The UNofficial Cricket Hall of Fame

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Class of 1888
In addition to those inducted, Charles Bannerman was considered. (He was a bit rubbish outside of that one innings)

Hall of Famer: Fred Spofforth

We've already met the bowler who was known as the Unparalleled, well, here's the polar opposite. They called Spofforth "The Demon" for his pace, wicket-taking ability... and eccentricity ("Demon" being a self-assigned title). While he missed the first Test as a result of his own ethics, refusing to play if Billy Murdoch was not selected as wicketkeeper, but in 18 subsequent matches, he took 94 wickets at 18 - had he not retired to Derbyshire at the age of 35, and hung around for even one more series, he would have been the first bowler to 100 Test wickets. Signature Moment: Either taking the first hat-trick in Test history, in the 1879 Melbourne Test, or bowling Australia to victory with match figures of 14/90 in the infamous Oval Test of 1882 that created the Ashes. Fun fact: Spofforth is widely regarded as the inventor of the technique of staring down the batsman, and some also regard him as the early developer of "swerve" or modern-day swing bowling.

Hall of Famer: Tom Emmett

Perhaps he may not appreciate the timing, as he goes in with the man who claimed him as part of his Test hat-trick, but Emmett is equally as deserving of the honour. A handy if not elite batsman, Emmett's greater fame was - as with many inductees of this era - as a bowler. He had little success in either discipline in Test cricket, but his fast bowling took 1500 first class wickets at an average of 13.5. He was most famous for the "sostenuter", an unusual name for what is now regarded as an off-cutter. Signature Moment: I won't pretend that Cambridgeshire were ever very good, but it takes a special performance to take match figures of 16/36 against anyone of the same age as you. Fun fact: While Emmett's peak was as a fast bowler with the subtle cutters and sostenuters, he reinvented himself in his thirties to become essentially a quickish spinner when he lost the ability to deliver his outright pace.

Class of 1888
Fred Spofforth
Tom Emmett

 

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Class of 1889
No playeres were considered for induction,

Class of 1890
No players were inducted, although William Scotton and Albert Moss ( @Aislabie ) were considered.

Class of 1891
No players were considered other than the induction

Hall of Famer: Dick Barlow

The irony is that Barlow, better known as a batsman at the elite level, would not have made the hall if he only batted at all levels. However, he picked up medium pace bowling as his career went on, and was highly effective, taking 950 first class wickets at 14 (although having minimal impact at the Test stage). He was Britain's first true stonewaller batsman, once making just five in two hours of batting. Signature Moment: In 1884, playing for The North against Australia, Fred Spofforth claimed he would bowl the entire lineup out for 60. Barlow then scored 101. He also took ten wickets in that game. Fun fact: A possibly apocryphal story says that Monkey Hornby discovered Barlow batting at a railway station where he worked as a porter. When Hornby asked if he could have a bowl, the station-master replied that Barlow hadn't been dismissed for two weeks.

Class of 1891
Dick Barlow

 

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Class of 1893
No players were considered other than the inducted

Hall of Famer: Allan Steel

Steel is kind of the opposite of Barlow; having been a crazy bowler in his early days - taking 164 wickets at an average of N I N E in 1878, he could bowl offspin, legspin, medium pace, and fast-medium. That tailed off when batsmen figured out his variations, and he became more of a specialist batsman instead. He was good at this too, averaging just under 30 (elite for the day) in FC and 35 in Tests - and scoring exactly 7000 FC runs. Also a true first-ballot selection for the Moustache Hall of Fame. Signature Moment: With 148 against Australia in 1884, Steel was the first batsman to score a century at Lord's. To quote Wikipedia (I know), this and 135 in Sydney the prior year "led him to achieve the hypothetical number 1 ranking in ICC Test Batsman Ranking in 1884 (he retained it in 1885 as well), well over a century before that meant anything at all." Fun fact: Steel became a Christian later in life thanks to... none other than fellow Hall of Famer C. T. Studd.

Hall of Famer: George Ulyett

Potentially barring Fred Spofforth, George Ulyett is the most famous cricketer to be inducted so far (note cricketer - John Wisden's name was truly entrenched off the field). Ulyett, like Steel, was a very capable player all around the pitch, but most revered as a batsman - specifically, a hard-hitting opening batsman. In his finest season, Ulyett scored zero centuries but came just 11 short of leading the County Championship in runs. With the ball, he was initially derided, but... Signature Moment: As fine as his match saving 74 was in 1890 at Lord's, Ulyett's finest hour came just hours after Steel's. Handed the ball in a shock move after Ted Peate had started the fourth innings well, Ulyett won the game for England with 7/36 off 39 overs, completely quashing the naysayers. Included was the first true reflex caught and bowled - Ulyett took a return catch off the mighty George Bonnor with just his left hand, leaving Bonnor disgusted and Steel (among many others) awed. Fun Fact: To my knowledge, Ulyett is the first batsman to score 199 not out in a first class game.

Class of 1893
Allan Steel
George Ulyett

 

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Class of 1894
In addition to the inductee, Alick Bannerman and John Sharpe (do NOT google this without "cricketer" appended) were considered.

Hall of Famer: Billy Barnes

A true all-rounder, Barnes had no major specialty, but he bowled well, batted well, and could even keep wicket if necessary. Barnes was a change bowler who bowled medium pace, and an aggressive batsman who preferred to score on the off-side. He played a key role in at least three Test wins for England... Signature Moment: The most noteworthy of which must be Sydney 1887. England were skittled for 45 on the first day, but thanks to disciplined bowling plus 33 from Barnes and a tail wag, had 110 to defend in the fourth innings. Enter Barnes, who took 6/28, including all of Australia's top five plus Hall of Famer Billy Midwinter, to win England the game. Fun fact: Legend has it that he scored a matchwinning ton for Nottinghamshire after having had several shandies at a pub the night before.

Class of 1894
Billy Barnes

 

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Class of 1895
In addition to the inductee, George Hearne was considered.

Hall of Famer: Jack Blackham

The first truly great wicketkeeper, Blackham was mainly known as one of the greatest defensive wicket keepers of all time. That said, he was still a solid batsman. He played 35 Tests in his career and captained Australia later in said career. Signature Moment: Not really a moment, but for a WK of which no footage exists, moments are hard. I believe 24 stumpings in 35 Tests is the highest ratio of those two things in cricket history. Fun fact: Was the first wicketkeeper to stand up to the stumps, and was good enough at it to practically eliminate the long stop fielding position on his own.

Class of 1895
Jack Blackham

 

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Class of 1896
In addition to the inductee, Percy McDonnell and Edward Grace were considered.

Hall of Famer: Wilf Flowers

Best known as one of the first great offspinners, Wilf Flowers also was a competent batsman. Unfortunately, opportunity in Tests was not always forthcoming for him - he played just nine - but in addition to his good batting, 1200 FC wickets at 15 is a very strong resume. He also had a history of uncorking his best performances in big games. Signature Moment: Speak of which. The MCC were put in to bat by fellow HOF Jack Blackham in 1893, and proceeded to score 400+ runs, led by Flowers' 130. Also worth shouting out - taking 5/8 on first class debut. Fun Fact: While Flowers also worked as an umpire post-retirement, he put the majority of his time and resources into the lace industry, but remained an active cricket fan and attended the Ashes shortly before his 1926 death.

Class of 1896
Wilf Flowers