Post Line-ups Cricket at the 1948 Olympics | Match 12 - What on earth happened back there?!

[VC the slogger]

It would be a real shame to lose at the hands of Lohmann, but a fitting end for him if he ends a TB-shortened career with Olympic gold.

Only found that out while casually doing some research for the 1900 edition. A really sad and unfitting end for such a great player.

 

[Sami Kumar]

Well... that was a surprise. Quite astonishing performance from the batsmen..they completely lost it.

Glad to know that the team has already made it to the final. The only change that I'll make for the final is Gilbert Jessop comes in for CB Fry.

May the best team win

 

[VC the slogger]

Cricket at the Olympics, Athens 1896
Final

at Panathinaiko Stadium, Athens

Toss: USA won the toss and chose to bat

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
George Patterson                   b. Jessop       41    43    5    0   95.3%
Francis Bohlen      c. †Lilley     b. Jackson       9    10    1    0   90.0%
John Lester*        lbw            b. Lohmann      74   131    5    1   56.5%
Walter Clark                   c & b. Hearne       24    63    0    0   38.1%
William Noble       run out (Lockwood)             10    21    0    0   47.6%
Bart King           not out                        49    30    4    3  163.3%
Arthur Brockie†     not out                         7     8    1    0   87.5%
Edward Cregar                                
Reynolds Brown                               
Percy Clark                                  
Henry Baily                        
      
Total:  235/5       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  4.70      Extras:  21

                                     -X-


GREAT BRITAIN Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Tom Richardson        8.0      0      61      0      7.63     0      0
George Lohmann        7.0      0      42      1      6.00     0      3
Bill Lockwood         5.0      0      38      0      7.60     1      0
Jack Hearne          10.0      0      24      1      2.40     2      1
Stanley Jackson      10.0      0      31      1      3.10     1      2
Gilbert Jessop       10.0      0      33      1      3.30     2      3


EXTRAS           Wides: 6      No Balls: 9      Leg Byes: 5      Byes: 1


Total: 235/5          Overs: 50.0         Run Rate: 4.70      Extras: 21

                                     -X-


UNITED STATES Partnerships

Batsmen                                                            Runs (Balls)
Patterson     F Bohlen     þþþþþþþþþþþþþ                             30 (33)
Patterson     J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                         40 (47)
W Clark       J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                  57 (110)
W Noble       J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþ                             30 (43)
B King        J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ               62 (53)
B King        A Brockie    þþþþþþþ                                   16 (14)


     Fall of Wickets    30/1      70/2      127/3     157/4     219/5
                                                                     


Total:  235/5       Overs:  50.0         Run Rate:  4.70     Extras:  21

                                     -X-

Final - first innings report
​

The cricketing final of the first Olympic Games was about to start. There were picturesque scenes all around the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens as the two captains were ready to toss the coin. The American skipper John Lester called it right and opted to bat, which didn't come as much of a surprise given the occasion and what happened the last time they batted second against Great Britain.
​

​

This time though, the Americans looked fully prepared to face the might of Great Britain's all-pace attack. The openers fought fire with fire by milking them for boundaries right from the start. Bohlen didn't last very long however, but Patterson and Lester kept the scoreboard ticking without too many risks.

After Patterson was yet again dismissed in the 40s, Lester was joined by Walter Clark who was playing his first match of the competition. The Americans had already gotten off to a flier, which meant Lester and Clark didn't have to do too much to keep the score moving forward. They relied on solid defense and picking the occasional ones and twos instead of searching for boundaries.
​

​

Their ploy worked. By the time Bart King arrived to the crease after Clark's dismissal, the British were simply out of ideas. King didn't pass up such an opportunity. He started hitting boundaries from the word go. Lester too freed his arms a bit before becoming Lohmann's final international wicket.
​

​

The British might have fared better if George Lohmann was fully fit and firing, which he clearly wasn't. Lohmann played on despite getting a niggle before the start of the match and finished with disastrous results. He failed to complete his quota of 10 overs and conceded runs at an all-time high 6 runs per over. His performance reflected on Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood, two of Great Britain's top wicket-takers of the tournament who were made to look club level. While Jack Hearne was economical as ever, as were Stanley Jackson and Gilbert Jessop, their wickets tally was simply bare.

By the time the innings ended, Bart King had already notched up 49 runs in just 30 balls at a strike rate of 163 which was almost unheard/thought of in the 1890s. He certainly put his baseball skills to good use by clubbing three massive sixes. The Americans had put on an excellent 235 runs on board for the loss of just 5 wickets.

