George Lohmann
View on Wikipedia
George Alfred Lohmann (2 June 1865 – 1 December 1901) was an English cricketer, regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time.[1] Statistically, he holds the lowest lifetime Test bowling average among bowlers with more than fifteen wickets and he has the second highest peak rating for a bowler in the ICC ratings. He also holds the record for the lowest strike rate (balls bowled between each wicket taken) in all Test history.
Key Information
Lohmann bowled at around medium pace and was capable of generating spin on English pitches of the era, making him particularly effective in rain-affected conditions. Against high-quality batsmen, he demonstrated considerable skill and variation in pace, flight, and movement. He was regarded as an accomplished slip fielder and contributed as a lower-order batsman in county cricket, scoring two centuries for Surrey and averaging 25 in the 1887 season.
In 2016, Lohmann was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.[2]
Early years
[edit]Lohmann played in a few colts matches at the beginning of 1884,[3] and impressed sufficiently to play ten first-class cricket matches for Surrey that season. He did little bowling but nonetheless established himself as a regular member of the side for his promising batting.
The following season was nothing short of a sensation. Lohmann not only became Surrey's leading bowler, but was the leading first-class wicket-taker with 142 wickets. He also showed his promise as a batsman was no fluke, for he scored 571 runs. In 1886, Lohmann did equally well and played his first Test matches for England against Australia. He took only one wicket at Old Trafford, and none at Lord's, but his continued superb form in other first-class matches saw him retained for the last match at The Oval. Here, Lohmann established himself as a great bowler with a superb twelve for 104 (7 for 36 and 5 for 68), giving England what is still one of its most decisive wins in an Ashes series. Again being the leading first-class wicket-taker, Lohmann was chosen to tour Australia with Alfred Shaw's team.
World's premier bowler
[edit]On his first tour, Lohmann moved even further ahead of the pack as a bowler. In the Second Test at the SCG, Lohmann became the first bowler to take eight wickets in a Test innings, and, in the abnormally dry English season of 1887, showed himself far ahead of any other bowler. Despite being severely punished during the middle of the season when handicapped by a finger injury,[4] Lohmann took 154 wickets whereas the next highest was 114, becoming deadly when the weather broke up in August. He also made his highest score as a batsman, scoring 115 against Sussex at Hove, whilst his aggregate of runs for the season totalled 843. Lohmann again toured Australia in the winter of 1887/1888, and with Johnny Briggs formed an irresistible combination on a sticky wicket in the only Test match.
In 1888, a summer as wet as 1887 had been dry, Lohmann took full advantage of the dreadful pitches on which most matches were played, taking 209 wickets for only 10.90 each, including 142 in 14 county matches. In the three Tests against Australia, Briggs, Bobby Peel and Billy Barnes did so well that Lohmann had to do little bowling at the Oval and Old Trafford. However, he took eight wickets at Lord's and made his only Test fifty at the Oval. In 1889, Lohmann again took over 200 wickets (115 for 1485 runs in purely county matches) and took nine wickets in an innings for the first time against Sussex.
Early County Championship triumphs
[edit]In 1890, the County Championship was officially constituted for the first time after years of unofficial "champion" counties.[a] Lohmann continued to carry all before him in 1890, taking a career-best 220 wickets and being the leading wicket-taker outside of touring teams for the sixth successive season.[b] For Surrey in county cricket he totalled 113 wickets, and he again helped England to victory over Australia in the only Tests where cricket took place. In 1891, Lohmann was the leading English wicket-taker for the seventh successive year with 177 wickets as Surrey carried all before them in a wet summer, and on the following winter's Australian tour, he again bowled wonderfully well, taking eight for 58 on a dry wicket in Sydney.
In 1892, with Surrey still crushing all opposition in the County Championship race, Lohmann "suffered only by comparison with previous years".[5] He surprisingly ceded the position of Surrey's chief bowler to the emergent William Lockwood who took full advantage of Oval pitches being extremely fiery and untrue due to reconditioning of the square, but it still seemed as though Lohmann had many years of county and Test cricket ahead of him. A rude shock to Surrey was to come, however.
