Cricket's Historians

The Influence of W.G.Grace first public match, Grace became the outstanding sporting figure in England and his appearances, as well as his performances were news not only in cricketing circles, but also amongst the general public. It is a commonplace remark that Grace created all the batting records that his successors had to beat, but in fact for several summers in succession he beat his personal record for the previous season. Lillywhite’s Companions over four consecutive years illustrate the point: • Season 1868 Mr W.G.Grace is at the top of the tree, with the wonderful average of 65-3 for nine innings, all played in leading matches of the season. • Season 1869 Mr W.G.Grace is of course, facile princips, his exploits with the bat having eclipsed all hitherto recorded. • Season 1870 Mr W.G.Grace is, of course, at the top of the tree; who would dream of disputing his claim to the championship? Such batting as he has displayed in 1870 has never been equalled. An aggregate of 1808 runs (the largest on record), compiled in 33 innings, and giving an average of more than 54 runs for each completed innings, is indeed a marvellous feat; and that the day be far distant when his peerless science and hitting cease to charm a crowded ring is our most earnest hope. (note: the writer’s comment that Grace’s 1808 was the largest on record – even if lists of high aggregates were not printed in the cricket annuals, clearly someone was looking back at previous performances) • Season 1871 Mr W.G.Grace is, of course, far in advance of everyone, and such an average as his has never yet been approached. His aggregate of 1808 runs and average of 54.26 in 33 innings in 1870, was then reckoned an unparalleled achievement, but the great batsman’s doings during the past season have thrown all his previous efforts, great as they have been, into the shade. An aggregate of 2739 43