Great Britain now require a monumental 236 to win. It's certainly not beyond them as they had scored 245 against the Americans in their earlier encounter albeit while batting first. Chasing in an Olympic final however is a completely different ball game. Can they rise up to the challenge? We'll find out soon enough.​

 

[Aislabie]

For Bart King to play like that on an uncovered Greek wicket against that English bowling attack is frankly ludicrous. Both he and John Lester have, I think, just secured a gold for America

 

[VC the slogger]

For Bart King to play like that on an uncovered Greek wicket against that English bowling attack is frankly ludicrous.

Well, I couldn't resist the urge to make it just a wee bit flatter before the start of the match. After all, who wants to watch a final where teams painstakingly score at 2.5 runs per over or get bowled out before reaching the 30-over mark?

 

[VC the slogger]

Cricket at the Olympics, Athens 1896
Final

at Panathinaiko Stadium, Athens

Toss: USA won the toss and chose to bat

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
George Patterson                   b. Jessop       41    43    5    0   95.3%
Francis Bohlen      c. †Lilley     b. Jackson       9    10    1    0   90.0%
John Lester*        lbw            b. Lohmann      74   131    5    1   56.5%
Walter Clark                   c & b. Hearne       24    63    0    0   38.1%
William Noble       run out (Lockwood)             10    21    0    0   47.6%
Bart King           not out                        49    30    4    3  163.3%
Arthur Brockie†     not out                         7     8    1    0   87.5%
Edward Cregar                       
Reynolds Brown                      
Percy Clark                         
Henry Baily               

Total:  235/5       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  4.70      Extras:  21

                                     -X-


GREAT BRITAIN Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Tom Richardson        8.0      0      61      0      7.63     0      0
George Lohmann        7.0      0      42      1      6.00     0      3
Bill Lockwood         5.0      0      38      0      7.60     1      0
Jack Hearne          10.0      0      24      1      2.40     2      1
Stanley Jackson      10.0      0      31      1      3.10     1      2
Gilbert Jessop       10.0      0      33      1      3.30     2      3


EXTRAS           Wides: 6      No Balls: 9      Leg Byes: 5      Byes: 1


Total: 235/5          Overs: 50.0         Run Rate: 4.70      Extras: 21

                                     -X-


UNITED STATES Partnerships

Batsmen                                                            Runs (Balls)
Patterson     F Bohlen     þþþþþþþþþþþþþ                             30 (33)
Patterson     J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                         40 (47)
W Clark       J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                  57 (110)
W Noble       J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþ                             30 (43)
B King        J Lester     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ               62 (53)
B King        A Brockie    þþþþþþþ                                   16 (14)


     Fall of Wickets    30/1      70/2      127/3     157/4     219/5
                                                            


Total:  235/5       Overs:  50.0         Run Rate:  4.70     Extras:  21

                                     -X-

Final - first innings report
​

The cricketing final of the first Olympic Games was about to start. There were picturesque scenes all around the Panathinaiko Stadium in Athens as the two captains were ready to toss the coin. The American skipper John Lester called it right and opted to bat, which didn't come as much of a surprise given the occasion and what happened the last time they batted second against Great Britain.
​

​

This time though, the Americans looked fully prepared to face the might of Great Britain's all-pace attack. The openers fought fire with fire by milking them for boundaries right from the start. Bohlen didn't last very long however, but Patterson and Lester kept the scoreboard ticking without too many risks.

After Patterson was yet again dismissed in the 40s, Lester was joined by Walter Clark who was playing his first match of the competition. The Americans had already gotten off to a flier, which meant Lester and Clark didn't have to do too much to keep the score moving forward. They relied on solid defense and picking the occasional ones and twos instead of searching for boundaries.
​

​

Their ploy worked. By the time Bart King arrived to the crease after Clark's dismissal, the British were simply out of ideas. King didn't pass up such an opportunity. He started hitting boundaries from the word go. Lester too freed his arms a bit before becoming Lohmann's final international wicket.
​

​

The British might have fared better if George Lohmann was fully fit and firing, which he clearly wasn't. Lohmann played on despite getting a niggle before the start of the match and finished with disastrous results. He failed to complete his quota of 10 overs and conceded runs at an all-time high 6 runs per over. His performance reflected on Tom Richardson and Bill Lockwood, two of Great Britain's top wicket-takers of the tournament who were made to look club level. While Jack Hearne was economical as ever, as were Stanley Jackson and Gilbert Jessop, their wickets tally was simply bare.

By the time the innings ended, Bart King had already notched up 49 runs in just 30 balls at a strike rate of 163 which was almost unheard/thought of in the 1890s. He certainly put his baseball skills to good use by clubbing three massive sixes. The Americans had put on an excellent 235 runs on board for the loss of just 5 wickets.

Great Britain now require a monumental 236 to win. It's certainly not beyond them as they had scored 245 against the Americans in their earlier encounter albeit while batting first. Chasing in an Olympic final however is a completely different ball game. Can they rise up to the challenge? We'll find out soon enough.

