Tom Richardson

Tom Richardson (born August 11, 1870, Byfleet, Surrey; died July 2, 1912, Chambéry, France) was one of the greatest fast bowlers of all time and certainly the most prolific in terms of wicket-taking feats, largely owing to his amazing stamina and appetite for work, which allowed him to gain remarkable success under conditions that were far too much for almost all other bowlers of his time.

Becoming Great

Richardson first played for Surrey, his native county, in 1892, and showed promise with some superb performances in minor matches, notably fifteen wickets against Essex. Given the fiery and untrue Oval wickets, his first-class record was moderate.

Related Topics:
Oval - First-class

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However, with Surrey's bowling mainstay for the previous decade George Lohmann declining rapidly in health, Richardson, though aided by fiery Oval wickets, made an amazing advance in 1893 to be the second-highest wicket-taker in the country. Performances of 11 for 95 for Surrey against the touring Australians and 10 for 156 in the third Test, and especially the great speed and stamina showed in them, already marked Richardson as one of the game's top bowlers. Alhough early in the year it was thought by many that his delivery constituted a throw, Richardson worked so well on straightening his arm that no advserse comments were heard again. In 1894, Richardson cemented his reputation with consistently irresistible performance on the many treacherous pitches of a wet summer: he would have reached 200 wickets but for a thigh strain in June and his average of 10.32 has never been equalled since. Yet, it was his tireless performances in Australia during the 1894/1895 tour - maintaining great speed all day under extremely hot weather and heartless pitches - that truly stamped Richardson as the best fast bowler in the world. In the first Test at the SCG, he bowled an amazing 55 overs without losing his speed, and in the last his energetic bowling without help from the pitch directly won England the match.

Related Topics:
George Lohmann - Test - SCG

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The following year, with the Oval wickets becoming very easy for batsmen, saw Richardson go from strength to strength both in dry weather and when the pitches became treacherous after mid-July. Despite having to bowl 8491 balls at a great pace, he never showed any sign of losing his form and set a new record in taking 290 wickets (bettered only by Tich Freeman in 1928 and 1933). In 1896, Richardson's wonderful bowling - fast, straight, and never anything other than perfect length - on a very true Lord's pitch dismissed Australia for 53 and won England the match. The following Test at Old Trafford, which England lost by three wickets, was Richardson's most famous feat. After bowling a remarkable 390 balls in the first innings in perfect batting conditions (taking seven for 168), Richardson, amazingly, was, when Australia were set 125 to win on a pitch showing no sign of wear, able to bowl 178 balls without a rest, take six for 76 and almost win England a seemingly lost game. It is said that he did not bowl one bad ball during this spell of three hours, and it is unfortunate for him that J.T. Hearne had almost his only off-day of the summer in that match, and that a dropped catch occurred when Australia were in trouble at 7 for 99. Though he was not required on a wet wicket in the last Test (and nearly withdrew over a pay dispute), Richardson was named a Cricketer of the Year and in 1897, showed himself still in a class of his own on good pitches, taking 273 wickets at the same cost as in 1895.

Related Topics:
Tich Freeman - Lord's - Old Trafford - J.T. Hearne - Cricketer of the Year

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