List of first-class cricket centuries by W. G. Grace
part of a series of articles on W. G. Grace |
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William Gilbert Grace, commonly known as W. G. Grace, is generally considered one of the greatest cricketers of all time.[1][2][3] His first-class cricket career spanned 44 seasons, from 1865 until 1908,[3][4] during which time he claimed over 2,800 wickets and over 800 catches.[5] Despite this, he is best known for his batting ability: possessing a "high backlift and willingness to play off both front and back foot", he stood apart from other batsmen of the time.[3] He scored over 50,000 first-class runs, a feat achieved by only six other cricketers,[6] and was the first cricketer to score 100 or more centuries.[5][7][8]
Disputes regarding the first-class status of a number of matches in which W. G. Grace played have resulted in him having varying career statistics published. Of his centuries, 124 were scored in matches universally accepted as being first-class, these are the figures which are published on both Cricinfo and CricketArchive.[5][9] A number of further matches are considered to be first-class by some sources; in these matches he scored two centuries: for the "Gentlemen to Canada Touring Team" against the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1873, and for Gloucestershire against Somerset in 1879.[10] Grace, in his 1899 reminiscences, records both of these centuries among his tally of first-class centuries.[11] In Wisden Cricketers' Almanack's first-class records section, he is listed as having scored 126 centuries, the eleventh most hundreds scored during a career.[7] He retains this position with the lower total of 124, also appearing eleventh on Cricinfo's list.[12]
Grace made his first-class debut in June 1865 appearing for the Gentlemen of the South against the Players of the South at The Oval, but did not score his first century until his tenth match, making an unbeaten 224 for England against Surrey County Cricket Club at the same ground.[4] In 1871, he reached 100 on 10 different occasions, the most during any season of his career.[13] In doing so, he became the first batsman to pass 2,000 first-class runs in a season, tallying 2,739 in total.[14] He scored the first triple century in first-class cricket in 1876,[8] amassing 344 for the Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club against Kent after the Gentlemen had been forced to follow on.[15] Less than two weeks later, Grace passed 300 once more, scoring 318 not out for Gloucestershire against Yorkshire.[16] He scored 177 in his only innings between the two triple-centuries, and scored 839 runs in eight days.[8]
He scored his 100th century in 1895; at the time this was reckoned to be made in the county match between Gloucestershire and Somerset. Somerset's captain, Sammy Woods recollects the moment in his reminiscences:[17]
During May we had a weird game at Bristol v. Gloucester. We scored 200 for 1 wicket. W. G. then went on and took 5 wickets, and we were all out for 300. He then proceeded to go in first and help himself to 288, and to get his hundredth century. I had the satisfaction of giving him a full pitch to get to his hundred, not that he wanted any help.
Grace comments in his memoirs that he was glad to make his hundredth century at Gloucestershire's ground.[18] Excluding the two centuries not considered first-class by some modern statisticians, Grace's hundredth century came later in the same month when he scored 169 for Gloucestershire against Middlesex at Lord's. He scored his final first-class century in July 1904 for London County, reaching 166 against the Marylebone Cricket Club. He played first-class cricket for another four seasons, and scored 15 and 25 for the Gentlemen of England in his final outing, an innings defeat against Surrey.[4][19]
Key
- * denotes that he remained not out.
- Pos. denotes his position in the batting order.
- Inn. denotes the number of the innings in the match.
- Date denotes the date on which the match began.
- Drawn denotes that the match was drawn.
- Lost denotes that the match was lost by Grace's team.
- Won denotes that the match was won by Grace's team.
- D denotes that the century was scored in a match not universally considered first-class.
- T denotes that the century was scored in a Test match.
Centuries
References
- General
- "Player Oracle Reveals Results: WG Grace in first-class matches where score is at least 100". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- Specific
- ↑ "William Gilbert Grace (1848–1915)". BBC. July 2008. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ Engel, Matthew (2009-12-09). "Cricket's turning points: The legacy of WG Grace". Cricinfo Magazine. ESPN. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- 1 2 3 "WG Grace". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- 1 2 3 "First-Class Matches played by WG Grace (870)". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- 1 2 3 "Player Profile:WG Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "20,000 or More Runs in First-Class Cricket". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- 1 2 Berry, Scyld, ed. (2010). "First-Class Records". Wisden Cricketer's Almanack 2010 (147 ed.). Alton, Hampshire: John Wisden & Co. Ltd. pp. 122–124. ISBN 978-1-4081-2466-6.
