The father of cricket is William Gilbert Grace, often known as WG Grace. He was a former cricketer from England, born on July 18, 1848, in Bristol. Grace had a remarkable 44-year career in first-class cricket, during which he played for various clubs in England. His passion for cricket is unmatched.
WG Grace’s Batting Records
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Best Score | Average | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 22 | 36 | 1098 | 170 | 32.29 | 2/5 |
| FC | 870 | 1478 | 54211 | 344 | 39.45 | 124/251 |
WG Grace’s Bowling Records
| Format | Matches | Innings | Wickets | Best | Average | 5w/10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 22 | 13 | 9 | 2/12 | 26.22 | 0/0 |
| FC | 870 | – | 2809 | 10/49 | 18.14 | 240/64 |
WG Grace’s Career
Scoring over 54,000 runs in 870 first-class matches over 44 years (from 1865 to 1908) is an incredible achievement. Although records from the end of his career are scarce, he remained a strong performer throughout.
Grace was a right-handed batsman who also bowled regularly in first-class cricket. He captained many teams, including England and Gloucestershire, due to his exceptional cricketing skills and knowledge.
His innovative batting style was ahead of its time and influenced many players who followed him. Grace had great control over all types of strokes and was known for his consistency. He scored 124 centuries and 250 fifties in first-class cricket, remaining not out 104 times.
In the 1876 season, he set a record by scoring 839 runs in just eight days, including several triple centuries. Notably, he achieved his highest score of 344 runs for MCC against Kent and followed it up with scores of 177 and 318 in quick succession. Grace became the first player to score a triple century in first-class cricket.
During Grace’s time, England began touring Australia, and he scored 1,098 runs in 22 Test matches with an average of 32.39. Remarkably, he opened the batting for England even at the age of 50.
Apart from cricket, WG Grace excelled in other sports, such as hurdling and football. There’s a famous story about him leaving an innings of 224 against Surrey to compete in a hurdles championship at Crystal Palace. He was also skilled in golf, lawn bowls, and curling, and he practiced medicine.
Although cricket was not a professional sport then, Grace was known for accepting payment for playing. Social historian Eric Midwinter noted that he received £1,500 during his first tour of Australia in 1873-74. He also sought testimonials to support his medical practice.
WG Grace passed away from a heart attack at the age of 67 on October 23, 1915. He was a beloved figure in cricket and was laid to rest at Beckenham Cemetery in Kent.
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Who is the Father of Indian Cricket?
The father of Indian cricket is KS Ranjitsinhji, a former Maharaja of Nawanagar (now in Gujarat). Although he never played for India, he played for England and was the second English player to score a century on his debut.
Ranjitsinhji participated in 15 Test matches for England, scoring 989 runs at an average of 44.95, with two centuries and six fifties.
KS Ranjitsinhji’s Batting Records
| Format | Matches | Innings | Runs | Best Score | Average | 100s/50s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 15 | 26 | 989 | 175 | 44.95 | 2/6 |
| FC | 307 | 500 | 24692 | 285* | 56.37 | 72/109 |
While Ranjitsinhji gained attention for his performances with England, it was his first-class career and the invention of the leg glance shot that solidified his status as a cricket legend.
He finished his first-class career with 24,692 runs in 307 matches at an average of 56.37. During the 1896 county season, he was recognized as one of the best batsmen in England.
Ranjitsinhji bravely faced Yorkshire’s skilled bowlers and saved matches for his team against Gloucestershire and Somerset. He became the second batsman, after WG Grace, to score over 1,000 runs in a single county season.
He popularized the leg glance and cut shot while playing for Sussex, making it difficult for even Australian bowlers to counter. His notable scores against the Australian team were 79 and 42.
His last first-class match was in 1920, after he lost an eye in a hunting accident, which affected his ability to see the ball and led to his retirement. Ranjitsinhji had intended to return to England to write a book about batting, but it was never published.
He ended his career with 24,692 runs, maintaining the highest average for an England-based batsman until Geoffrey Boycott retired in 1986 with 72 centuries.
Ranjitsinhji passed away from heart failure on April 2, 1933, after a brief illness. A year later, India established its national-level first-class championship, known as the Ranji Trophy, named in his honor by the Maharaja of Patiala, Bhupinder Singh.
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