Illness and comeback
[edit]After the 1892 season had ended, a dreadful shock came when it was announced that Lohmann had contracted tuberculosis. In an effort to improve his health, he sailed during the 1892/1893 winter to Cape Town.[6] Although at first it was hoped that he might return even when the 1893 season began, for two years his health did not at first improve and he could not play at all for Surrey in 1893 or 1894. In fact, he was not well enough to play any cricket until the 1894/1895 Currie Cup final where he turned out for Western Province.
By July 1895 Lohmann's health had recovered sufficiently for him to return to England and play for Surrey again. Fortuitously, his return coincided with a return to extremely treacherous wickets after a long spell of dry weather and much better pitches than he had ever bowled on before. Though completely overshadowed by Tom Richardson, the mere fact of missing the good wickets in May and June caused Lohmann to actually beat Richardson in the averages, though his batting (seen as an important part of his county cricket up to 1892) was completely insignificant.[7]
Record breaking feats
[edit]| Bowler | Average |
|---|---|
| Charles Marriott (ENG) | 8.72 |
| Frederick Martin (ENG) | 10.07 |
| George Lohmann (ENG) | 10.75 |
| Laurie Nash (AUS) | 12.60 |
| John Ferris (AUS/ENG) | 12.70 |
| Tom Horan (AUS) | 13.00 |
| Harry Dean (ENG) | 13.90 |
| Albert Trott (AUS/ENG) | 15.00 |
| Mike Procter (SA) | 15.02 |
| Jack Iverson (AUS) | 15.23 |
| Tom Kendall (AUS) | 15.35 |
| Alec Hurwood (AUS) | 15.45 |
| Billy Barnes (ENG) | 15.54 |
| John Trim (WI) | 16.16 |
| Billy Bates (ENG) | 16.42 |
Returning to the British Cape Colony to maintain his health, Lohmann played no more first-class cricket until February, yet on the matting wickets in three "Tests" (the England eleven was no more than England "A" of today), Lohmann was so unplayable that he took 35 wickets for the remarkable average of just 5.80 runs each. During this series Lohmann twice broke the record for best average in Test cricket: he took 15 for 45 in the first Test, including a hat-trick (the fourth Test cricket hat-trick) at the end of the second innings to win the match; and after not being put on initially in the second Test, he became the first bowler to take nine wickets in a Test innings (a feat subsequently emulated only 14 times and surpassed only three times).
In 1896, Lohmann began to play for Surrey at the end of May, and, though he took 93 wickets and helped Richardson to put Australia out for 53 on a good wicket at Lord's, it was thought he had not come up to expectations. Indeed, on several occasions when pitches were suited to him,[d] his bowling should have met with much greater success.[9] Still, he had a fully satisfactory benefit in the game against Yorkshire in August.
A pay dispute, in which he demanded twice the existing 10-pound match fee given at the time to professional cricketers, caused Lohmann, along with Billy Gunn, to withdraw from the last Test match. He continued to play for Surrey that August, but at the end of the season his health again degenerated and had to return to South Africa, and a continuation of the 1896 pay dispute caused Lohmann to retire from his English career for good.
He is also the fastest Test bowler to reach 100 wickets, taking just 16 matches.[10] Lohmann also holds the record for the most Test matches in a complete career (18) where a player bowled in both innings.[11]
Last days
[edit]Lohmann emigrated to the British Cape Colony permanently in 1897 and played a full season of first-class cricket for Western Province. In five matches on matting pitches during March 1897 he took 34 wickets for 12.26 runs each, but it was clear throughout that year that his health was unlikely to recover, and he was able to play only one further first-class match for "A Bailey's Transvaal XI".
Lohmann did come back to England in 1901 to manage the second South African touring team (and the first whose matches were recognised as first-class). However, his health was clearly never going to recover completely, and even after returning to Cape Town with the onset of autumn in England, Lohmann's condition only became more critical. On 1 December 1901, the tuberculosis he had fought against for nine years finally claimed his life at age 36. He was buried at Matjiesfontein.[12]
Awards
[edit]- Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1889 (actually titled Six Great Bowlers of the Year).
