Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

104 Technique and Personality at the stumps... Richardson never moderated his pace. His method was so fluid that he barely needed to – he could bowl unchanged for hours without compromising his pace, length or off-break – and by dint of his extraordinary character, did not want to: he loved bowling and was a glutton for hard work. 244 Whether he was a chucker is open to debate and in the absence of film or video evidence is impossible to settle. There was certainly controversy in that early Bank Holiday match at Trent Bridge. Rev R.S.Holmes was convinced that his action was legitimate and the suspicion arose from an over-extended wrist. On the other hand, in nominating Richardson as one of its Five Cricketers of the Year, Wisden took the view that the action had been highly suspect, but he had taken steps to correct it. Whatever comparisons are made with contemporaries and others, whatever technical analysis may be applied to his action and tactics, outstanding and separating him from the rest, as it did at Old Trafford in 1896, is his remarkable and probably unparalleled stamina: even more remarkable than his speed and his sharp off-break was his enduring energy, his cheerful love of hard tasks and hard work, his refusal to abdicate before fatigue. Other bowlers have had more subtleties, and many have lasted for longer, but none has shown the consistency and persistency and undergone greater toil than did Richardson between the years 1893 and 1898. In those days he could bowl for hours without losing pace or sting, and an off-day seemed unknown to him... Hour after hour, day after day, week after week, he kept up an end for Surrey in some of the hottest weather known in this country – and remember he was a bowler who took a tremendous lot out of himself, although he was physically an exceedingly strong man. 245 His enthusiasm for bowling was unquestionable. Until 1900, the five-ball over was the norm in England. When asked for an opinion as to whether it should be increased to six, he is reputed to have replied: ‘Give me ten.’ 246 His remarkable powers of stamina perhaps owed something to the fact that he made little attempt to bat or field, though Lillywhite ’s annual bland comments did acknowledge some ability in the first area and some improvement in the second. The first appearance in 1894 records: One of the very best fast bowlers of the day, keeps a good length and comes back at times a good lot. Can bat well. Wants to be a little smarter in the field. 244 The World’s Best Batsmen and Bowlers pp 77-80 245 Sporting Life 5 July 1912 246 John Woodcock One Hundred Greatest Cricketers 46