Introduction

I have been asked by the MTWD powers that be to write pen-portraits of the Middlesex players who have captained England.

I have chosen to cover in greater detail, the exploits of the six Middlesex players who have captained England in Ashes Series.

Five of those enjoyed at least one successful recovery or defence of the small urn.

Two played before WW1, one between the wars, and the last three, for many, within living memory.

I wish to acknowledge assistance from the following publications, in putting together this soliloquy. Especially for the first three, before my time.

“My Dear Victorious Stod“ by David Frith 1977

“History of County Cricket – Middlesex”  E.M.Wellings 1972

“Wisden Test Cricket 1877 – 1984” Bill Frindall

A.E.Stoddart (Beginnings).

Stoddart. Andrew. Ernest b. Westoe, South Shields, Co.Durham 11 March 1863 d St John’s Wood, London. 4 April 1915.

When Stoddart was nine, the family moved to London from Co.Durham. and set up residence in Primrose Hill.

Stoddart’s father was a King Street wine, spirit and porter merchant, bonded store dealer, land agent and one-time owner of Bedlington Colliery.

Stoddart (known to his friends as Drewy) was as many players were in those far off days in the late 19th century, an amateur, and the first Middlesex player to captain England in an Ashes series.

He played with distinction for England, Middlesex, MCC, Gentlemen and for Hampstead in club cricket.

He was a great allround sportsman and also played for and captained England at Rugby. His position being wing threequarter. His club rugby started at Harlequins but he was persuaded by a friend to move to Blackheath where he remained until retirement.

He was also pretty nifty on the billiards table and no mean boxer, fighting at middleweight. In later life he took up golf with some aplomb.

Career statistics.

You can find his career statistics on Cricket Archive here:

http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/106/106.html

If you click on “List of matches and more detailed statistics you can see his stats for each team and against every opponent.  Against the Aussies in 16 matches he scored 996 runs at just under 36.  He also took a couple of wickets.  He played 167 matches for the Middle, scoring over 9000 runs at just over 32.

Highlights of his Middlesex career included a century in each innings against Notts at Lord’s in 1893, and in his final Middlesex innings: a top score of 221 against Somerset also at Lord’s in 1900.

He was also a very considerable bowler for Middlesex, MCC, Gentleman and his club Hampstead: more of that later.

Stod was one of the most romantic figures in sport in the 1880’s and 1890’s. Apart from as previously mentioned captaining England at  cricket and rugby. He once scored 485 for Hampstead on a Sunday afternoon against the Stoics.

When he committed suicide in 1915 he was widely mourned.

During his time there were only three countries competing at Test level: namely Australia, England and South Africa. Known I believe, as the Imperial Cricket Conference then.

Stod never played against South Africa in Tests. All of his 16 Tests were against Australia.

From my investigations he played in 6 Ashes series. England winning 4, with Australia winning 2.

He captained on 8 occasions, winning 3 tests, drawing 1 and losing 4. Importantly for him, his 3 wins came in the 1894/95 series in Australia when he captained in all 5 tests.

Stod made his test debut as a player in the 1887/88 series in Australia at the SCG. (only test). Opening the batting with Arthur Shrewsbury and making a modest 16 and 17. Test was won by England by 126 runs.

During his career, wickets were uncovered, so both batting and bowling averages tended to be low. A batting average of 30+ was reckoned to be pretty good in those uncovered days.

Another oddity which cannot be imagined now. Players not infrequently declined an England call-up and instead played for their county.

Such an occasion involved Stod in 1890 2nd Test at the Oval. The match was won by England. However, Stod declined selection in order to play for Middlesex against Yorkshire at Bradford. This was due to Yorkshire refusing two of their players’selected permission to play. They were Peel and Ulyett. Stoddart felt he had to respond in kind.

His second test came in the 1891/92 series in Australia at the MCG 1st Test. Australia winning the match, Stod making 0 and 35 batting at three. Grace was captain.

In the next at the SCG he batted at four, making 27 and 69. Australia won again. He was joined in the first two tests of this 3 match series by fellow Middlesex stalwart, Gregor MacGregor keeping wicket, and in the third by H.Philipson who kept wicket while MacGregor played as a batter.

In the third test at the Adelaide Oval: England gained their biggest margin of victory  in any Test so far. Winning by an innings and 230 runs. Torrential rain on the second day caused play to be abandoned: England 490 for 9.and ruined the pitch for batting.

Stod himself scored his first test ton of 134 in England’s 499ao batting this time at first drop, before being lbw to Giffen.  England lost this series 2 to 1.

1893

In this year Stoddart was honoured by his inclusion in Wisden’s Five Batsmen of the Year.

The concise words of praise were now indelibly inscribed in the gospel: “He continually gets runs under conditions that find most batsmen at fault, his play on both slow and fiery wickets being quite exceptional”.

1893 . There came a sojourn into club cricket for Hampstead. The fixture was against Uxbridge. Spofforth  who played 18 Tests for Australia and had been known as ‘The Demon’ in his pomp, was now with Hampstead (overseas players not a modern phenomenon apparently), but he arrived late for the Uxbridge match (much to their relief I imagine. SM). So Stoddart in his role as a bowler along with George Thornton bowled Uxbridge out cheaply. The “Demon” then amazed everyone with an innings of 155 that put Stoddart’s 68 in the shade.

