England's Ashes Heroes
To remind us that there are/were some decent English cricketers...
Ian Botham (1955-)
Somerset, Worcestershire, Durham, Queensland and England
The Ashes series of 1981 is known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’, a testament to the all-rounder’s heroics in that series. A character whose personality, charisma and talent would ensure his name would appear on the front pages as well as the back, Botham raised his game in particular against the old enemy Australia.
For instance in his 1977 debut the 21 year-old caught the first wicket to fall before claiming five victims with the ball, the first of which was Australian captain Greg Chappell. His right-arm fast bowling proved a constant thorn in the sides of successive Australian skippers, as he dismissed both Kim Hughes and Allan Border a dozen times.
Botham’s batting, which was equally as talismanic, was epitomized at Headingley 1981. After stepping-down as England captain having recorded a pair of ducks at Lord’s, Botham’s swashbuckling batting (50 and 149*) turned the tide of the Headingley Test and, consequently, the whole series. As a slip fielder Botham caught 57 of his 120 Test catches versus Australia.
Ashes record 1977-1989
Batting Matches: 36 Innings: 59 Runs: 1673 Highest score: 149* Centuries: 4 Average: 29.35
Bowling Overs: 1360.1 Maidens: 297 Runs: 4093 Wickets: 148 Best bowling: 6-78 Average: 27.65
_________________________________________________________
William Gilbert (WG) Grace (1848-1915)
Gloucestershire and England
Considering he played his cricket in an era of poor pitches and limited preparation, Grace, a doctor by trade, was a cricketing phenomenon. Making his Test match debut at the age of 32, Grace found the step up in class no sweat against Australia, scoring 152.
Grace was also the first English captain to surrender the urn when England lost in 1891/92, which was his only overseas series.
Ashes record 1882-1899
Batting Matches: 20 Innings: 32 Runs: 901 Highest score: 170 Centuries: 1 Average: 29.06
Bowling Overs: 116.5 Maidens: 55 Runs: 168 Wickets: 6 Best bowling: 2-12 Average: 28.00
_________________________________________________________
Sir Jack Hobbs (1882-1963)
Surrey and England
Jack Hobbs was England's best batsman for nearly 30 years following his Test debut in 1905. Along with Herbert Sutcliffe Hobbs formed what is widely regarded as the best opening partnership in the game.
Hobbs scored more runs than any other Englishman in Ashes matches. Also he is the most successful foreign batsman at both Melbourne and Adelaide, and three of his eight centuries in the 1911/12 golden tour, were scored at these grounds. The scores, including his highest Test score of 187, came in successive matches, a feat he equalled in 1924/25.
Ashes record 1908-1930
Batting Matches: 41 Innings: 71 Runs: 3636 Highest score: 187 Centuries: 12 Average: 54.26
Bowling Overs: 19 Maidens: 5 Runs: 53 Wickets: 0 Best bowling: 0-11 Average: N/A
_________________________________________________________
Jim Laker (1922-1986)
Surrey, Auckland, Essex and England
Jim Laker, one of the finest off-spinners in the history of cricket, first played for England on tour to the West Indies in 1948, taking nine wickets on his debut.
Despite the initial success it took Laker some time to claim a regular Test place, in particular after being heavily punished by the Australians in the summer of 1948.
Laker's greatest achievement came eight years later in 1956 when he claimed 46 Australian Test wickets averaging 9.60, an Ashes record. Laker’s series included another memorable record that seems unlikely to be broken - he took 19 wickets for 90 at Old Trafford, including all 10 in the second innings.
Ashes record 1948-1959
Batting Matches: 15 Innings: 23 Runs: 277 Highest score: 63 Centuries: 0 Average: 14.58
Bowling Overs: 625.4 Maidens: 204 Runs: 1444 Wickets: 79 Best bowling: 10-53 Average: 18.28
_________________________________________________________
Harold Larwood (1904-1995)
Nottinghamshire and England
Having made his Test debut in 1926, taking six wickets against Australia, fast-bowler Harold Larwood would go on to become one of the leading proponents of the 1932 ‘Bodyline’ tour. Captain Douglas Jardine saw in Larwood the perfect intimidatory weapon as he ordered him to bowl fast and leg-sided against Australia.
Larwood, although taking 33 wickets during this series, inflamed the Australian public and authorities alike by injuring Bill Woodfull and Bertie Oldfield from short-pitched deliveries in Adelaide.
On his return to England, Larwood was told to sign a letter of apology. The scapegoat refused and never played another Test.
Ashes record 1926-1933
Batting Matches: 15 Innings: 22 Runs: 386 Highest score: 98 Centuries: 0 Average: 19.30
Bowling Overs: 675.3 Maidens: 120 Runs: 1912 Wickets: 64 Best bowling: 6-32 Average: 29.88
_________________________________________________________
To remind us that there are/were some decent English cricketers...