- 1 2 3 S Rajesh (2010-08-02). "An early pioneer". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Player Profile:W.G. Grace". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ Bailey, Philip. "The Classification of Matches". The Cricket Statistician. Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians (20): 13–18.
- ↑ Grace, W. G. (1899). "W.G.", cricketing reminiscences and personal recollections (1 ed.). London: James Bowden. p. 421. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Records / First-class matches / Batting records / Most hundreds in a career". Cricinfo. ESPN. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "First-class Batting and Fielding in Each Season by WG Grace". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ Berry, Scyld, ed. (2010). "First-Class Records". Wisden Cricketer's Almanack 2010 (147 ed.). Alton, Hampshire: John Wisden & Co. Ltd. p. 124. ISBN 978-1-4081-2466-6.
- ↑ "Kent v Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ Woods, Sammy (1925). My Reminiscences (1 ed.). London: Chapman and Hall. p. 61.
- ↑ Grace, W. G. (1899). "W.G.", cricketing reminiscences and personal recollections (1 ed.). London: James Bowden. p. 240. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Surrey v Gentlemen of England in 1908". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Surrey v England in 1866". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the South in 1866". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1868". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- 1 2 "South of the Thames v North of the Thames in 1868". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Oxford University v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Surrey v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Nottinghamshire in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the South in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "North v South in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Kent v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1869". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Nottinghamshire in 1870". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1870". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1870". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Surrey v Gloucestershire in 1870". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Gloucestershire in 1870". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Surrey in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Gentlemen of the North in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "South v North in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Cambridge University v Gentlemen of England in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Married v Single in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-08.
- ↑ "Surrey v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "South v North in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Kent v Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1871". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Yorkshire in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "England v Nottinghamshire and Yorkshire in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "South v North in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Yorkshire v Gloucestershire in 1872". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the North in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the South in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Gentlemen to Canada Touring Team in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "South v North in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Surrey in 1873". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Sussex v Gloucestershire in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the South in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of the South v Players of the North in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Yorkshire v Gloucestershire in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Kent and Gloucestershire v England in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Kent v Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in 1874". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-09.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1875". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Yorkshire v Gloucestershire in 1875". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire in 1875". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Sussex v Gloucestershire in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "North v South in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "United North of England Eleven v United South of England Eleven in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Kent v Gentlemen of Marylebone Cricket Club in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in 1876". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "South v North in 1877". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "England v Gloucestershire and Yorkshire in 1877". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1878". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Surrey v Gloucestershire in 1879". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1879". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Somerset in 1879". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Lancashire in 1880". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "England v Australia in 1880". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1881". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1881". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Lancashire in 1883". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Australians in 1884". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of England v Australians in 1884". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Australians in 1884". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Yorkshire v Gloucestershire in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Surrey in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Middlesex in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1885". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of England v Australians in 1886". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Oxford University v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1886". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Australians in 1886". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "England v Australia in 1886". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Middlesex v Gloucestershire in 1887". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Cambridge University in 1887". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in 1887". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire in 1887". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- 1 2 "Gloucestershire v Kent in 1887". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Sussex v Gloucestershire in 1888". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of England v Australians in 1888". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- 1 2 "Gloucestershire v Yorkshire in 1888". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-10.
- ↑ "Middlesex v Gloucestershire in 1889". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Middlesex in 1889". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "North v South in 1889". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Kent v Gloucestershire in 1890". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Victoria v Lord Sheffield's XI in 1891/92". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Kent in 1893". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Cambridge University v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1894". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Cambridge University in 1894". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1894". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Sussex in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Somerset in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Kent v Gloucestershire in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Middlesex v Gloucestershire in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Marylebone Cricket Club v Kent in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gentlemen of England v I Zingari in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gentlemen v Players in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "South v North in 1895". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Sussex v Gloucestershire in 1896". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Lancashire in 1896". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Somerset v Gloucestershire in 1896". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Sussex in 1896". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Gentlemen of Philadelphia in 1897". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1897". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Sussex in 1897". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Gloucestershire v Nottinghamshire in 1897". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Essex v Gloucestershire in 1898". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Nottinghamshire v Gloucestershire in 1898". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "Somerset v Gloucestershire in 1898". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Worcestershire in 1900". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1900". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "South v North in 1900". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1901". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1902". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Warwickshire in 1902". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Gloucestershire in 1903". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.
- ↑ "London County v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1904". CricketArchive. Retrieved 2010-11-11.