116 Facts About Wilfred Rhodes

Wilfred Rhodes was an English professional cricketer who played 58 Test matches for England between 1899 and 1930.

In Tests, Rhodes took 127 wickets and scored 2,325 runs, becoming the first Englishman to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in Test matches.

Wilfred Rhodes holds the world records both for the most appearances made in first-class cricket, and for the most wickets taken.

Wilfred Rhodes completed the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in an English cricket season a record 16 times.

Wilfred Rhodes played for Yorkshire and England into his fifties, and in his final Test in 1930 was, at 52 years and 165 days, the oldest player who has appeared in a Test match.

The improvement in Wilfred Rhodes's batting was accompanied by a temporary decline in his bowling performances, but the loss of key Yorkshire bowlers after the war led to Wilfred Rhodes resuming his role as a front-line bowler.

Wilfred Rhodes played throughout the 1920s as an all-rounder before retiring after the 1930 cricket season.

Wilfred Rhodes ended his Test career in the West Indies in April 1930.

Wilfred Rhodes's batting was regarded as solid and dependable but unspectacular, and critics accused him of excessive caution at times.

Wilfred Rhodes's eyesight began to fail from around 1939 to the point where he was completely blind by 1952.

Wilfred Rhodes was given honorary membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club in 1949 and remained a respected figure within the game until his death in 1973.

Wilfred Rhodes was born in the village of Kirkheaton, just outside Huddersfield, in 1877.

Wilfred Rhodes's family moved to a farm two miles away while he was very young.

Wilfred Rhodes went to school in nearby Hopton, and later to Spring Grove School in Huddersfield.

Wilfred Rhodes played for Gala Cricket Club in 1896 and 1897, as an all-rounder who opened the batting and bowled medium paced seamers.

Wilfred Rhodes took 92 wickets in his first season, and discovered that bowling an occasional slow ball brought him some success.

Over several months, Wilfred Rhodes used his practice sessions to develop control of spin and different types of delivery.

Wilfred Rhodes successfully applied for a place in a Yorkshire Colts team to play against the County XI.

However, as he later admitted, Wilfred Rhodes had a poor match, while his rival for Peel's place in the side, Albert Cordingley, took nine wickets.

In early spring 1898, Wilfred Rhodes was invited to the nets at Headingley, which led to him playing in some friendly matches.

Wilfred Rhodes went on to make his first-class debut for Yorkshire on 12 May 1898 against the MCC, taking six wickets in the match.

In 1899, Wilfred Rhodes took 179 wickets at an average of 17.10 in a reasonably dry season; this weather meant that pitches were harder, easier to bat on, and less likely to suit his bowling.

Wilfred Rhodes made his Test debut in the five-match series against Australia, playing in three of the five Tests; his first Test coincided with W G Grace's last.

Wilfred Rhodes opened the English bowling and took four wickets for 58 in an Australian total of 252; his first Test wicket was Monty Noble.

Wilfred Rhodes was described by Wisden as bowling "steady and well" on the first day.

Wilfred Rhodes took three wickets in the second Test, but the selectors omitted him from the third match, a decision Wisden believed was mistaken.

In 1900, Wilfred Rhodes took 261 wickets as bad weather made pitches helpful to his bowling.

In 1901, the weather was much better, leading to pitches that were good for batting, but Wilfred Rhodes took 251 wickets, an achievement described by Wisden as astonishing.

Against MCC that year, Wilfred Rhodes scored his maiden first-class century, batting at number nine.

Wilfred Rhodes played in all five Tests and was England's leading wicket-taker with 22 wickets at an average of 15.27.

Wilfred Rhodes took seven for 17 in the first innings of the first Test, out of an Australian total of 36, in conditions that the umpires considered reasonable for batting; Wisden noted that Rhodes and Hirst bowled very well.

However, C B Fry believed that Hirst was more difficult to play and that while Rhodes bowled well, the Australian batsmen got themselves out as they "hurried to the other end and tried to hit Rhodes, without success".

Wilfred Rhodes was batting at the end of the match, but was unable to prevent Australia from snatching victory to win by three runs and take the series.

The final Test, at The Oval, was dominated by Gilbert Jessop and Hirst, but when England needed 263 to win in the final innings, Wilfred Rhodes came in to bat after the ninth wicket fell with 15 needed for England to win.

In 1903, Wilfred Rhodes scored over 1,000 runs in the season for the first time, in the process completing his first double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets.

Pelham Warner, a leading amateur cricketer and later captain of England, noted that Wilfred Rhodes was comparatively unsuccessful at the start of the year but came back well to take 193 wickets.

Rain made the pitch very difficult to bat on, but Wisden praised Wilfred Rhodes and observed that eight catches were dropped from his bowling.

Australia won the third Test, but the decisive fourth Test was won by England and Wilfred Rhodes contributed with bat and ball.

