George Gaukrodger
Encyclopedia
George Warrington Gaukrodger (11 September 1877, Kirkburton
, Yorkshire
– 4 January 1938, Low Moor, Bradford
, Yorkshire
) was a cricketer
who played more than 100 times in first-class cricket
for Worcestershire
between 1900 and 1910; he also played once for the Players against the touring Australians
in 1902.
Being partially domiciled in Ireland and hailing from an Irish family, Yorkshire born Gaukrodger qualified for Worcestershire
and made his first-class debut against London County
in May 1900, his first dismissal being the stumping of tail-ender Lionel Wells. He played a further two matches that season, and another two the following year, but it was not until 1902 that he established himself in the Worcestershire side, replacing Thomas Straw
as regular wicket-keeper
.
In that 1902 season, Gaukrodger played 24 times, including the aforementioned game for the Players at Harrogate
; he failed twice with the bat, but pulled off two stumpings. In total he made 48 dismissals, a tally which was to remain his best, and nor did he ever surpass the 666 first-class runs he hit that year, which included 58 against the Australians at New Road
.
He enjoyed another good season with the bat in 1903, once more passing 500 runs and hitting his highest first-class score when he made 91 against Lancashire
in June, putting on 167 with HK Foster to drag Worcestershire from the depths of 32/4. Indeed, with the exception of last man Robert Burrows
(18), Gaukrodger and Foster were the only batsmen to reach double figures in the first innings. His 37 dismissals in 1903 also contributed to a satisfactory summer.
Never again did Gaukrodger play more than 13 times in a season, being gradually superseded by Bale. However the best summer of his later years was 1907, when he took 26 catches and made 13 stumpings. His batting, however, fell away. In 1906 he managed only 82 runs from 21 innings with an average below 6. One score of exactly 50 in 1904 proved to be his last half-century, although he did score an unbeaten 45 against Kent
in 1908.
Gaukrodger's last first-class appearance of all was also his only match of the 1910 season, against Lancashire
at Worcester
, making 0 not out and capturing three dismissals. He did not appear at this level again, giving up his position completely to Ernest Bale
.
He umpired one first-class match, standing with George Bromhead at Worcestershire's game against the Philadelphians
in July 1908 though he officiated in Club and Ground fixtures..
A gifted sportsman, Gaukrodger played football
at the international level, appearing for Ireland
against Wales in March 1895. He was not yet eighteen but earned his selection as a prolific goal scorer after success in the Irish league for the Belfast side Linfield
.
Kirkburton
Kirkburton is a village, civil parish and local government ward in the metropolitan county of West Yorkshire, England, south east of Huddersfield, in the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
– 4 January 1938, Low Moor, Bradford
Bradford
Bradford lies at the heart of the City of Bradford, a metropolitan borough of West Yorkshire, in Northern England. It is situated in the foothills of the Pennines, west of Leeds, and northwest of Wakefield. Bradford became a municipal borough in 1847, and received its charter as a city in 1897...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
) was a cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played more than 100 times in first-class cricket
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...
for Worcestershire
Worcestershire County Cricket Club
Worcestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Worcestershire...
between 1900 and 1910; he also played once for the Players against the touring Australians
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
in 1902.
Being partially domiciled in Ireland and hailing from an Irish family, Yorkshire born Gaukrodger qualified for Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and made his first-class debut against London County
London County Cricket Club
London County Cricket Club was a short-lived cricket club founded by the Crystal Palace Company. In 1898 they invited WG Grace to help them form a first-class cricket club. Grace accepted the offer and became the club's secretary, manager and captain. As a result, he severed his connection with...
in May 1900, his first dismissal being the stumping of tail-ender Lionel Wells. He played a further two matches that season, and another two the following year, but it was not until 1902 that he established himself in the Worcestershire side, replacing Thomas Straw
Thomas Straw
Thomas Straw was an English cricketer. A right-handed batsman born in Hucknall Torkard, Nottinghamshire, he kept wicket for Worcestershire County Cricket Club in their early years of first-class cricket...
as regular wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
.
