Famous Cricketers No 84 - G.L.Jessop

41. Gloucestershire v Australians, College Ground, Cheltenham, August 20, 21, 22 (Australia won by an innings and 54 runs) st A.E.Johns b T.R.McKibbin 30 133 21.3 3 55 2 J.Darling c J.H.Board 204 2 A.E.Johns c and b c S.E.Gregory b H.Trumble 0 17 42. Gloucestershire v Surrey, Clifton College Ground, Bristol, August 24, (25), 26 (Match drawn) c R.Abel b G.A.Lohmann 2 157 33 15 57 5 W.Brockwell b 180 R.Abel c W.M.Hemingway E.G.Hayes b H.Wood b T.Richardson b 5 2 10 0 36-3 43. South of England v Yorkshire, Scarborough, August (27), 28, 29 (Yorkshire won by five wickets) c E.Wainwright b D.Denton 5 161 - - - - 135 c E.Wainwright b R.Peel 12 76 3 0 18 0 103-5 44. MCC v Yorkshire, Scarborough, September (3), 4, 5 (Match drawn) did not bat - 100-5 184 SEASON’S AVERAGES Batting and Fielding M I NO Runs HS Ave 100 50 Ct County Championship 10 17 1 401 81 25.06 - 3 8 Other Gloucestershire match 1 2 0 30 30 15.00 - - 2 Cambridge University 7 11 0 225 93 20.45 - 1 7 Other matches 2 2 0 17 12 8.50 - - - Season 20 32 1 673 93 21.70 - 4 17 Career 44 73 6 1360 93 20.29 - 9 40 Bowling O M R W BB Ave 5i 10m County Championship 348.4 124 811 38 5-52 21.34 3 - Other Glos match 21.3 3 55 2 2-55 27.50 - - Cambridge University 317.1 80 889 34 6-59 26.14 1 - Other matches 3 0 18 0 - - - - Season (5-ball) 690.3 207 1773 74 6-59 23.95 4 - Career (5-ball) 1288.3 460 2910 140 6-59 20.78 9 - 1897 Gloucestershire were fifth in the Championship. Jessop was fourth in the County’s batting averages and top of their bowling list. He achieved the double in all first class matches and finished tenth in the national bowling averages. He also took more than 20 catches for the first time in his career. Against Surrey, at the Oval, he achieved ten wickets in a match for the first time in his career. A fortnight later, he scored his maiden first-class century, against the touring Philadelphians at Fenner’s. He reached his hundred in 75 minutes and scored 140 out of 216 while at the wicket, in 95 minutes. The following month, he made his second century, again versus the Philadelphians, but this time for Gloucestershire at the Bristol County Ground. In the second innings against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, he made 126 out of 176 in 90 minutes to give Gloucestershire a chance of winning a match which seemed beyond their reach when he came in to bat. He hit 19 fours all around the ground and could hear W.G.Grace shouting encouragement from the verandah of the pavilion. His fourth century, against Yorkshire at Harrogate, was made in 40 minutes and contained 4 sixes and 15 fours. It was the fastest century of his career and the fastest ever made for Gloucestershire. It was also the fastest century then recorded and remained such until 1920. He made 43 out of 54 in 20 minutes before lunch and 58 out of 64 in 20 minutes after the interval. He gave no chances but made several spectacular mishits. When attempting to drive F.W.Milligan, the ball landed in the pavilion which was behind the wicket-keeper. 9