won by an innings and 71 runs Umpires: RG Barlow, W Richards Surrey 114 (WP Howell 10-28) and 64 (H Trumble 5-34, WP Howell 5-29); Australians 249 Surrey first innings R Abel b Howell 22 W Brockwell b Howell 29 EG Hayes b Howell 12 DLA Jephson c Darling b Howell 16 TW Hayward b Howell 16 HB Richardson b Howell 5 FC Holland c and b Howell 2 *KJ Key not out 4 HP Clode b Howell 0 T Richardson b Howell 2 +C Marshall b Howell 0 Extras (b 6) 6 Total (all out, 60.2 overs) 114 Fall of wickets 1-39, 2-59, 3-80, 4-81, 5-99, 6-107, 7-108, 8-108, 9-110, 10-114 Australians bowling : MA Noble 7-1-25-0, H Trumble 22-8-44-0, WP Howell 23.2-14-28-10, CE McLeod 8-4-11-0 Australians: J Darling (capt), J Worrall, C Hill, SE Gregory, MA Noble, FA Iredale, VT Trumper, WP Howell, JJ Kelly (wk), CE McLeod, H Trumble Bill Howell was a well-built Australian beekeeper who bowled at a brisk medium pace, cutting the ball sharply both ways. His sharply spun off break would grip even on the hardest Australian wickets. He was also a powerful left-hand hitter who occasionally produced something special. Born in New South Wales in 1869, he was the nephew of Edwin Evans who played six times for Australia (and provided Howell with 17 cousins!). Howell made his first-class debut for New South Wales against A.E. Stoddart’s tourists in November 1894 having been spotted playing in the NSW Country Week. Picked as a batsman he made his mark as a bowler. Apparently his captain didn’t know that the newcomer could bowl until Howell told him that he could dismiss the well-set Stoddart and John Brown. Coming on sixth change he did just that, bowling both, and three others, to take five for 44. He soon cemented his place in the side and was a regular for the next ten years. Many thought that the 1899 Australian side was the best to tour England since 1882. (Umpire Dick Barlow who played in the famous Oval Test that year was in a good position to judge.) They would win the Test series