Description
Imaginary Cricket Match, England versus Australia, 1886
by Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples
Superior Edition Gouttelette Print
Paper Size: 28 x 16 ins / 100 x 58 cm
Image Size: 24 x 12 ins / 86 x 44 cm
Each print is hand numbered, accompanied by a certificate signed by the Master Printer and is numbered to match the print. The editions are limited to 1880 copies.
This painting depicts two Fantasy Elevens selected by the artists G H Barrable and Sir Robert Ponsonby Staples, taken from some of the greatest names from the early days of Test cricket. The 22 players depicted in the painting never played against each other in exactly this combination, but the two Elevens include many heroes of the early game.
The England XI includes the legendary W.G Grace, cricket’s father figure and the holder of countless records. In a stupendous and very lengthy career, Dr Grace scored England’s first ever test century, became the first man to score 1000 runs and take 100 wickets in the same season, scored 1000 runs in a season 28 times and captained England on many occasions. Also included in the XI are Lord Harris, who captained England during the first test in England in 1880 and who played his last county cricket match at the age of 60, the celebrated batsman Arthur Shreswbury, who captained England on three tours of Australia, and AN Hornby, who became the first man to play both rugby and cricket for his country.
The Australia XI includes Fred ‘The Demon’ Spofforth, Australia’s first true fast bowler, who was feared by batsmen around the world. Spofforth was the first bowler to clinch a test hat-trick; he claimed ten wickets in a match in four of his eighteen tests and took a remarkable 14 wickets for 90 runs in a test against England in 1882. Also included in the Australian team were Billy Murdoch, who scored the first double century in test cricket and Charles Bannerman who completed in 1877 the first ever test century
watermarks do not appear on prints
