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
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