Further reading
[edit]- Keith Booth, George Lohmann, Pioneer Professional, SportsBooks Ltd, 2007, ISBN 978-1-899807-50-5.
Notes
[edit]- ^ Surrey had been acknowledged as the champion county since 1887
- ^ This feat has been bettered only by Tich Freeman between 1928 and 1935
- ^ Qualification: 10 wickets, career completed.
- ^ Notably against Middlesex at The Oval, Somerset at Taunton and Lancashire at Manchester
References
[edit]- ^ Frindall, Bill (2009). Ask Bearders. BBC Books. p. 148. ISBN 978-1-84607-880-4.
- ^ Cricinfo (2 January 2009). "ICC and FICA launch Cricket Hall of Fame". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 19 July 2019.
- ^ Lemmon, David (1989). The official history of Surrey County Cricket Club. London: Christopher Helm. pp. 56–57. ISBN 0747020108.
- ^ Pardon, Charles F., ed. (1888). John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack (26 ed.). London: John Wisden & Co. pp. 2–3.
- ^ Pardon, Sydney H., ed. (1893). John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanac (30 ed.). John Wisden & Co. pp. 5–6.
- ^ "Court Circular". The Times. London. 21 December 1892. p. 10.
- ^ Pardon, Sydney H., ed. (1896). John Wisden's Cricketers' Almanack (33 ed.). London: John Wisden & Co. pp. 3–4.
- ^ "Statistics / Statsguru / Test matches / Bowling records". Cricinfo.
- ^ Pardon, Sydney H., ed. (1897). John Wisden's Cricketer's Almanack (34 ed.). London: John Wisden & Co. p. 61.
- ^ "Ask Steven: Ronchi's rare double, and agreeing on a result" | Cricket. ESPNcricinfo (4 June 2013). Retrieved on 2018-07-30.
- ^ Walmsley, Keith (2003). Mosts Without in Test Cricket. Reading, England: Keith Walmsley. p. 434. ISBN 0947540067.
- ^ "Death of G. LOHMANN". The Sydney Morning Herald. No. 19, 884. New South Wales, Australia. 3 December 1901. p. 5. Retrieved 19 May 2019 – via National Library of Australia.
External links
[edit]
Media related to George Lohmann at Wikimedia Commons- George Lohmann at Cricinfo
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
George Lohmann
View on GrokipediaEarly Life and Introduction to Cricket
Family Background and Upbringing
George Alfred Lohmann was born on 2 June 1865 in the Kensington district of London to a middle-class family. His father, George Stewart Cundell Lohmann, initially worked as a stockbroker's clerk before becoming a commercial traveller, providing a stable but modest household.[7][8] As the second son, Lohmann grew up alongside an older brother and later siblings, including a sister named Augusta, in a family environment that emphasized self-reliance amid frequent relocations within London. The 1871 census recorded the family residing at 2 Hope Villas with their two young boys, reflecting the close-knit dynamics that fostered shared interests in local activities.[9][10][11] Lohmann's formal education was limited; he left school at age 14 in 1879 to take up employment as a clerk, an early entry into the workforce that cultivated his renowned work ethic and sense of responsibility. This period of clerical work in London offices honed his discipline, traits that would later define his approach to cricket.[12] The family's encouragement of physical pursuits introduced Lohmann to sports through neighborhood clubs in south London, where he and his brothers participated in informal games. His early fascination with cricket emerged during school matches and amateur outings, showcasing his innate athleticism as a right-handed batsman and agile fielder before his bowling prowess took center stage.[13][12][1]First Steps in Professional Cricket
In 1883, at the age of 18, George Lohmann joined the ground staff at the Oval, home of Surrey County Cricket Club, where he initially focused on fielding and batting duties rather than bowling. This entry into professional cricket marked a significant step, supported by his family's encouragement during the transition from amateur play.[1] Lohmann made his first-class debut for Surrey in May 1884 against Kent at Blackheath, where he took one wicket and scored 13 runs in a match that Surrey won by an innings and 16 runs. Despite the modest figures, his performance in this initial outing demonstrated potential, particularly in the field. Over the course of the 1884 season, he appeared in ten first-class matches for the county, gradually establishing himself within the team.[1][4] Lohmann quickly adapted to his role as a medium-fast right-arm bowler, renowned for his accuracy and ability to exploit pitches through subtle variations in pace and swing. His prowess as a slip fielder also became evident early on, contributing to Surrey's defensive efforts. Under the guidance of Surrey's captain John Shuter, who recognized his talent, and alongside contemporaries such as William Bowley, Lohmann honed his skills, laying the foundation for his rapid rise in professional cricket.[4][3]Rise as a Premier Bowler