​

GREAT BRITAIN innings

Player              Status                        Runs  Blls  4s   6s    S/R
WG Grace*           c. King        b. Baily        65    95    2    3   68.4%
Tom Hayward         c. Lester      b. King         13    23    1    0   56.5%
Andrew Stoddart                    b. W Clark      44    48    2    2   91.7%
KS Ranjitsinhji     c. Patterson   b. Cregar       17    35    0    0   48.6%
Gilbert Jessop      not out                        35    59    3    0   59.3%
Stanley Jackson     c. Baily       b. Cregar       13    26    0    0   50.0%
Bill Lockwood       c. Brown       b. Cregar        0     1    0    0    0.0%
Dick Lilley†                       b. Cregar        6    16    0    0   37.5%
George Lohmann      not out                         7     5    1    0  140.0%
Jack Hearne  
Tom Richardson

Total:  220/7       Overs:  50.0          Run Rate:  4.40      Extras:  20

                                     -X-


UNITED STATES Bowling

Player               Overs   Mdns    Runs   Wkts      E/R    Wds    NBs
Bart King            10.0      0      45      1      4.50     1      1
George Patterson      7.0      0      50      0      7.14     2      1
Henry Baily          10.0      0      41      1      4.10     3      0
Walter Clark         10.0      0      33      1      3.30     1      1
Edward Cregar         8.0      0      18      4      2.25     0      0
Percy Clark           5.0      0      24      0      4.80     1      0


EXTRAS           Wides: 8      No Balls: 3      Leg Byes: 8      Byes: 1


Total: 220/7          Overs: 50.0         Run Rate: 4.40      Extras: 20

                                     -X-


GREAT BRITAIN Partnerships

Batsmen                                                            Runs (Balls)
W Grace       T Hayward    þþþþþþþþþþþþ                              29 (45)
W Grace       A Stoddart   þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ           73 (88)
W Grace       Ranji'nhji   þþþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                           36 (57)
W Grace       G Jessop     þþþþþþ                                    15 (15)
S Jackson     G Jessop     þþþþþþþþþþ                                25 (42)
B Lockwood    G Jessop                                                0 (1)
D Lilley      G Jessop     þþþþþþþþþþþþþþ                            33 (44)
G Lohmann     G Jessop     þþþ                                        9 (8)


     Fall of Wickets    29/1      102/2     138/3     153/4     178/5
                        178/6     211/7                           


Total:  220/7       Overs:  50.0         Run Rate:  4.40     Extras:  20


                                     -X-

​

Final - second innings report​

Needing to chase a steep target of 236, Great Britain needed to get off to a very good start. That was something they couldn't achieve with Bart King's prodigious seam movement accounting for Hayward as early as the 8th over. Andrew Stoddart who came in at No 3 provided some momentum with an aggressive 44 off only 48 balls, probably the quickest of his career.
​

​

WG Grace at the other end played it the classical way by relying mostly on his solid defense while occasionally lashing out on poor deliveries. And he really did lash out at one such delivery from Henry Baily early on which was sent flying out of the stadium. Meanwhile, his partner Stoddart looked to hit any and every bowler, including King whose figures he dented with a couple of big hits.
​

​

He tried to do the same with EW Clark, but was clean bowled on this occasion. Stoddart was left to rue his dismissal as the indecision of either Grace or his good friend Ranjitsinhji to take up the role of the aggressor only ended up making the job easier for the Americans. By the time Ranji decided to take up the mantle, it looked already too late with the scoring rate hovering at 5 and a half runs per over.

Ranji's innings came to an end with the ugliest of slogs, something way off character for such a stylish batsman. Grace too followed suit after trying to shift gears upon reaching the 50-run milestone. He was caught at cover by King for a well played 65 only a couple of balls after hitting his third and final six. That was basically the last nail in the coffin for Great Britain.

With two new batsmen having come in, the Americans got stuck in with Clark and Cregar bowling the tightest of lines. Gilbert Jessop, a batsman of remarkable talent known to score all around the wicket simply couldn't find the middle at all after being called up from the bench for the first time in the competition. Greek wickets continued to trouble Stanley Jackson who once again failed to get going with the bat.

