Logo

12 Facts About Ernest Halliwell

1.

Ernest Austin "Barberton" Halliwell was a first-class cricketer, who played eight Test matches for South Africa between 1892 and 1902, including three as captain.

2.

Ernest Halliwell played as a wicket-keeper, and was the first to put raw steaks inside his gloves to protect his hands.

3.

Ernest Halliwell was particularly praised for standing close to the wickets, even against fast bowlers.

4.

Ernest Halliwell was born on 7 September 1864 in Ealing, Middlesex, the son of Richard Halliwell, who was a wicket-keeper for Middlesex County Cricket Club.

5.

Ernest Halliwell rose to prominence two years later, when a South African team toured the British Isles.

6.

Ernest Halliwell's wicket-keeping was judged by his English peers as being among the best in the world, and he was compared in equal terms with Jack Blackham and Gregor MacGregor, the Australian and English Test wicket-keepers of the time.

7.

When Lord Hawke led an England side to South Africa in early 1896, Ernest Halliwell captained South Africa in the first two Test matches: his side lost both games heavily, due mainly to the bowling of George Lohmann.

8.

Ernest Halliwell captained the side in late 1902, against Australia, and South Africa suffered a heavy defeat.

9.

Ernest Halliwell played one match for London County, before appearing for his county of birth, Middlesex, in a county match against Essex.

10.

Ernest Halliwell did not appear again for South Africa after that 1904 tour, considered by some to be a "veteran who had had his day".

11.

Ernest Halliwell was considered a useful batsman, and his highest score was 92 runs, made against Somerset in 1901.

12.

Ernest Halliwell died at Johannesburg in October 1919 aged 55, after an operation for gangrene of the leg.