11 Facts About Dick Lilley

Dick Lilley was born in Holloway Head, Birmingham, and died in Brislington, Bristol.

Dick Lilley was a wicket-keeper who completed 714 catches and 197 stumpings in 416 first-class matches.

Dick Lilley batted at number 7 in the order, scoring 0 and 10.

Dick Lilley did not make his first-class debut until June 1891.

Dick Lilley made his Test debut against Australia at Lord's in the first match of the 1896 series and went on to play in 35 Tests until 1909.

Dick Lilley took four catches in the match, his first Test victim being George Giffen who was out for 0 facing George Lohmann.

Lilley began standing back on the advice of W G Grace who, on seeing him standing up to Tom Richardson, the England fast bowler, suggested that he would "do better by standing back", which Lilley did for the rest of his career.

Dick Lilley last played for Warwickshire in July 1911, retiring in "early August" and the county went on to win the championship that year.

Dick Lilley's place was taken by Tiger Smith who played for Warwickshire until 1930.

Dick Lilley was, they said, "so pronounced an artist that at the end of his career his hands and fingers showed scarcely a trace of the heavy strain to which they had been subjected in taking bowling of all descriptions".

Dick Lilley was renowned as "an exceptionally fine judge of cricket" and his team captains often consulted him during matches.