Edward Cregar, the Philadelphian fast-bowling all-rounder who had shifted to bowling offbreaks for this match, foxed Jackson with his flight and accounted for the big hitting Lockwood the very next ball. He almost completed a hat-trick the next ball when he struck AFA Lilley on the pads only for the umpire to rule it not out. From then on, it was a long slow grind with the British having given up any hopes of victory once the required rate had gone up to a ridiculous 6.5 runs per over.
​

​

Lilley was dismissed in the penultimate over by Cregar who picked up his fourth for the match. George Lohmann walked out to bat for one last time and calmly fetched a single off the first delivery he faced. Percy Clark bowled the final over of the match off which Lohmann faced five deliveries. He couldn't score off his first three but ran two off his fourth and hit his last delivery in international cricket for a glorious cover drive which went for four.
​

​

The Americans celebrated a 15-run victory over the inventors of the game. Their baseball style of play certainly did wonders in a strange format where a team can only play a maximum of 50-overs before closing their innings. It was entertaining nonetheless and something that this sport could use once in a while. An Olympic gold medal is the highest of all sporting achievements and they ought to be extremely proud of their effort.
​

Great Britain meanwhile will have to settle for silver, rather disappointing because they had the most talented team of the tournament. They just weren't able to channel it properly and were eventually forced to settle for second best. Their Ashes rivals Australia settled for bronze, definitely not something to be proud of in a 4-team tournament. Both teams will want to do much better when cricket is played at the 1900 Olympic Games in the beautiful city of Paris.
​

Medal table

| Team | Medal

| United States |

Gold

| Great Britain |

Silver

| Australia |

Bronze

​

Thus concludes the cricket at the 1896 Olympic Games in Athens.

​

UNITED STATES        235/5     50.0 overs
GREAT BRITAIN        220/7     50.0 overs

United States won by 15 runs

Man of the match: Bart King (USA)

 

[Pinch hitter]

Well narrated whole match @VC the slogger ...

 

[stinson99]

Really sad for not getting any medal.BTW well presented.

 

[themusketeer]

An awesome presentation VC

 

[VC the slogger]

Cricket at the Olympics
Athens 1896
​

Spoiler: Introduction

What if cricket was included in the first ever modern Olympics in 1896? Not with club level players like when cricket was really held in the 1900 games, but with countries playing the best players at their disposal. And what if the format was amended to much more watchable 1-day single innings* matches with teams having to close their innings upon reaching the 50-over mark? Which teams would play? Who would strike gold for their country?

This league explores the possibilities of cricket being held in the Olympic Games right from the start in Athens 1896, and will be stretched as far forward as possible.

​

The cricketing nations taking part in 1896 will be Australia (

), Canada (

), Great Britain (

) and the United States of America (

) - the only Olympic participants known to have national cricketing teams. South Africa, the only team other than Australia and England to have Test status will not be participating in this edition.

Spoiler: Squads

Spoiler: Australia

Australia ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manager: themusketeer

Squad Alec Bannerman William Bruce - Left-arm medium Joe Darling Charlie McLeod George Giffen Syd Gregory Frank Iredale Clem Hill George Bonnor Jack Blackham Albert Trott Charlie Turner Ernie Jones Sydney Callaway Hugh Trumble --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler: Canada

Canada ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manager: stinson99 & Yonga

Squad Percy Goldingham - Right-arm medium/slow Wallace Jones Francis Terry William Henry Dyce Saunders Russell Ogden Hillyard Cameron Albert Collins Jack Laing Rein Wadsworth Michael Bristowe Hal McGiverin Walter Cooper Alexander Gillespie Frank Grew --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler: Great Britain

Great Britain ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manager: Sami Kumar

Squad WG Grace - Right-arm medium Bobby Abel - Right-arm offbreak Tom Hayward - Right-arm medium KS Ranjitsinhji Andrew Stoddart CB Fry - Right-arm fast-medium Stanley Jackson Gilbert Jessop - Right-arm fast Dick Lilley Bobby Peel Tom Richardson George Lohmann Jack Hearne Bill Lockwood Johnny Briggs --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler: United States of America

United States of America ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Manager: The Author

Squad George Patterson Francis Bohlen John Lester - Right-arm offbreak Arthur Wood - Right-arm offbreak Reynolds Brown - Right-arm fast William Noble - Right-arm medium Crawford Coates Edward Cregar - Right-arm fast-medium/offbreak William Brockie Joseph Scott Arthur Brockie Walter Clark - Right-arm medium Bart King Percy Clark Henry Baily --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Spoiler: Fixtures & Results

Fixtures & Results


Round 1

Australia v USA at Athens - USA won by 2 wickets (with 20 balls remaining)
Canada v Great Britain at Athens - Great Britain won by 9 wickets (with 177 balls remaining)

Round 2

Australia v Canada at Athens - Australia won by 1 wicket (with 8 balls remaining)
USA v Great Britain at Athens - Great Britain won by 110 runs

Round 3

Canada v USA at Athens - USA won by 8 wickets (with 148 balls remaining)
Great Britain v Australia at Athens - Australia won by 2 runs


