Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

50 by the Next XVII, Richardson returning a modest 22-6-63-3 and 5-1-7-1, not, as Cricket correctly predicted, the shape of things to come: The downfall of the Surrey team in their match against the Next Seventeen is not likely to awaken any great hopes by other counties, that the eleven is played out. Richardson was not in form then, but it is by no means likely that he is going to be a failure this year; he is not the sort of bowler who collapses. Lohmann will soon be on the scene, and if reports are to be trusted, he is as good as ever. It is true that Surrey could do with two or three new bowlers, but there are several men who may reasonably be hoped to come to the front. 113 For Surrey and for Richardson, the season started well: It is not often that a bowler is fortunate enough to secure a wicket, and a good wicket, with the first ball of the season for his county. It was Richardson’s experience this year for Surrey. Selected to commence the bowling on Monday in the opening match at the Oval, he sent down for a start one which knocked Walter Quaife’s middle stump out of the perpendicular… 114 He eventually finished with 37-15-71-3 and 32-14-54-5 as Surrey beat Warwickshire by an innings and 26 runs, then in the following match proceeded to demolish Leicestershire by an innings and 259 runs, bowling unchanged through both innings, 20.1-11-31-7 and 28.3-8-82-8: C.E.de Trafford … after making 72 out of 96, he was caught by the wicket-keeper standing back, and then the end soon came. Richardson 113 Cricket 7 May 1896 114 Cricket 7 May 1896 1896...Annus Mirabilis...England Surrey 1896. Standing: R.Abel, W.W.Read, W.Brockwell, A.E.Street, F.Boyington (scorer), F.E.Smith, G.A.Lohmann, G.W.Ayres, H.Wood. Seated: W.H.Lockwood, T.Richardson, K.J.Key (captain), T.W.Hayward. [Surrey County Cricket Club]