Bobby Abel
Encyclopedia
Robert Abel nicknamed "The Guv'nor", was a Surrey
and England
opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship
. He was the first England player to "carry his bat" – opening the batting and remaining not out at the end of an innings – through a Test
innings, and the first player to score 2000 runs in consecutive seasons – which he did each season between 1895 and 1902.
Abel also carried his bat through an innings of 811, the highest total for which this feat has been achieved). His 357* in that innings remains a Surrey record, and was the highest score made at The Oval
until Len Hutton
scored 364 in 1938. Abel also played a record number of first-class
matches in a season – 41 in 1902.
A physically small man - only five feet four (162 centimetres) and very slimly built, Abel also suffered in the later part of his career from major vision problems that could have handicapped him against the fastest bowling. However, his ability to produce eccentric, unortodox cross-batted strokes – particularly the pull around his legs – complemented with extreme determination and stamina, brought Abel success on the many difficult pitches of his time and made him highly popular with the public.
's bowling. Abel scored 120 at Cape Town in March 1889 before England dismissed South Africa for 47 and 43, thus scoring more than the opposition managed in both of their innings.
For the next fourteen years, except for 1893 when he was disappointing and handicapped by injury, Abel was always one of the leading run-scorers in England. Despite missing out on Test selection in 1890, Abel returned to his best form in 1891 and played well in Australia the following winter, whilst his batting in the summer of 1894 was a major factor (along with the pace and break-back of Tom Richardson
and William Lockwood
) in Surrey regaining the County Championship in 1894.
However, it was in 1895 that Abel began to stand out as an exceptional run-getter. In that year, he became only the fourth player ever to reach 2000 runs and hit his first double hundred against Essex at The Oval
. Although after 1896 his problematic eyesight made Test selectors unwilling to choose him, Abel's accumulation of runs continued to increase: he was the only player to reach 2000 in 1897 and 1898, scored 2685 runs in 1899, 2592 in 1900 and 3309 – the highest aggregate at the time – in 1901.
Abel's batting on many "sticky wickets" in 1902 induced a recall from the national selectors, but it was clear that he was not the batsman he was ten years before when he failed in both Tests he played. In 1903 he was injured early and struggled upon return to the extent that the Surrey selection committee dropped him early in July.
After this decline, even when relatively fit, Abel disappointed in 1904 and retired - to be replaced by Jack Hobbs
, who surpassed all Abel's records. In his later life, Abel was completely blind
and he died at the age of 79 in Stockwell
, London
.
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
and England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
opening batsman who was one of the most prolific run-getters in the early years of the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. He was the first England player to "carry his bat" – opening the batting and remaining not out at the end of an innings – through a Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
innings, and the first player to score 2000 runs in consecutive seasons – which he did each season between 1895 and 1902.
Abel also carried his bat through an innings of 811, the highest total for which this feat has been achieved). His 357* in that innings remains a Surrey record, and was the highest score made at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
until Len Hutton
Len Hutton
Sir Leonard "Len" Hutton was an English Test cricketer, who played for Yorkshire County Cricket Club and England in the years around the Second World War as an opening batsman. He was described by Wisden Cricketer's Almanack as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of cricket...
scored 364 in 1938. Abel also played a record number of first-class
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
matches in a season – 41 in 1902.
A physically small man - only five feet four (162 centimetres) and very slimly built, Abel also suffered in the later part of his career from major vision problems that could have handicapped him against the fastest bowling. However, his ability to produce eccentric, unortodox cross-batted strokes – particularly the pull around his legs – complemented with extreme determination and stamina, brought Abel success on the many difficult pitches of his time and made him highly popular with the public.
Cricket career
Abel first played for Surrey in 1881, but did not achieve much until 1883, from which point he became a high-class bat - scoring 1000 runs for the first time in 1886. In the summer of 1887, he was disappointing, but in 1888 Abel scored 1323 runs including nine scores over fifty in a year, when only three other Englishmen reached four figures. He was rewarded for this excellence with his first Test matches, scoring 70 at the Oval against Charles TurnerCharles Turner (cricketer)
Charles Thomas Biass Turner was a bowler who is regarded as one of the finest ever produced by Australia....
's bowling. Abel scored 120 at Cape Town in March 1889 before England dismissed South Africa for 47 and 43, thus scoring more than the opposition managed in both of their innings.
For the next fourteen years, except for 1893 when he was disappointing and handicapped by injury, Abel was always one of the leading run-scorers in England. Despite missing out on Test selection in 1890, Abel returned to his best form in 1891 and played well in Australia the following winter, whilst his batting in the summer of 1894 was a major factor (along with the pace and break-back of Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson was an English cricketer. A fast bowler, Richardson relied to a great extent on the break-back , a relatively long run-up and high arm which allowed him to gain sharp lift on fast pitches even from the full, straight length he always bowled...
and William Lockwood
William Lockwood
William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood (William Henry Lockwood; born 25 March 1868, Radford, Nottingham; died 26 April 1932, Radford, Nottingham was a fast bowler and the unpredictable, occasionally devastating counterpart to the amazingly hard-working Tom...
) in Surrey regaining the County Championship in 1894.
However, it was in 1895 that Abel began to stand out as an exceptional run-getter. In that year, he became only the fourth player ever to reach 2000 runs and hit his first double hundred against Essex at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
. Although after 1896 his problematic eyesight made Test selectors unwilling to choose him, Abel's accumulation of runs continued to increase: he was the only player to reach 2000 in 1897 and 1898, scored 2685 runs in 1899, 2592 in 1900 and 3309 – the highest aggregate at the time – in 1901.
Abel's batting on many "sticky wickets" in 1902 induced a recall from the national selectors, but it was clear that he was not the batsman he was ten years before when he failed in both Tests he played. In 1903 he was injured early and struggled upon return to the extent that the Surrey selection committee dropped him early in July.
After this decline, even when relatively fit, Abel disappointed in 1904 and retired - to be replaced by Jack Hobbs
Jack Hobbs
Sir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
, who surpassed all Abel's records. In his later life, Abel was completely blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
and he died at the age of 79 in Stockwell
Stockwell
Stockwell is a district in inner south west London, England, located in the London Borough of Lambeth.It is situated south south-east of Charing Cross. Brixton, Clapham, Vauxhall and Kennington all border Stockwell...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.