Old Ebor

A cricket tragic who writes about the pre-war history of the game.

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

For any regular readers, https://t.co/gSnzJ0ajCa will no longer be updated, although it won't be deleted. But my regular in-depth cricket history pieces (and some revised older ones) will instead appear at https://t.co/Dq23dzayGy. If you don't already subscribe, I hope you will!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

There were few more popular cricketers than Surrey’s Bill Hitch. An enthusiastic fast bowler, a big-hitting batter and an exceptional fielder, particularly at short leg. For a time, he was the fastest bowler in England. And the Oval crowds adored him. https://t.co/US6KO4pFlE

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

There were few more popular cricketers than Surrey’s Bill Hitch. An enthusiastic fast bowler, a big-hitting batter and an exceptional fielder, particularly at short leg. For a time, he was the fastest bowler in England. And the Oval crowds adored him. https://t.co/US6KO4pFlE

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

So Lord Deerhurst’s greeting there, one day in 1922, must have come as quite a shock: “May I congratulate you, my Lord, on having buggered the career of another young cricketer?”https://t.co/D2OIwurjTW

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Lord Harris was many things, including a product of Eton and a former England Test captain. He was also the Treasurer of the MCC, a position offering huge influence over English cricket. The Long Room at Lord’s was his dominion…

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

But it provoked an exasperated reaction from Lord Deerhurst at Lord's one day: “May I congratulate you, my Lord, on having buggered the career of another young cricketer?”
Link to the article (and feel free to subscribe if you haven't already!): https://t.co/GzAyCNCOe7

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

In 1922, Lord Harris twice intervened to stop players representing their counties after he discovered — after thorough investigation — that they were not qualified owing to loopholes in the rules. But for Harris it was not about rules: it was about fighting Bolshevism!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@WG_RumblePants He did win an Olympic gold medal, though!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

But it provoked an exasperated reaction from Lord Deerhurst at Lord's one day: “May I congratulate you, my Lord, on having buggered the career of another young cricketer?”
Link to the article (and feel free to subscribe if you haven't already!): https://t.co/GzAyCNCOe7

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

In 1922, Lord Harris twice intervened to stop players representing their counties after he discovered — after thorough investigation — that they were not qualified owing to loopholes in the rules. But for Harris it was not about rules: it was about fighting Bolshevism!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@ColinRuneckles Perfect! Thank you! Could I also be a pain and ask which year they stopped putting the full list in? It must be quite recent from what I remember, but my collection is currently elsewhere!!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@LowerhouseCC @ACScricket @cricketarchive @lancs_league That's how I discovered it! I was trying to look up some league records!

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@FPayne100 @ACScricket @cricketarchive No they seem to have taken it down. It’s usually been pretty good for me

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@ACScricket @cricketarchive I sent an email just now and received an immediate automated reply that they are "aware of an issue" and "working to resolve this asap".

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Everyone who saw Frank Woolley admired his beautiful style. Yet he is forgotten today; contemporaries said that neither words nor figures did him justice. But underneath the praise and star-struck wonder, there remains the hint of a far more complicated figure than legend allows

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Link to the article (and feel free to subscribe if you haven't already!):
https://t.co/rdBq7E3MEW

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Everyone who saw Frank Woolley admired his beautiful style. Yet he is forgotten today; contemporaries said that neither words nor figures did him justice. But underneath the praise and star-struck wonder, there remains the hint of a far more complicated figure than legend allows

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

@AdityaS41869751 I need a little more than that, it's about looking at things like averages for a team across a season

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Link to the article (and feel free to subscribe if you haven't already!) https://t.co/h8PXov81ZH

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

In 1919, the Australian Imperial Forces Cricket Team toured England. They were initially captained by the Australian Test batter Charlie Kelleway. But he was soon replaced by Herbie Collins. No official explanation was ever offered. But there have been plenty of theories.

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

Link to the article (and feel free to subscribe if you haven't already!) https://t.co/h8PXov81ZH

[Old Ebor @OldEbor77]

In 1919, the Australian Imperial Forces Cricket Team toured England. They were initially captained by the Australian Test batter Charlie Kelleway. But he was soon replaced by Herbie Collins. No official explanation was ever offered. But there have been plenty of theories.