Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

46 economy rate was 2.94, so to that extent it was a fairly typical season. That would not have concerned Richardson in the least. He bowled to take wickets and his idea of containment was to get a batsman back in the pavilion where he could score no more. Furthermore, there is no record of how many of the runs he conceded were scored accidentally from the edge of the bat, though his colleague George Lohmann suggested it might be about a third of them. 103 Rev R.S.Holmes had little time for maiden overs and compared the contributions of Peel and Richardson to the season: I never could see anything wonderful about a succession of maiden overs, except it is wonderful that a man supposed to have brains, can convert himself into a bowling machine. Look at the bowling for the present season. Richardson has had just two and a half runs scored off every over he has bowled; Peel who has sent down about the same number of overs, has been hit about to the tune of one and a half runs per over. But Richardson has taken 100 more wickets than Peel. For this reason I would prefer him to any living bowler, although it is perhaps not fair to compare, or rather contrast, two bowlers whose methods are so completely unlike. 104 Once again Wisden had no doubts about the significance of Tom’s contribution to Surrey’s retention of the Championship: While nearly all the players met with more or less success, the fine record gained by the county was chiefly due to Richardson’s wonderful 103 Bettesworth Chats on the Cricket Field; George Lohmann 30 July 1896 104 Cricket 12 September 1895 1895...Annus Mirabilis...Surrey The ball presented by Surrey CCC to Tom Richardson on the occasion of his marriage in October 1895. The Inscription reads: “This ball in the Bridegroom’s hands obtained 4 wickets in one over. May the happiness of Mr & Mrs Richardson’s married life abound in the same degree.” [Surrey CCC Library and Archive]