Lyon breaks record of a cricket giant

When Nathan Lyon bowled Kraigg Brathwaite in Jamaica in the second Test, he became the highest wicket taker of all Australian Test off-spinners. In doing so, he surpassed the 111-year-old record held by Hugh Trumble who took 141 wickets at an average of 21.78.

In recent days Trumble has simply been described as a ‘nineteenth century cricketer’. Such a description undersells this 6’4″ giant of the game.

Let’s take the opportunity to spare a few moments to reflect on Trumble’s contribution because he was certainly one of the finest and most highly regarded players and personalities in the annals of Australian Test cricket.

The last of his 32 Tests speaks volumes of his place in Test match history. After Australia had lost the first Test of the 1903-04 Ashes series, the 36-year-old was encouraged to come out of retirement. And what a comeback it was. He captured nine English wickets but this was still not enough to prevent a 2-0 lead in the series.

By the time of the fifth Test, Trumble had taken 17 wickets. Yet his last Test looked like being completely uneventful as he was not required at the bowling crease in the first innings.

‘Tibby’ Cotter and Monty Noble had collected all 10 wickets very cheaply. England was left to chase 320 to win but after his first six overs Trumble had four wickets as the tourists collapsed to be 7-101. The sticky Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket made him almost unplayable.

In his next over, the inventor of the googly, Bernard Bosanquet, skied a catch to Algy Gehrs. Having crossed when that ball was in the air, captain ‘Plum’ Warner was on strike for the next ball and was lured forward to hit a return catch.

Last man in, Dick Lilley, was then lbw to a skidding delivery first ball. The Test was suddenly won and Trumble had become the first cricketer to take a second Test hat-trick having achieved the feat three years earlier against the English also on his home ground the MCG.

Only Jimmy Matthews and Wasim Akram have completed the feat in all Test history. The appropriateness of the venue for his two hat-tricks became even more significant later. From 1911 through to his death in 1938, when he left behind his wife and eight children, Trumble was the secretary of the MCG and he oversaw the development of it into the largest cricket ground in the world.

This climax to his Test-playing days was just one incredible achievement of a remarkable career. It had started slowly with some average returns in his first two tours to England in 1890 and 1893. After his first six Tests, Trumble had only taken 11 wickets and many more caps for his country seemed unlikely.

However, by 1904 he had become the highest Test wicket taker – a record that he held for almost a decade until the great Syd Barnes overtook him. It took another 77 years before Dennis Lillee beat his record of most Test wickets against England.

The lanky off-spinner began to have success on his third tour to England in 1896 and was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year. On the 1899 trip he took over 100 wickets and scored more than 1000 runs. His impeccable length and variation of pace caused W G Grace to call him “the best bowler Australia has sent us”.

When Joe Darling went back to Tasmania to tend his farm in 1902, Trumble stepped up to be Test captain. He took the lead by opening the batting and leading Australia to victory in both Tests in which he was at the helm. His scored four Test half centuries in all (and three first class 100s) despite usually batting well down the order.

One record that he stills holds today is his seventh-wicket partnership of 165 with Clem Hill against England in 1897-98. Coming in at 6-58 at his favourite MCG, he helped to rescue the situation on the first morning in a Test that the home side eventually won.

Trumble was a brilliant slip fielder, evidenced by the incredible 207 catches he took during his five tours to England, his long arms and sure hands helping him to make catching look easy. Trumble’s popularity and respect made him an excellent tactician – something recognised by CB Fry who wrote referring to Trumble that, “he is the most long-headed, observant and acute judge of the game… It is the head, best in the side, that makes the difference for the Australians.”

It was in the famous 1902 series in England during two of the tightest Test matches that he really excelled. At Old Trafford he took 10 wickets in the match that was won by just three runs by Australia.

During the next Test (commonly known as Jessop’s match due to his 104 in just 77 minutes), Trumble bowled 31 unchanged overs while taking 8-65 in the first innings. He snared another four second innings wickets and top scored with an undefeated 64. Despite these heroics, England won a nail-biting Test by one wicket.

Let’s return to the scene of his triumphant last Test. After Trumble had taken the hat-trick, AG ‘Johnnie’ Moyes described the scene:

“Then he donned his sweater, walked off the field and out of international cricket. No man ever made such a dramatic exit as this, but then Trumble was an unusual man, one of the men who really mattered.”

Nathan Lyon can indeed be proud to have surpassed the record of such a man.