Ian Botham (1955-)
Somerset, Worcestershire, Durham, Queensland and England
The Ashes series of 1981 is known as ‘Botham’s Ashes’, a testament to the all-rounder’s heroics in that series. A character whose personality, charisma and talent would ensure his name would appear on the front pages as well as the back, Botham raised his game in particular against the old enemy Australia.
For instance in his 1977 debut the 21 year-old caught the first wicket to fall before claiming five victims with the ball, the first of which was Australian captain Greg Chappell. His right-arm fast bowling proved a constant thorn in the sides of successive Australian skippers, as he dismissed both Kim Hughes and Allan Border a dozen times.
Botham’s batting, which was equally as talismanic, was epitomized at Headingley 1981. After stepping-down as England captain having recorded a pair of ducks at Lord’s, Botham’s swashbuckling batting (50 and 149*) turned the tide of the Headingley Test and, consequently, the whole series. As a slip fielder Botham caught 57 of his 120 Test catches versus Australia.
Ashes record 1977-1989
Batting Matches: 36 Innings: 59 Runs: 1673 Highest score: 149* Centuries: 4 Average: 29.35
Bowling Overs: 1360.1 Maidens: 297 Runs: 4093 Wickets: 148 Best bowling: 6-78 Average: 27.65
_________________________________________________________
William Gilbert (WG) Grace (1848-1915)
Gloucestershire and England
Considering he played his cricket in an era of poor pitches and limited preparation, Grace, a doctor by trade, was a cricketing phenomenon. Making his Test match debut at the age of 32, Grace found the step up in class no sweat against Australia, scoring 152.
Grace was also the first English captain to surrender the urn when England lost in 1891/92, which was his only overseas series.
Ashes record 1882-1899
Batting Matches: 20 Innings: 32 Runs: 901 Highest score: 170 Centuries: 1 Average: 29.06
Bowling Overs: 116.5 Maidens: 55 Runs: 168 Wickets: 6 Best bowling: 2-12 Average: 28.00
_________________________________________________________
Sir Jack Hobbs (1882-1963)
Surrey and England
Jack Hobbs was England's best batsman for nearly 30 years following his Test debut in 1905. Along with Herbert Sutcliffe Hobbs formed what is widely regarded as the best opening partnership in the game.
Hobbs scored more runs than any other Englishman in Ashes matches. Also he is the most successful foreign batsman at both Melbourne and Adelaide, and three of his eight centuries in the 1911/12 golden tour, were scored at these grounds. The scores, including his highest Test score of 187, came in successive matches, a feat he equalled in 1924/25.
Ashes record 1908-1930
Batting Matches: 41 Innings: 71 Runs: 3636 Highest score: 187 Centuries: 12 Average: 54.26
Bowling Overs: 19 Maidens: 5 Runs: 53 Wickets: 0 Best bowling: 0-11 Average: N/A
_________________________________________________________
Jim Laker (1922-1986)
Surrey, Auckland, Essex and England
Jim Laker, one of the finest off-spinners in the history of cricket, first played for England on tour to the West Indies in 1948, taking nine wickets on his debut.
Despite the initial success it took Laker some time to claim a regular Test place, in particular after being heavily punished by the Australians in the summer of 1948.
Laker's greatest achievement came eight years later in 1956 when he claimed 46 Australian Test wickets averaging 9.60, an Ashes record. Laker’s series included another memorable record that seems unlikely to be broken - he took 19 wickets for 90 at Old Trafford, including all 10 in the second innings.
Ashes record 1948-1959
Batting Matches: 15 Innings: 23 Runs: 277 Highest score: 63 Centuries: 0 Average: 14.58
Bowling Overs: 625.4 Maidens: 204 Runs: 1444 Wickets: 79 Best bowling: 10-53 Average: 18.28
_________________________________________________________
Harold Larwood (1904-1995)
Nottinghamshire and England
Having made his Test debut in 1926, taking six wickets against Australia, fast-bowler Harold Larwood would go on to become one of the leading proponents of the 1932 ‘Bodyline’ tour. Captain Douglas Jardine saw in Larwood the perfect intimidatory weapon as he ordered him to bowl fast and leg-sided against Australia.
Larwood, although taking 33 wickets during this series, inflamed the Australian public and authorities alike by injuring Bill Woodfull and Bertie Oldfield from short-pitched deliveries in Adelaide.
On his return to England, Larwood was told to sign a letter of apology. The scapegoat refused and never played another Test.
Ashes record 1926-1933
Batting Matches: 15 Innings: 22 Runs: 386 Highest score: 98 Centuries: 0 Average: 19.30
Bowling Overs: 675.3 Maidens: 120 Runs: 1912 Wickets: 64 Best bowling: 6-32 Average: 29.88
_________________________________________________________
Labels: Ashes, Australia, Botham, cricket, England, Harold Larwood, Jim Laker, Sir Jack Hobbs, WG Grace