In that 1902 season, Gaukrodger played 24 times, including the aforementioned game for the Players at Harrogate
Harrogate
Harrogate is a spa town in North Yorkshire, England. The town is a tourist destination and its visitor attractions include its spa waters, RHS Harlow Carr gardens, and Betty's Tea Rooms. From the town one can explore the nearby Yorkshire Dales national park. Harrogate originated in the 17th...
; he failed twice with the bat, but pulled off two stumpings. In total he made 48 dismissals, a tally which was to remain his best, and nor did he ever surpass the 666 first-class runs he hit that year, which included 58 against the Australians at New Road
New Road, Worcester
New Road, Worcester, England, has been the home cricket ground of Worcestershire County Cricket Club since 1896. Immediately to the northwest is a road called New Road, part of the A44, hence the name.- Overview :...
.
He enjoyed another good season with the bat in 1903, once more passing 500 runs and hitting his highest first-class score when he made 91 against Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
in June, putting on 167 with HK Foster to drag Worcestershire from the depths of 32/4. Indeed, with the exception of last man Robert Burrows
Robert Burrows
Robert Dixon Burrows was a first class cricketer who played for Worcestershire CCC between 1899 and 1919, he also umpired one test match and set a world record in 1911 when he sent a bail spinning 67 yards and 6 inches when he bowled Huddleston at Old Trafford.He bowled right arm fast medium and...
(18), Gaukrodger and Foster were the only batsmen to reach double figures in the first innings. His 37 dismissals in 1903 also contributed to a satisfactory summer.
Never again did Gaukrodger play more than 13 times in a season, being gradually superseded by Bale. However the best summer of his later years was 1907, when he took 26 catches and made 13 stumpings. His batting, however, fell away. In 1906 he managed only 82 runs from 21 innings with an average below 6. One score of exactly 50 in 1904 proved to be his last half-century, although he did score an unbeaten 45 against Kent
Kent County Cricket Club
Kent County Cricket Club is one of the 18 first class county county cricket clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the county of Kent...
in 1908.
Gaukrodger's last first-class appearance of all was also his only match of the 1910 season, against Lancashire
Lancashire County Cricket Club
Lancashire County Cricket Club represents the historic county of Lancashire in cricket's County Championship. The club was founded in 1864 as a successor to Manchester Cricket Club and has played at Old Trafford since then...
at Worcester
Worcester
The City of Worcester, commonly known as Worcester, , is a city and county town of Worcestershire in the West Midlands of England. Worcester is situated some southwest of Birmingham and north of Gloucester, and has an approximate population of 94,000 people. The River Severn runs through the...
, making 0 not out and capturing three dismissals. He did not appear at this level again, giving up his position completely to Ernest Bale
Ernest Bale
Ernest William Bale was an English cricketer who played 148 first-class matches between 1904 and 1920, the great majority of these being for Worcestershire, for whom he was the first-choice wicket-keeper for several years before the First World War...
.
He umpired one first-class match, standing with George Bromhead at Worcestershire's game against the Philadelphians
Philadelphian cricket team
The Philadelphian cricket team was a team that represented Philadelphia in first-class cricket between 1878 and 1913. Even with the United States having played the first ever international cricket match against Canada in 1844, the sport began a slow decline in the country. This decline was...
in July 1908 though he officiated in Club and Ground fixtures..
A gifted sportsman, Gaukrodger played football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
at the international level, appearing for Ireland
Ireland national football team (IFA)
The Ireland national football team represented Ireland at association football, it was organised by the Irish FA , and is the fourth oldest international team in the world. It mainly played in the British Home Championship against England, Scotland and Wales...
against Wales in March 1895. He was not yet eighteen but earned his selection as a prolific goal scorer after success in the Irish league for the Belfast side Linfield
Linfield F.C.
Linfield F.C. , is a semi-professional, Northern Irish football club, whose home ground is Windsor Park in Belfast, which is also the home of the Northern Ireland international team....
.
External links
- Statistical summary from CricketArchiveCricketArchiveCricketArchive is a website that aims to provide a comprehensive archive of records relating to the sport of cricket. It claims to be the most comprehensive cricket database on the internet, including scorecards for all matches of first-class cricket , List A cricket , Women's Test cricket and...
- Northern Ireland's Footballing Greats