Cricket has seen many of the greatest characters in history that have made a massive contribution to sport. From God of Cricket to Godfather of Cricket and King of Cricket to Prince of Cricket, there have been some groundbreaking individuals that have impacted the game.
But one name that stands out is William Gilbert Grace, also known as WC Grace. The sport can never forget the impact he had on its early development. That is why he is known as “Father of Cricket.” The English legend is known for his immense contribution to the development of cricket in the early days and his passion to take this sport to the global level. In this article, we will talk about the “Father of Cricket.”
Who is the Father of Cricket?
As discussed above, former English cricketer Sir WG Grace is known as the Father of Cricket. Although it has been more than 150 years since he played, many modern cricket fans might not be fully aware of his contributions to the game. Born on July 18, 1848, in Downend, Bristol, Grace was the son of Henry Mills Grace. In his era, cricket was far different from what we know today—ODI and T20 formats didn’t even exist.
Quick Facts – Sir WG Grace (Father of Cricket)
| Full Name | William Gilbert Grace |
|---|---|
| Born | July 18, 1848 – Downend, Bristol, England |
| Test Debut | September 6, 1880 vs Australia |
| First-Class Matches | 870 |
| Runs Scored (FC) | 54,211 |
| Wickets Taken (FC) | 2,809 |
| Known For | Revolutionizing batting, rule reforms, global popularity of cricket |
| Profession | Medical doctor |
He represented the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which was the primary authority in cricket before the formation of the ICC. He was not alone in his family who played this game; his 11 family members (brother, cousins, son, and nephew) also played this sport at the competitive level. The legacy of the Grace family in cricket, especially English cricket, is heroic. WG Grace also played first-class cricket for Gloucestershire and London County.
WG Grace is widely regarded as the Father of Cricket for his revolutionary contribution to the sport during its early development in the 19th century.
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Why is Sir WG Grace known as Father of Cricket?
Sir Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar are two great figures in cricket history, but not many fans might know that it was WG Grace that played a massive role in the development of this game. Bradman and Tendulkar have a great legacy in this game, but Grace has a very legendary role because he played a total of 44 seasons of first-class cricket.
He played this sport when it was still in its early stages and relatively unknown to the world. At that time, he went on to play a total of 870 first-class games and promote this game to different parts of the world. His hard work and dedication for this sport earned him the tag of Father of Cricket. His achievements were so extraordinary for his time that many believe no one will match his impact again.
He had an incredible batting technique, and according to some history about him, many called him a perfect batter in the game. The legend used to play as an opener and played countless matches as captain of the teams he was playing for. He held many records during his legendary career.
Though some of his records are debated due to inconsistent historical documentation, knowing how old they are, according to cricket pundits, he had some unbelievable achievements. He is known to have scored the fifth-highest run-getter in history of first-class cricket and was the first player to score more than 50,000 FC runs.
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Adding to that, he was the first bowler to take 2500 wickets in first-class cricket. It is said that he pounded a total of 839 runs within 8 days in 1876, which had two triple hundreds and one century. He is the first player to score 100 FC centuries and the first bowler to take 100 wickets in a season nine different times.
Sir WG Grace “Father of Cricket” Contribution in Cricket
Sir WG Grace was a full-time doctor by profession and was one of those who loved to help the needy people because of his unselfish nature. His long-lasting career, which spanned 44 FC seasons, is still celebrated in this sport history. He and members of his family used to play this game when it was played in two different categories: professionals known as the Gentlemen and amateurs known as the Players.
There was a massive gap between the two categories because most of the professionals were keen to maintain the distance from lower-class cricketers. That’s where Grace helped to lower this gap and brought everyone together.
He was one of the first few members of Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), which earned him a massive stature. That is why he also played a big role in developing and shaping cricket rules for the benefit of the game. It was during his career that playing with three stumps became official.
His contribution to shaping cricket into what it is today is unparalleled. That is why his career and life are among cricket’s celebrated stories. Grace was a multi-sportsperson who played football, golf, lawn bowls, and curling. Though he played most of his career in the amateur category, he made way more money than professional cricketers.
Sir WG Grace “Father of Cricket” Stats
| Format | Mts | Inns | Runs | Avg | HS | 100s | 50s | Wickets | BBI | 5w | 10w |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | 22 | 36 | 1098 | 32.29 | 170 | 2 | 5 | 9 | 2/12 | 0 | 0 |
| First-Class | 870 | 1478 | 54211 | 39.45 | 344 | 124 | 251 | 2809 | 10/49 | 240 | 64 |
Sir WG Grace played 870 first-class matches, representing teams like Gloucestershire, London County, and MCC. He scored a total of 54211 runs at an average of 39.75 with a best of 344. He scored 124 hundreds and 251 half-centuries in his career. With the ball, he took a total of 2809 wickets at an incredible average of 18.14, with a best inning of 10/49. Grace also took 240 fifers and 64 ten-wicket hauls.
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He made his debut for England on September 6, 1880, against Australia and scored 152 runs in his debut inning and took three wickets. For England, he played 22 Tests and scored 1098 runs and took nine wickets between 1880 and 1899. He led England at the age of 50 years and 320 days and is the oldest captain in the history of the game. It was also his final Test for England.