Final

Great Britain v USA at Athens - USA won by 15 runs​

Spoiler: Statistics

Statistics​

AUSTRALIA

BATTING & FIELDING

Player            Mat  Inns  NO  Runs  HS    Avg    BF    S/R   100s 50s  4s  6s  0s  Ct  St
A Bannerman        3     3    0   34   23   11.33   56   60.72    0   0    1   0   1   1   -
W Bruce            2     2    0   67   56   33.50  120   55.83    0   1    1   1   0   1   -
J Darling          3     3    0   29   18    9.67   60   48.33    0   0    1   1   0   1   -
C McLeod           1     1    0    2    2    2.00    5   40.00    0   0    0   0   0   3   -
G Giffen           3     3    0   20   16    6.67   48   41.67    0   0    0   0   1   0   -
F Iredale          3     3    0   45   30   15.00   66   68.18    0   0    1   2   0   0   -
C Hill             3     3    1   75   48*  37.50  122   61.48    0   0    5   0   0   0   -
AE Trott           3     3    0   49   31   16.33  109   44.95    0   0    1   0   0   1   -
J Blackham         3     3    0   55   33   18.33   97   56.70    0   0    0   0   0   7   0
C Turner           3     3    0   17   15    5.67   37   45.94    0   0    0   0   0   1   -
E Jones            3     3    0   36   20   12.00   92   39.13    0   0    0   0   0   1   -
H Trumble          2     2    2    7    6*   N/A     6  116.67    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
S Callaway         1     1    1    0    0*   N/A     0    0.00    0   0    0   0   0   1   -

BOWLING

Player         Mat  Inns  Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts    BBI   Avg   Econ   S/R  4w  5w
C Turner        3     3    27     1     71     4    2/16  17.75  2.63  40.5   0   0
E Jones         3     3    22     2     83     4    2/36  20.75  3.77  33.0   0   0
S Callaway      1     1    10     1     39     2    2/39  19.50  3.90  30.0   0   0
G Giffen        3     3    27     0    105     8    3/31  13.13  3.89  20.3   0   0
H Trumble       2     2    15     0     62     4    3/21  15.50  4.13  22.5   0   0
AE Trott        3     3   23.1    1     71     6    4/23  11.83  3.06  23.2   1   0
C McLeod        1     1     8     1     24     0    0/24   N/A   3.00   0.0   0   0

CANADA

BATTING & FIELDING

Player            Mat  Inns  NO  Runs  HS    Avg    BF    S/R   100s 50s  4s  6s  0s  Ct  St
P Goldingham       1     1    0    0    0    0.00    3    0.00    0   0    0   0   1   0   -
D Saunders         2     2    0   21   17   10.50   38   55.27    0   0    2   0   0   3   0
W Jones            2     2    0   14   10    7.00   34   41.17    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
F Terry            3     3    1   65   37*  32.50  117   55.56    0   0    3   0   0   0   0
W Henry            1     1    0    3    3    3.00    9   33.33    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
R Ogden            2     2    0   41   40   20.50   62   66.13    0   0    2   0   0   2   -
J Laing            3     3    0   76   54   25.33  139   54.68    0   1    4   2   0   1   -
A Collins          1     1    0    5    5    5.00   15   33.33    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
H Cameron          2     2    0   10    6    5.00   29   34.49    0   0    1   0   0   1   -
R Wadsworth        2     2    0   10    6    5.00   26   38.46    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
A Gillespie        3     3    0   15   13    5.00   49   30.61    0   0    0   0   0   1   -
M Bristowe         2     2    0    9    8    4.50   28   32.14    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
W Cooper           3     3    0   31   22   10.33   87   35.63    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
H McGiverin        3     3    0   15    8    5.00   55   27.27    0   0    0   0   1   0   -
F Grew             3     3    2   15    8*  15.00   25   60.00    0   0    0   0   0   0   -

BOWLING

Player         Mat  Inns  Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts    BBI   Avg   Econ   S/R  4w  5w
H McGiverin     3     3   19.3    0     80     2    1/17  40.00  4.10  58.5   0   0
W Cooper        3     3   17.4    1     73     1    1/33  73.00  4.13 106.0   0   0
J Laing         3     3    16     0     63     4    0/9   15.75  3.94  24.0   1   0
R Ogden         2     2    10     0     39     0    0/32   N/A   3.90   0.0   0   0
A Gillespie     3     3    16     0     52     3    3/31  17.33  3.25  32.0   0   0
F Grew          3     2     4     1      7     1    1/1    7.00  1.75  24.0   0   0
M Bristowe      2     1    7.2    1     30     0    0/30   N/A   4.09   0.0   0   0
R Wadsworth     2     1     4     1     13     0    0/13   N/A   3.25   0.0   0   0