Later, Wilfred Rhodes added 55 for the tenth wicket in the second innings with his captain.

Wilfred Rhodes had noticed that it was necessary for him to bowl faster in Australia to be effective, and on his return to England he continued with this faster style until the First World War.

Wilfred Rhodes thought that another reason for his relative bowling decline was the development of his batting which took up much of his time.

Rogerson believes that Wilfred Rhodes was affected by the break-up of the successful Yorkshire team which had peaked between 1900 and 1902.

Consequently, Wilfred Rhodes scored more runs and moved further up the batting order after 1903, but his bowling gradually declined until the war.

In 1904, Wilfred Rhodes took 131 wickets, the fewest in a season of his career to date.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 1,537 runs, including two hundreds to complete his second double.

Wilfred Rhodes generally batted at number six or seven in the batting order, but in two games he opened the batting.

In 1905, Yorkshire won the Championship; Wilfred Rhodes again completed the double, with 1,581 runs, his two hundreds including a double hundred.

Wilfred Rhodes took 182 wickets, but Wisden judged that he was not as dangerous a bowler on slow wickets as he had been.

Wilfred Rhodes played in four of the five Tests against Australia that year.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 29 and 39 not out in the first Test, but in the second, suffered an injured finger which reduced his effectiveness and caused him to miss the next Test.

Wilfred Rhodes's fielding was singled out for praise as he took four catches, two of them regarded as brilliant.

The relative deterioration in Wilfred Rhodes's bowling continued into the 1906 season when Wisden commented that he had lost his sharp spin and was not dangerous on a hard wicket.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 1,721 runs, now regularly opening the batting, and completed another double with 128 wickets, but the Wisden correspondent did not believe this compensated for his lost bowling.

In 1907, Wilfred Rhodes scored fewer runs and increased his bowling aggregate, securing 173 wickets in a wet season.

Wilfred Rhodes took four for 102 in Australia's second innings of that Test, and finished the Test series with seven wickets at an average of 60.14.

Wilfred Rhodes followed this with another double in 1908 of 1,660 runs and 106 wickets as Yorkshire won the County Championship.

In 1909, Wilfred Rhodes scored 2,094 runs at an average of 40.26, which was to remain his second highest run aggregate and average for an English cricket season, and took 141 wickets.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 168 runs at an average of 33.60, and took 11 wickets at an average of 22.00.

Wilfred Rhodes opened the batting throughout the tour, partnering Jack Hobbs for the first time.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 1,465 runs at an average of 26.63, and took 88 wickets at an average of 18.98, the first time since the start of his career that he had taken less than 100 wickets in an English season.

Wilfred Rhodes was more productive with 2,261 runs, the second and final time that he passed 2,000 runs in an English summer, and the highest season's total of his career.

Wilfred Rhodes averaged 38.32 with the bat, and took 117 wickets.

In September 1911 Wilfred Rhodes made his third visit to Australia, this time as the opening partner of Jack Hobbs.

Wilfred Rhodes played as Hobbs' opening partner in each of England's six matches and won praise from Wisden.

In England's first match, a victory against South Africa, Wilfred Rhodes scored 36, his steady defence being described as invaluable.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 59, his first 52 runs being scored out of a total of 77 before he slowed down; Wisden reported that the later part of his innings was "as cautious as the first part was brilliant".

Later in the match Wilfred Rhodes bowled and took three wickets for 59, his only bowling success of the tournament.

Wilfred Rhodes had scored 204 runs at an average of 51.00 against Australia, but only 53 runs at an average of 13.25 against the South Africans.

Wilfred Rhodes again failed to complete the double in 1913, scoring 1,963 runs and taking 86 wickets.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 731 runs in first-class matches, averaging 34.80, and took 31 wickets at 21.35, which led Wisden to comment on his value as an all-rounder.

Wilfred Rhodes resumed his opening partnership with Hobbs in the third Test, sharing a stand of 100, followed by opening partnerships of 92 and 133 in the fourth Test, the only drawn match of the series.

Consequently, Wilfred Rhodes decided to make up the shortfall by resuming full-time bowling.

The success of Percy Holmes and Herbert Sutcliffe as opening batsmen meant that, although Wilfred Rhodes began the season opening the batting, he was able to move down the order and bat at number four.

Wilfred Rhodes scored 1,237 runs, and by taking 164 wickets at an average of 14.42, finished top of the national first-class bowling averages.

Around this time, Wilfred Rhodes was approached by Haslingden Cricket Club from the Lancashire League, to play cricket for them as a professional.

Wilfred Rhodes now played for Yorkshire as a middle-order batsman and front-line bowler but England's captain Douglas showed uncertainty whether to use Wilfred Rhodes in this capacity, or to revert to his pre-war role as Hobbs's opening partner.

Until the first Test Wilfred Rhodes batted mainly down the order; after this he returned to opening the batting.