Debut Performances and Early Accolades
Lohmann's breakthrough in first-class cricket came during the 1885 season, shortly after his initial appearance for Surrey the previous year. He quickly established himself as the county's leading wicket-taker, capturing 142 wickets at an average of 14.42 runs per wicket across all matches. This haul included several five-wicket innings, showcasing his medium-paced swing bowling that troubled batsmen on varied pitches and marked him as a vital asset to Surrey's attack.[14][15] The following year, 1886, saw Lohmann's talents recognized on the international stage with his Test debut for England during the Ashes series against Australia. Although he claimed just one wicket across the first two Tests at Old Trafford and Lord's, his performance in the decisive third Test at The Oval was pivotal: he took 7 for 36 in Australia's second innings, contributing to an overwhelming innings victory by 217 runs that secured the series for England 2–1. This effort highlighted his potential as a match-winner under pressure. He also toured Australia in 1886-87, taking 16 wickets in three Tests at an average of 13.56.[16][1] Beyond his bowling prowess, Lohmann demonstrated promise as an all-rounder, with useful lower-order batting contributions; his highest first-class score in these early seasons reached 33, aiding Surrey in several tight contests. Contemporary observers, including W. G. Grace, praised him as "an all-round cricketer of no ordinary promise," reflecting the excitement around his rapid rise and versatile skills.[3]Breakthrough Seasons in County Cricket
Lohmann's breakthrough in county cricket came during the 1887 season, where he established himself as Surrey's leading bowler, taking 154 wickets at an average of 12.47 runs per wicket in first-class matches.[17] His contributions were instrumental in Surrey's resurgence, helping the county regain competitive standing after earlier struggles, particularly against rivals like Lancashire.[3] In 1888, Lohmann achieved a remarkable record by capturing 209 wickets in first-class cricket, the highest single-season tally up to that point, at an average of 10.90.[17] This season further solidified his role in Surrey's rise, as his bowling provided a decisive edge in key encounters, enhancing the team's overall strength.[3] During these years from 1887 to 1889, Lohmann refined his bowling technique, developing effective variations such as cutters and exploiting seam movement to suit the variable conditions of English pitches.[3] His medium-paced deliveries, delivered with a high right-arm action, allowed for subtle off-breaks and changes in pace, making him particularly adept at troubling batsmen on wearing surfaces.[3] These innovations not only boosted his personal statistics but also elevated Surrey's bowling attack, contributing to their emergence as a dominant force in county cricket.[3]Peak Achievements and International Success
Dominance in the County Championship
George Lohmann reached the zenith of his domestic prowess during Surrey's triumphant County Championship campaigns from 1890 to 1892, where his incisive medium-pace spin bowling proved pivotal in securing the county's first official titles. In 1890, Lohmann claimed a career-best 220 wickets at an average of 13.62, a haul that underscored his relentless accuracy and ability to exploit English pitches, directly contributing to Surrey's inaugural Championship victory with nine wins from fourteen matches.[15][1] His stamina was remarkable, as he bowled 1,759 overs that season, often leading Surrey's attack from the front and dismantling opposition line-ups with subtle variations in flight and break.[15] The following seasons solidified Lohmann's dominance, with consistent wicket tallies exceeding 150 annually in 1891 and 1892, helping Surrey retain the title in a period of intense county rivalry. A standout performance came in 1892 against Sussex, where he recorded match figures of 9/58, collapsing the batting order and exemplifying his capacity for match-winning spells on responsive surfaces.