GREAT BRITAIN

BATTING & FIELDING

Player            Mat  Inns  NO  Runs  HS    Avg    BF    S/R   100s 50s  4s  6s  0s  Ct  St
WG Grace           4     4    0  182   66   45.50  255   71.37    0   2   15   5   0   1   -
T Hayward          4     4    1  133   52   44.33  217   61.29    0   1    9   1   0   1   -
A Stoddart         4     4    1   59   44   19.67   71   83.10    0   0    3   2   0   2   -
KS Ranjitsinhji    4     3    0   79   34   26.33  133   59.40    0   0    5   0   0   0   -
CB Fry             3     2    1   46   37*  46.00   78   58.97    0   0    4   0   0   1   -
FS Jackson         4     3    0   55   23   18.33  105   52.38    0   0    0   0   0   1   -
G Jessop           1     1    1   35   35*   N/A    59   59.32    0   0    3   0   0   0   -
B Lockwood         4     3    0   12   11    4.00   17   70.60    0   0    0   1   1   2   -
A Lilley           4     3    1   13    7    6.50   27   48.15    0   0    0   0   0   5   0
G Lohmann          4     2    1    7    7*   7.00    7  100.00    0   0    1   0   1   2   -
J Hearne           4     1    0    0    0    0.00    7    0.00    0   0    0   0   1   1   -
T Richardson       4     1    1    2    2*   N/A     2  100.00    0   0    0   0   0   1   -

BOWLING

Player         Mat  Inns  Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts    BBI   Avg   Econ   S/R  4w  5w
T Richardson    4     4   33.1    0    133     6    4/15  22.17  4.01  33.2   1   0
G Lohmann       4     4    32     3    116     7    3/34  16.57  3.63  27.4   0   0
B Lockwood      4     4   34.3    3    115     9    4/34  12.78  3.33  23.0   1   0
J Hearne        4     4    33     2     82     4    1/12  20.50  2.48  49.5   0   0
FS Jackson      4     3    27     1     78     3    1/23  26.00  2.89  54.0   0   0
G Jessop        1     1    10     0     33     1    1/33  33.00  3.30  60.0   0   0
T Hayward       4     1     1     0      5     1    1/5    5.00  5.00   6.0   0   0

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

BATTING & FIELDING

Player            Mat  Inns  NO  Runs  HS    Avg    BF    S/R   100s 50s  4s  6s  0s  Ct  St
G Patterson        4     4    0  137   49   34.25  225   60.89    0   0   11   2   0   2   -
F Bohlen           4     4    0   77   40   19.25  117   65.81    0   0    4   1   0   1   -
J Lester           4     4    1   97   74   32.33  173   56.07    0   1    5   1   0   2   -
EW Clark           1     1    0   24   24   24.00   63   38.10    0   0    0   0   0   0   -
A Wood             3     3    1    8    5    4.00   19   42.10    0   0    0   0   0   1   -
W Noble            4     3    0   68   58   22.67  109   62.38    0   1    1   2   1   1   -
JB King            4     3    1   70   49*  35.00   67  104.47    0   0    5   4   0   2   -
R Brown            4     2    0   15    9    7.50   42   35.71    0   0    0   0   0   3   -
A Brockie          4     3    2   33   20*  33.00   78   42.31    0   0    1   0   0   4   1
E Cregar           4     2    1   32   21*  32.00   93   34.41    0   0    1   0   0   0   -
PH Clark           4     2    1   21   18   21.00   55   38.18    0   0    1   0   0   0   -
H Baily            4     1    1    5    5*   N/A     5  100.00    0   0    1   0   0   2   -

BOWLING

Player         Mat  Inns  Overs  Mdns  Runs  Wkts    BBI   Avg   Econ   S/R  4w  5w
JB King         4     4    38     1    140     6    3/22  23.33  3.68  38.0   0   0
P Clark         4     4    32     0    139     3    2/50  46.33  4.34  64.0   0   0
H Baily         4     4    38     3    128     8    4/42  16.00  3.37  28.5   1   0
G Patterson     4     4   31.2    0    141     5    5/20  28.20  4.50  37.6   0   1
E Cregar        4     4   24.3    1     88     8    4/18  11.00  3.59  18.4   1   0
EW Clark        1     1    10     0     33     1    1/33  33.00  3.30  60.0   0   0
J Lester        4     2    14     2     36     2    2/19  18.00  2.57  42.0   0   0

Spoiler: Standings

Standings

| Team | Pld | Won | Lost | N/R | Points

| Great Britain | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3

| United States | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3

| Australia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3

| Canada | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | -3

​

Points system

Result | Points
Win | 2
Loss | -1
Tie/No result | 1

​

Spoiler: Medal table & Overall standings

| Team | Medal

| United States |

Gold

| Great Britain |

Silver

| Australia |

Bronze
- | - | -

| Canada | 4th place

​

Summary​

Cricket at the 1896 Games ended the same way it started, with the Americans beating a team with much higher status in cricketing circles to win Olympic Gold. Great Britain, a team containing the likes of WG Grace, KS Ranjitsinhji, Gilbert Jessop, Tom Richardson and George Lohmann among others, finished second with a silver medal.