Wilfred Rhodes later said that Douglas was reluctant to use him, believing his bowling would be ineffective on Australian pitches.

Wilfred Rhodes played in the first Test, scored 19 and 10 and took two wickets in a heavy defeat.

Wilfred Rhodes faced a further development following the retirements of Hirst and Denton from Yorkshire; he became the county's senior professional.

Wilfred Rhodes took 141 wickets in the season, at an average of 13.27.

Wilfred Rhodes scored over 1,000 runs each year, averaging over 30 except in 1924; in 1925 his average was 40.91, only the second time it exceeded 40 in an English cricket season.

Wilfred Rhodes took over 100 wickets in 1922,1923 and 1924, but took only 57 in 1925, a very good year for batting.

Wilfred Rhodes cultivated a hostile attitude among the bowlers, directed the team tactically and raised its standard of fielding.

Beverley Lyon, who captained Gloucestershire between 1929 and 1934, criticised Wilfred Rhodes for insisting young professionals take the game seriously, thus promoting a no-risk attitude.

Wilfred Rhodes later described feeling nervous when first bowling, but said that he was heartened by the warm welcome he received from the crowd.

Wilfred Rhodes quickly began taking wickets, and went on to take four for 44.

Wilfred Rhodes continued to play for Yorkshire until 1930, but averaged under 30 with the bat in each season and only scored one more hundred, in 1928.

Wilfred Rhodes failed to reach 1,000 runs in a season again, but as a bowler he took 85 wickets in 1927,115 in 1928 and 100 in 1929.

Frederick Toone encouraged Wilfred Rhodes to offer his resignation as senior professional, possibly with a view to installing a new regime, but Wilfred Rhodes declined.

Meanwhile, the proposed appointment of Sutcliffe caused controversy; some members of the county believed Wilfred Rhodes should be appointed.

Wilfred Rhodes pointed out he had not been offered the captaincy, nor had his views been sought.

Wilfred Rhodes felt unappreciated when he was not offered first refusal of the captaincy.

On 12 April 1930, the last day of the final Test, Wilfred Rhodes was aged 52 years and 165 days, making him the oldest-ever Test cricketer.

Wilfred Rhodes was finding it harder to take wickets, and the workload placed on him in the West Indies had decreased his enthusiasm for the game.

Wilfred Rhodes missed several matches towards the end of the 1930 season, before ending his career at the Scarborough Festival.

Over his career Wilfred Rhodes appeared in 1,110 first-class matches, which remains a world record.

Wilfred Rhodes took 4,204 wickets, a record total in first-class cricket.

Wilfred Rhodes was the first player in the world to accumulate 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in Tests.

Wilfred Rhodes could make the ball turn if the pitch offered the slightest assistance, particularly if it had been affected by rain.

Wilfred Rhodes was a master of the stock left-hander's spin and could vary it with the ball that came on with the arm.

Analysts maintained that Wilfred Rhodes had only two or three effective shots, though his technique was good.

Neville Cardus, in his obituary of Wilfred Rhodes, said that the Yorkshireman "made himself into a batsman by practice and hard thinking", and that while often "dour and parsimonious", he was capable of hitting out.

When Wilfred Rhodes was involved in matches, Cardus believed that "he was not a man given to affability", showing annoyance on the field and being critical of the performances of others.

Not popular in the way that a player like Hirst was popular, Wilfred Rhodes "commanded respect rather than plaudits" in the words of Bowes.

However, Wilfred Rhodes became more relaxed and approachable in later life, particularly after his eyesight failed.

Cardus was surprised, after meeting him in 1950, at how much more readily Wilfred Rhodes engaged in conversation, commenting that "history comes from his mouth in rivers".

Wilfred Rhodes found Yorkshire's dealings with money to be ungenerous; following his benefit in 1911 Yorkshire, as was their custom, paid only one-third of the money to Wilfred Rhodes and kept back the rest to invest on his behalf, only paying out the interest.

Wilfred Rhodes considered this to be unfair; however, he was able to use the money to build a stone house at Marsh, Huddersfield, which his family moved into in the autumn of 1912.

From around 1936 Wilfred Rhodes's sight began to fail, and on the outbreak of war in 1939 he was unable to take up a wartime job.

Wilfred Rhodes was still able to see well enough to watch cricket and play golf, although by 1946 he was unable to read a newspaper.

In 1950, Sarah Wilfred Rhodes suffered a heart attack, which limited the help she could give to her husband; she died in 1954, at age 79.

Wilfred Rhodes then sold his house at Marsh and moved in with his daughter and her husband, with whom he later moved to Bournemouth.

Wilfred Rhodes continued to attend cricket matches where he was able to follow the play despite his blindness, and was frequently sought out by cricketers and asked for his advice or opinion.

Wilfred Rhodes was given honorary life membership of Yorkshire in 1946, and of the MCC in 1949.

In 2009, Wilfred Rhodes was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.