[18] Lohmann's economy rate stood as the lowest among leading bowlers of the era, reflecting his miserly control and strategic use of the crease to restrict scoring while building pressure.[6] Central to Surrey's fearsome bowling unit was Lohmann's effective partnership with fellow bowlers like Bill Lockwood, whose medium-pace support complemented Lohmann's spin to form an unyielding attack that overwhelmed opponents across varied conditions. This synergy, combined with Lohmann's leadership in overs bowled—frequently surpassing 1,000 per season—enabled Surrey to dominate proceedings, capturing three straight Championships and establishing Lohmann as the linchpin of their success.[1][6]Key Test Matches and Ashes Contributions
Lohmann's Test career, spanning 1886 to 1896, saw him play 18 matches in which he claimed 112 wickets at an average of 10.75, including nine five-wicket hauls that underscored his dominance as a medium-pace bowler capable of exploiting conditions with swing and seam.[1] Among his unique feats was reaching 100 Test wickets in just 16 matches, a milestone that highlighted his rapid rise and strike rate of a wicket every 34 balls.[19] His overseas performances were particularly notable, with an average of 5.80 in South Africa during the 1895-96 tour, where he dismantled batting lineups on matting pitches.[20] In the 1886 Ashes series, Lohmann made a decisive impact in the third Test at The Oval, taking 7 for 36 in Australia's first innings to bowl them out for 145 and following with 5 for 68 in the second as they collapsed to 130, securing England an innings victory by 217 runs and clinching the series 2-1.[21] This haul of 12 for 104 across both innings was pivotal, coming after modest returns of one wicket in the first two drawn Tests at Lord's and Manchester, and established him as a key figure in England's Ashes defense. Lohmann continued his Ashes contributions in the 1888 home series against Australia, where he took 20 wickets across three Tests to help England win 2-1, including strong showings at Lord's and The Oval that complemented the spin of Bobby Peel. The 1890 series saw further success, with Lohmann capturing key wickets in England's victories at Lord's (by 7 wickets) and The Oval (by 2 runs), contributing to a 2-0 series win that retained the Ashes.[22] On the 1890 tour to Australia (1891-92), Lohmann excelled with 40 wickets at an average of 16.00 in first-class matches, highlighted by a standout 8 for 58 in the second Test at Sydney that restricted Australia and aided England's drawn series.[23] His ability to adapt to Australian conditions, combining accuracy with subtle movement, made him indispensable in high-stakes encounters against strong batting sides.[24]Health Struggles and Career Interruption
Diagnosis and Impact of Tuberculosis
In the midst of the 1892 cricket season, Lohmann experienced the first indications of serious health issues, initially diagnosed as a touch of pleurisy in early June, which restricted his bowling contributions and led him to sit out key matches, including against Yorkshire.[25] By autumn, following the conclusion of the season, he received a formal diagnosis of tuberculosis, commonly known as consumption at the time.[25] This devastating revelation marked a sudden end to his dominant form, where he had previously been in peak physical condition as one of England's premier bowlers.[3] At just 27 years old, the diagnosis compelled Lohmann to retire immediately from first-class cricket, resulting in him missing the entire 1893 and 1894 seasons and over three years of competitive play overall.[25] The illness rapidly diminished his strength, rendering him a mere shadow of the robust athlete who had taken hundreds of wickets in prior years.[25] Treatments available in the late 19th century were limited and palliative, emphasizing prolonged rest cures and relocation to warmer, drier climates to alleviate symptoms; physicians advised Lohmann to winter in South Africa, a recommendation he followed to combat the progression of the disease.[1][25] The onset of tuberculosis inflicted not only physical suffering but also a severe emotional and financial burden on Lohmann, a professional cricketer whose livelihood depended entirely on the sport.[3] The abrupt career halt severed his primary source of income, exacerbating his distress amid the era's precarious conditions for players without alternative employment.[1] This personal crisis underscored the vulnerability of athletes to such illnesses in an age before modern medical interventions.[1]Attempts at Recovery and Overseas Ventures
