Famous Cricketers No 47 - John Wisden

England Eleven, and his diplomacy on all subjects of match-making is it is believed, acknowledged to be equal to the late veteran Clarke.” William Clarke was famous for his lack of diplomacy and his high-handed manner. Lillywhite also infers that he set Wisden up in business and put Wisden on the road to success. In contrast Richard Daft describes Wisden as “an excellent fellow withal”, Arthur Haygarth comments: “His [Wisden’s] occupation is a prosperous one, and he deserves supports, being a most worthy man”, whilst Caffyn notes: “He was a remarkably good-tempered little fellow, with a most comical expression of face.” Descriptions of Wisden printed in various editions of his Almanack are not included here, since they are hardly likely to be anything except flattering. Although not playing in 1864, Wisden continued to be seen on the cricket circuit acting as umpire in some United matches, his control of this lucrative operation took however a serious downturn in the winter of 1864/65 when most of the United professionals from the South of England broke away and formed the United South of England Eleven. It was expected that this would cause the demise of Wisden’s United Eleven, but a meeting was held in December 1864 at which enough professionals supported the continuance of the side, Wisden was elected sole Treasurer and joint Secretary with Bob Carpenter. In 1866 Wisden wrote an instructional book in conjunction with G.F.Pardon called Cricket and How to Play It . This gave particular attention to the art of bowling and gives an important insight into methods of bowling at the time. The introduction was by E.M.Grace. John Wisden had also obtained a patent for a Catapulta or bowling machine. This was six feet high and propelled the ball by a trigger action; “any servant could give his master genuine practice”! The price of this item was 12 guineas (£12.60). Wisden umpired in United matches in 1865 and 1866, but in May 1869 the United played its final game - appropriately against the All England Eleven. The game, at Dewsbury, was for the benefit of George Anderson. George Parr played, but there is no mention of John Wisden being present. The following notice was printed in Vol XIV of Score and Biographies : “John Wisden died of cancer at his place of business, 21 Cranborne (sic) Street, Leicester Square, April 5th 1884 aged 57 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery. A great cricketer, indeed, and a worthy man.... Of the funeral a newspaper remarked: ‘The remains of this once celebrated all-round cricketer were consigned to the family grave in West Brompton Cemetery, in the presence of a comparatively small number of spectators, considering the worth and well-known ability of the deceased in days gone by. Punctually at two o’clock the mournful procession reached the cemetery, the first carriage following the hearse containing Mr W.Wisden (chief mourner), Mr W.Game and Messrs John and Thomas Pescod; in the second were Messrs Head, Luff and G.Blackman; in the third Dr Johnson and Mr W.Johnson.’” W.Wisden was John’s brother and was the proprietor of a sports emporium in Brighton, Mr Luff was the manager of the shop in Cranbourn Street and bought the business from the deceased’s estate. John Wisden left the sum of £4,233 9s 9d in his will. He was unmarried, but had, in 1849, been engaged to 7