Australia, after a defeat to USA and a lucky escape against the unfancied Canadians, ended up getting bronze, thanks mainly to their thrilling victory over the British in their final game and the fact that this tournament was limited to only four teams.

The Canadians lost all of their matches to finish with the wooden spoon. They did come close to winning a match against Australia, but were defied by a youngster named Clem Hill and a stubborn No 11 in Hugh Trumble.

Best players​

​

WG Grace as usual, dominated the batting charts in a cricketing tournament of the 1890s. The good doctor finished with the most number of runs (182 at 45.50) in what might be his only Olympic campaign. Despite being in his 48th year, he was a class above any other batsman as shown by his two half-centuries where nobody managed more than one, average of 45.50 when only three players (including himself) managed to cross the 40 mark on underdeveloped Greek wickets, 20 boundaries (15 4s & 5 6s) with the next best being 13, and facing 255 deliveries, thirty more than the next best i.e George Patterson.

It remains to be seen if he will play in 1900, by which time he will have become 52. But if he can continue to churn out the runs in this manner, he ought to be the first name on the sheet.

​

But for his dramatic failure in the final, Bill Lockwood was easily the best bowler of the competition. Prior to that nightmarish finish, he took wickets at the cheapest of rates in all of his matches. Spells of 10-3-14-3 against the Americans and 9.3-0-34-4 against the Australians in league matches proved his pedigree as a top bowler in this format. He also managed to finish the tournament as it's highest wicket-taker with 9 scalps at a miserly average of 12.78 and a respectable economy rate of 3.33.

Who ripped out Australia's top order with a spell of 8-0-22-3 in that very first game of the 1896 Olympics? Whose batting turned the tides on the mighty Great Britian in the final? Who took that catch to dismiss a dangerous WG Grace looking to guide the British to victory? The answer to those questions is Bart King.

The Philadelphian all-rounder didn't top either the batting or bowling charts of his own country, but his importance to the American lineup goes far beyond statistics of any kind. He delivered in the most crucial moments for his country and they couldn't have ever won Olympic Gold for cricket without him. Besides, 70 runs at an average of 35 and an even more staggering strike-rate of 104.47, along with 6 wickets at 23.33 isn't a very bad effort.

​

Once again, the legendary Australian stumper showed that there is no competition in sight for him when it comes to wicket-keeping. Despite being called out of retirement at the age of 42, Jack Blackham performed at a much higher level than any of his peers with 7 catches from only 3 matches. Those statistics are excellent considering these were 1-day single innings games lasting a total of 50 overs per side.

He pouched 3 against Canada, but it was his 4 against Australia's biggest cricketing rivals that stood out well above any of his team-mates' bowling figures. That helped Australia bow out of a disappointing Olympic campaign while pocketing bronze and finishing with an all-important victory over the Old Enemy.

​

Stats leaders​

Most runs (top 10)

Player|Team|Mat|Inns|NO|Runs|H.S|Average|Balls|S/R|100s|50s|0s|4s|6s
WG Grace |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 0 | 182 | 66 | 45.50 | 255 | 71.37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 5
George Patterson |

United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 137 | 49 | 34.25 | 225 | 60.89 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2
Tom Hayward |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 1 | 133 | 52 | 44.33 | 217 | 61.29 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1
John Lester |

United States | 4 | 4 | 1 | 97 | 74 | 32.33 | 173 | 56.07 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1
KS Ranjitsinhji |

Great Britain | 4 | 3 | 0 | 79 | 34 | 26.33 | 133 | 59.40 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0
Francis Bohlen |

United States | 4 | 4 | 0 | 77 | 40 | 19.25 | 117 | 65.81 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1
Jack Laing |

Canada | 3 | 3 | 0 | 76 | 54 | 25.33 | 139 | 54.68 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2
Clem Hill |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 1 | 75 | 48* | 37.50 | 122 | 61.48 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0
Bart King |

United States | 4 | 3 | 1 | 70 | 49* | 35.00 | 67 | 104.47 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4
William Noble |

United States | 4 | 3 | 0 | 68 | 58 | 22.67 | 109 | 62.38 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2

​

Most wickets (top 10)

Player|Team|Mat|Inns|Overs|Mdns|Runs|Wkts|BBI|Average|Econ|S/R|4w|5w
Bill Lockwood |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 34.3 | 3 | 115 | 9 | 4/34 | 12.78 | 3.33 | 23.0 | 1 | 0
Edward Cregar |

United States | 4 | 4 | 24.3 | 1 | 88 | 8 | 4/18 | 11.00 | 3.59 | 18.4 | 1 | 0
George Giffen |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 27.0 | 0 | 105 | 8 | 3/31 | 13.13 | 3.89 | 20.3 | 0 | 0
Henry Baily |