Following his diagnosis with tuberculosis, Lohmann sought recovery by spending winters in South Africa, where the climate was believed to benefit his condition.[1] Lohmann's first return to first-class cricket came in April 1895, when he represented Western Province in the 1894/95 Currie Cup final against Transvaal, taking 8 wickets for 131 runs to help secure victory.[26] Later that year, in December 1895, he joined Lord Hawke's England touring team to South Africa, marking a significant step in his rehabilitation efforts.[27] During the 1895–96 tour, Lohmann excelled on the matting wickets, which suited his medium-pace swing and seam bowling despite their slower nature compared to English pitches. He took 35 wickets in three Test matches at an average of 5.80, including remarkable figures of 9 for 28 against South Africa at Port Elizabeth.[20] Overall, he claimed 157 wickets across all tour matches at an average of under 7 runs each, with 122 of those in eleven-a-side games against local sides at 5.44.[27] This performance demonstrated his adaptation to unfamiliar conditions and provided crucial income through tour fees. He extended his stay in South Africa post-tour, continuing to play for Western Province in 1896–97, further aiding his health while contributing to local cricket development.[1] In 1896, Lohmann made a brief comeback with Surrey upon returning to England, playing 18 matches and taking 67 wickets at 21.43 despite ongoing fitness limitations from his illness.[17] Financial pressures prompted additional ventures, including a benefit match at The Oval in 1897 organized by Surrey, which raised funds to support his livelihood amid reduced playing capacity.[1] These efforts highlighted his determination to sustain his career while managing health challenges.Later Career and Enduring Records
Return to Competitive Play
Following his partial recovery from tuberculosis during an extended stay in South Africa, Lohmann returned to England in 1896 for limited appearances.[3] Lohmann's final international outing came in the first Test against Australia at Lord's from June 22 to 24, 1896, where he took 3 wickets for 13 runs in the first innings, dismissing George Giffen, Clem Hill, and James Kelly, and 0 for 39 in the second innings.[28] England won by 6 wickets, with Lohmann's contribution helping to bowl Australia out for 53 on a good wicket.[3] After emigrating permanently to South Africa in 1897, Lohmann played a full season of first-class cricket for Western Province, appearing in 5 matches and taking 34 wickets at an average of 10.85.[3] His pace had noticeably diminished from his peak years, yet he retained his renowned accuracy, adapting his style to leg theory bowling to conserve energy while still troubling batsmen with subtle variations.[3] These years marked the closure of Lohmann's competitive career, after which he retired from first-class cricket following his final appearances for Western Province in 1897/98. Over his entire career from 1884 to 1897/98, he appeared in 293 matches, taking 1,841 wickets at an average of 13.73, including 176 five-wicket hauls.[4]Statistical Milestones and Unique Feats
George Lohmann's bowling prowess is best illustrated by his extraordinary career statistics, which stand out even among the era's top performers. In Test cricket, he played 18 matches between 1886 and 1896, capturing 112 wickets at an unmatched average of 10.75—the lowest ever for any bowler with more than 15 wickets—while conceding just 1,205 runs off 3,830 deliveries at an economy rate of 1.89 runs per over. His best innings figures were 9/28 against South Africa in Johannesburg in 1896. In first-class cricket, across 293 matches from 1884 to 1897/98, Lohmann amassed 1,841 wickets at 13.73, including 176 five-wicket hauls.| Category | Matches | Innings | Balls | Runs | Wickets | Average | Economy | Best Innings | 5-Wicket Hauls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tests | 18 | 36 | 3,830 | 1,205 | 112 | 10.75 | 1.89 | 9/28 | 9 |
| First-Class | 293 | - | 71,724 | 25,295 | 1,841 | 13.73 | - | 9/28 | 176 |