This
one’s for lovers of Cricket History. William
Gilbert "W. G." Grace, MRCS, LRCP (18 July 1848 – 23 October
1915) was an English amateur cricketer who was important in the development of the sport and is widely
considered one of its greatest-ever players. Universally known as "W.
G.", he played first-class cricket for a record-equalling 44
seasons, from 1865 to 1908, during which he captained England, Gloucestershire, the Gentlemen, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), the United South of England
Eleven (USEE) and several other
teams. He came from a cricketing family: the
appearance in 1880 of W. G. with E. M. Grace, one of his elder brothers, and Fred Grace, his younger
brother, was the first time three
brothers played together in Test cricket.
Right-handed as both batsman and bowler, Grace dominated the
sport during his career. His technical innovations and enormous influence left
a lasting legacy. An outstanding all-rounder, he excelled at all the essential skills of batting,
bowling and fielding, but it is for his batting that he is most renowned. He is
held to have invented modern
batsmanship. Usually opening the innings, he was particularly admired for his mastery of
all strokes, and his level of expertise was said by contemporary reviewers to
be unique. He generally captained the teams he played for at all levels because
of his skill and tactical acumen.
Grace
qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879. Because of his medical profession, he was nominally an
amateur cricketer but he is said to have made more money from his cricketing
activities than any professional cricketer. He was an extremely competitive player and,
although he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and moneymaking.
He took part
in other sports also: he was a champion 440-yard hurdler as a young man and also
played football for the Wanderers. In later life, he developed enthusiasm for golf, lawn bowls and curling.
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