Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

42 Chapter Five 1895...Annus Mirabilis...Surrey Surrey looked forward to the new season – and beyond - with an optimism that proved entirely justified. Surrey seems to possess at the present time a stronger and more capable array of players than any other county. Lockwood, Richardson, Hayward, Baldwin, Brockwell, Ayres, Street, Marshall; all these are men who ought to do splendid service for years. Nor must it be forgotten that some of the most capable University men owe allegiance to Surrey – Mr C.M.Wells, Mr C.B.Fry and Mr G.O.Smith, the Carthusian, prominent among them… and, if not next year, in a year or two’s time after that Surrey will (we prophesy) again hold the championship. 83 The prophesy was not far wrong. Outstanding performance followed outstanding performance as, spearheaded by Richardson’s bowling, buoyed by Lohmann’s return, and supported by Abel, Holland and Maurice and Walter Read with the bat, Surrey retained the title they had surrendered on only one occasion since 1890. By the end of the season, Tom had taken five wickets or more in an innings on 36 occasions, ten or more in a match on 17, averaging about nine per match, and had established himself as the leading fast bowler of his generation, maybe of all time. At the end of May, for the first time since 1866, Surrey took on the full might of England at The Oval in a match arranged for Walter Read’s testimonial. The bowling honours were taken by Arthur Pougher with nine for 34 as Surrey collapsed to 85 all out in their way to a defeat by an innings and 75 runs. In true benefit-match tradition Surrey used nine bowlers, but inevitably Richardson was the main one, finishing with 43.1-9-103-6 and polishing off the England tail: Richardson soon finished off the innings his analysis after lunch being two overs and a ball for three runs and three wickets. 84 Cricket reporting at the time was factual rather than analytical and tended to devote more space to feats of batsmanship rather than outstanding bowling performances, but when a bowler takes 290 wickets in a season, it is unlikely that he will not receive an occasional mention. Thus, Warwickshire at Edgbaston – in their first attempt did but poorly against Richardson who had seven wickets, five bowled, for just over seven runs apiece. Only two 83 Cricket 16 May 1895 84 Cricket 30 May 1895