Lives in Cricket No 25 - Tom Richardson

76 Fin-de-Siècle 1899 C.B.Fry was not alone in detecting a continuing decline in Richardson’s effectiveness and looked back nostalgically to the halcyon days of only three seasons before: Tom Richardson had by 1899 begun to go off. In 1896 Tom had bowled magnificently in the Matches. He was a much bigger man than Lockwood. He was dark and black-haired – a cheerful brown- faced Italian-looking brigand with an ivory smile. Most genial, and an inexhaustible worker. He depended for his success upon sheer pace, perpetual accuracy, and an abrupt natural off-break. 183 Richardson participated in the match at The Oval against Somerset which established a couple of records extant to this day. Coming in at 811 for 9, he was bowled by George Gill without further addition to the total, leaving Bobby Abel stranded on 357. He did, however, take four wickets in each innings as Surrey ran out winners by an innings and 379 runs. It was again an Australian year, although there was never any chance that Richardson, now in decline, would be selected for England in the first home five-Test rubber, won 1-0 by the visitors. Notwithstanding their undefeated Test season, in a match recalled in an obituary appreciation of Richardson, 184 they came unstuck against Surrey at The Oval between the Fourth and Fifth Tests. The match swung Surrey’s way with a second- innings 131 by Ernest Hayes, but Richardson played his part, ensuring Surrey’s first innings reached three figures before becoming Hugh Trumble’s eighth victim, but more significantly by taking out the middle order of Trumper, Gregory, Darling and Kelly on his way to four for 49 and a 104-run victory for the county. Tom was granted a benefit in 1899, choosing the match against Lancashire which Surrey won by an innings and 121 runs and brought his total benefit fund to £1,000, including £50 from the Club. His contribution to the match was two not out and 33.3-16-75-4 and 20-9-49-2. The attendance was disappointing, as had been Richardson’s season. He failed to reach a hundred first-class wickets, let alone the 250 plus of his glory days. Nevertheless, Cricket was suitably adulatory: As the weather at the beginning of this match was perfect, it was hoped that a very large crowd would appear at the Oval to do honour to the famous Surrey bowler who, although he has not been himself during the past two seasons, has done an immense amount of work for the last ten years, and has been the chief means of winning match after match for his side. If ever a man has deserved a magnificent benefit it is Richardson. It is sincerely to be hoped that many people who were not able to be at the ground will send in their subscriptions… At first sight it does not seem easy to see why the number of spectators was not larger, for Surrey men are not usually forgetful of their favourites, but the Lancashire team during recent matches has seemed to lose 183 Life Worth Living p 228 184 Mitcham Advertiser 12 July 1912