Stod’s career ran at the same time as W.G.Grace. This may have restricted his captaincy opportunities a touch. However his first ever test as captain came in the 1st Lord’s Test in 1893 when he had to stand in for the good Doctor. This match was drawn.

Stoddart opened with Arthur Shrewsbury making 24 and 13. Shrewsbury on the first day became the first batsman to aggregate 1000 Test runs. Stoddart was also the first captain to declare a Test innings closed, declaring the second knock at 234 for 8 after weather interference.

In the second Test at the Oval, Grace reappeared, so Stoddart reverted to the ranks. He opened with W.G. scoring 83 and put on 151 for the first wicket. England totalled 483 and won the match by an innings. Australia bowled out for 91 and 349.  Bannerman became the first Australian to score 1000 runs in Tests.

The third match at Old Trafford was drawn when England one up in the series declined to chase the target and batted out time. Stoddart opened with Grace and was run out for 0. One can but suspect by the good doctor. In the second dig, he made 42 and England took the series 1-0.

Postscript: Gregor MacGregor kept wicket for England during this series.

1894/95

This was a watershed series and the foundation of modern test cricket. It was the first to be fought out over 5 matches. 5 matches are now recognised by the ICC to be of iconic status. England led the series 2-0, Australia then levelled at 2-2, and as in all good story books. The series went to the final match for a 3-2  win for England. Stoddart was the happy man to captain in all five matches.

1st Test  SCG December 14, 15, 17, 19, 20 1894.

The first test to involve six playing days, resulted in the first instance of a team winning a Test after following-on. Gregory with 201, became the first to score a double century in Australia. Scores Australia 586. England 325 and following on 437.

Stoddart made 12 and 36 at first drop. He however ended Gregory’s double ton getting him caught by Peel for one of his two test wickets. Australia set 177 to win were bowled out for 166. England won by 10 runs.. Peel taking 6 for 67.

2nd Test MCG 29,31 Dec 1894, 1st,2nd,3rd January. 1895.

Stoddart’s 173 in the second innings was the highest score for England in Tests, beating WG Grace’s 170 in 1886. It remained the highest by an England captain in Australia until the 1974/75 series, when MH Denness scored 188. England won by 94 runs after being bowled out for 75 first up. Stoddart 10. In the second knock thanks to the captain with support down the order. The total was 475.  Australia made 333 in the second innings.

3rd Test Adelaide Oval 11th,12th,14th,15th January 1895

Two down, this was a must win match for the hosts. This they did by the comfortable margin of 382 runs. The match played in a temperature of 155 F in the open, was notable for the all-round performance of AE Trott ( of later Middlesex fame) who scored 110 runs without being dismissed and bowled virtually unchanged throughout the second England innings to take 8 for 43. This feat has been equalled twice since, by Valentine, West Indies and Massie, Australia (twice at Lord’s 1972) in achieving 8 wickets in their maiden Test.

Stoddart batting at 5, made 1 and 34no in England’s paltry scores of 124 and 143.

4th Test SCG  1st. 2nd (no play, 4th February) 1895.

2-1 down this was yet another must win Test for the hosts. This they did in even more comfortable fashion. The match was won by Australia by an innings and 147 runs.

Stoddart on winning the toss, became the first England captain to invite the opposition to bat. This has seldom worked out and did not then. Australia totalled 284, thanks largely to Graham 105. Graham completed a rare double, scoring hundreds in his first Tests both in England and Australia. When England batted they collapsed to 65 and 72. Stoddart batting at 4, made 7 and 0. England managed six ducks in all.

5th Test MCG 1, 2, 4, 5,6 March 1895

And so to the final and deciding Test. Both sides now were interested in a series win.

With the rubber level, the match of the century, attracted vast crowds and even the interest of Queen Victoria.  Australia made 414 in their first innings. Runs spread around the order. England made a good reply of 385. Stod back at 3, made 68, plus a ton from MacLaren and a fifty from Peel to keep the opposition in sight. Second time around Australia made 267, leaving a not daunting 298 for England to chase. This they accomplished for the loss of four wickets, thanks to 93 from Ward and a 140 from Brown. Stod contributed only 11.

So ended a great series with Stoddart and England  retaining the urn won by England in the 1893 home series.

PS: Oddly given he was an amateur. Stoddy always got a good reception from the Aussie fans. They appreciated his entertaining style of batting. And quote’ Stoddart became instantly popular as a courteous leader, (his manner “ contrasts distinctly with the bombastic way in which old WG used to swagger about. Stoddy moves among the crowd most unpretentiously, as if he were walking upon velvet”) and his men brought in with them, a fascinating gust of youthful dash and mature, awesome experience.

During 1894/5 series, Stoddart was joined by a fellow Middlesex colleague, Francis Ford, reputedly a tall elegant left handed batsman, who batted usefully throughout the series.

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