United States | 4 | 4 | 38.0 | 3 | 128 | 8 | 4/42 | 16.00 | 3.37 | 28.5 | 1 | 0
George Lohmann |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 32.0 | 3 | 116 | 7 | 3/34 | 16.57 | 3.63 | 27.4 | 0 | 0
Albert Trott |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 23.1 | 1 | 71 | 6 | 4/23 | 11.83 | 3.06 | 23.2 | 1 | 0
Tom Richardson |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 33.1 | 0 | 133 | 6 | 4/15 | 22.17 | 4.01 | 33.2 | 1 | 0
Bart King |

United States | 4 | 4 | 38.0 | 1 | 140 | 6 | 3/22 | 23.33 | 3.68 | 38.0 | 0 | 0
George Patterson |

United States | 4 | 4 | 31.2 | 0 | 141 | 5 | 5/20 | 28.20 | 4.50 | 37.6 | 0 | 1
Hugh Trumble |

Australia | 2 | 2 | 15.0 | 0 | 62 | 4 | 3/21 | 15.50 | 4.13 | 22.5 | 0 | 0
Jack Laing |

Canada | 3 | 3 | 16.0 | 0 | 63 | 4 | 4/28 | 15.75 | 3.94 | 24.0 | 1 | 0
Charlie Turner |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 27.0 | 1 | 71 | 4 | 2/16 | 17.75 | 2.63 | 40.5 | 0 | 0
Jack Hearne |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 33.0 | 2 | 82 | 4 | 1/12 | 20.50 | 2.48 | 49.5 | 0 | 0
Ernie Jones |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 22.0 | 2 | 83 | 4 | 2/36 | 20.75 | 3.77 | 33.0 | 0 | 0

​

Most dismissals (top 5)

Player|Team|Mat|Inns|Dis|Ct|St|Max Dis Inns|Dis/Inns
Jack Blackham |

Australia | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 4 (4ct 0st) | 2.333
Arthur Brockie |

United States | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 (1ct 1st) | 1.250
Dick Lilley |

Great Britain | 4 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 2 (2ct 0st) | 1.250
Dyce Saunders |

Canada | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 3 (3ct 0st) | 1.500
Francis Terry |

Canada | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 (0ct 0st) | 0.000

​

Lineup of the tournament​

1 George Patterson (

United States) - 137 runs at 34.25, 5 wickets at 28.20
2 WG Grace (

Great Britain) - 182 runs at 45.50
3 John Lester (

United States) - 97 runs at 32.33, 2 wickets at 18.00
4 KS Ranjitsinhji (

Great Britain) - 79 runs at 26.33
5 Clem Hill (

Australia) - 75 runs at 37.50
6 Jack Laing (

Canada) - 76 runs at 25.33, 4 wickets at 15.75
7 Bart King (

United States) - 70 runs at 35.00, 6 wickets at 23.33
8 Jack Blackham (

Australia) - 7 catches from 3 matches
9 Bill Lockwood (

Great Britain) - 9 wickets at 12.78
10 Edward Cregar (

United States) - 32 runs at 32, 8 wickets at 11.00
11 Henry Baily (

United States) - 8 wickets at 16.00​

 

[Aislabie]

Got to say, I really enjoyed this (and my gold medal)

Would happily retain the Americans into the next Olympics

 

[Sami Kumar]

Truly obnoxious, The team did so well in the group matches.Unbelievable show by the Americans rightly deserved win. Congrats to @The Author.If it hadn't been for Bart King, this match was surely won by Great Britain .Grief-stricken to see that the team with the best individual records lost at the most crucial moment.

Enjoyed being a part of this league, Exceptionally well managed @VC the slogger

 

[VC the slogger]

Truly obnoxious, The team did so well in the group matches.Unbelievable show by the Americans rightly deserved win. Congrats to @The Author.If it hadn't been for Bart King, this match was surely won by Great Britain .Grief-stricken to see that the team with the best individual records lost at the most crucial moment.

Enjoyed being a part of this league, Exceptionally well managed @VC the slogger

Really sad for not getting any medal.BTW well presented.

It was a short and learning experience here. Hope I gets a chance in 1900 .

Paris 1900 is up next. I'll try and post the details a little later today. Will you guys be continuing with your respective teams, or would you like to start afresh with a completely new one?

Argentina, France, Netherlands and New Zealand have been confirmed as participants for 1900. That's right - Argentina and France!

 

[themusketeer]

I would like to continue with the Aussies. Lets see how they perform after 4 years.

 

[HawkAussie]

This would be the standings if cricket did came

1. USA 12, 7, 2, 21
2. Greece 10, 17, 19, 46
3. Germany 6, 5, 2, 13
4. France 5, 4, 2, 11
5. Great Britain 2, 4, 2, 8
8. Australia 2, 0, 1, 3