Jem Broadbridge
Encyclopedia
James "Jem" Broadbridge was an English professional cricket
er who is widely accounted the outstanding all-rounder
in England during the 1820s. He is best remembered for his part in the introduction of roundarm bowling
. He played mainly for Sussex and made 102 known appearances in first-class cricket
from 1814 to 1840. He represented the Players in the Gentlemen v Players
series and the South
in the North v. South
series.
He had an outstanding season in 1825 when inter-county cricket was revived for the first time since 1796 with Sussex playing two matches each against Hampshire
and Kent
. Broadbridge scored the most runs in the season with 552 @ 46.00 (HS 135) and also took the most wickets with 31 (BB 6-?). This was the first time that one player had led both the batting and bowling rankings in a single season.
Broadbridge repeated the feat in 1828, the year after the roundarm trial matches
, when he scored 316 runs @ 19.75 (HS 71) and took 46 wickets (BB 5-?). Although roundarm had not yet been formally legalised, it was noted that Broadbridge and his Sussex colleague William Lillywhite
constantly bowled with arm outstretched and the umpires did not no-ball them. Roundarm became known as "Sussex bowling" and this nickname stuck for a long time.
In 1829, Broadbridge was joint top batsman with William Searle
, both scoring 265 runs. Broadbridge averaged 18.92 (HS 52) and Searle 20.38 (HS 87). In 1830, he topped the bowling again, taking 27 wickets (BB 5-?).
Broadbridge had been arguably the best player in England during the 1820s but he was past his best in the 1830s, although he still had much to offer in terms of knowledge and experience. He continued playing until the 1840 season.
legalised. In the 1827 season
, three roundarm trial matches
were staged between Sussex and All-England
to evaluate roundarm vis-à-vis underarm
. Broadbridge and Lillywhite were allowed to bowl roundarm for Sussex but the All-England players had to bowl underarm. The result of the "trial" was inconclusive but in practice, with umpires turning a blind eye, Broadbridge and Lillywhite continued to bowl roundarm without penalty.
of his time. According to Arthur Haygarth
in Scores and Biographies, he was "considered for some seasons the best general cricketer in England, both as a batsman, bowler and single wicket
player". He bowled right arm fast medium and batted right-handed. He was described by Haygarth as "an extremely hard hitter".
The bowling of Broadbridge and Lillywhite was the key factor in the success of Sussex, which was hailed as the Champion County in the 1820s. Haygarth says that Broadbridge began as a "slinging" bowler who afterwards delivered roundarm. He was quicker than medium pace but varied his length and speed "with effect".
Broadbridge was described as "one of the most fox-headed fellows that ever bowled and was enough to worry and puzzle any man alive".
In the third of the roundarm trial matches
in 1827, Broadbridge was out to one of the most unusual dismissals ever recorded. Despite his team having been told to bat steadily in their second innings when chasing 120 to win, Broadbridge at the start literally threw his bat out of his hands at a wide delivery. Bat and ball made contact and the ball flew off to point where it was caught by William Ward
and Broadbridge was out. England then won by 25 runs.
His elder brother William
(1790-1860) was an occasional Sussex player in 25 matches between 1817 and 1830. His younger brother Robin (born 1797) played four matches between 1822 and 1824. The Broadbridge brothers were cousins of their Sussex colleague George Millyard
.
Broadbridge's home village of Duncton has a pub named The Cricketers in honour of himself and his colleague Jemmy Dean
, another lifelong resident.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
er who is widely accounted the outstanding all-rounder
All-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
in England during the 1820s. He is best remembered for his part in the introduction of roundarm bowling
Roundarm bowling
In cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the first quarter of the 19th century and had largely superseded underarm bowling by the 1830s. Using a roundarm action, the bowler has his arm extended at about 90 degrees from his body at the point where he releases the ball...
. He played mainly for Sussex and made 102 known appearances 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...
from 1814 to 1840. He represented the Players in the Gentlemen v Players
Gentlemen v Players
The Gentlemen v Players game was a first-class cricket match that was generally played on an annual basis between one team consisting of amateurs and one of professionals . The first two games took place in 1806 but the fixture was not revived until 1819. It was more or less annual thereafter...
series and the South
South of England cricket team
The South of England appeared in first-class cricket between 1836 and 1961, most often in the showcase North v. South matches against the North of England although there were also games against touring teams, MCC and others....
in the North v. South
North v. South
The North of England and South of England teams appeared in first-class cricket between the 1836 and 1961 seasons, most often in matches against each other but also individually in games against touring teams, MCC and others....
series.
Cricket career
Jem Broadbridge had a known career in major cricket spanning the 1814 to 1840 English seasons. In 102 matches, he scored 2671 runs @ 16.59 with a highest score of 135. He took 51 catches and 324 wickets.He had an outstanding season in 1825 when inter-county cricket was revived for the first time since 1796 with Sussex playing two matches each against Hampshire
Hampshire county cricket teams
Hampshire county cricket teams have been traced back to the 18th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that...
and Kent
Kent county cricket teams
Kent county cricket teams have been traced back to the 17th century but the county's involvement in cricket goes back much further than that. Kent, jointly with Sussex, is the birthplace of the sport...
. Broadbridge scored the most runs in the season with 552 @ 46.00 (HS 135) and also took the most wickets with 31 (BB 6-?). This was the first time that one player had led both the batting and bowling rankings in a single season.
Broadbridge repeated the feat in 1828, the year after the roundarm trial matches
Roundarm trial matches
The roundarm trial matches were a series of cricket matches between Sussex and All-England during the 1827 English cricket season. Their purpose was to help the MCC, as the game's lawgivers, to decide if roundarm bowling should be legalised or if the only legitimate style of bowling should be...
, when he scored 316 runs @ 19.75 (HS 71) and took 46 wickets (BB 5-?). Although roundarm had not yet been formally legalised, it was noted that Broadbridge and his Sussex colleague William Lillywhite
William Lillywhite
Frederick William Lillywhite was a famous English cricketer during the game's roundarm era...
constantly bowled with arm outstretched and the umpires did not no-ball them. Roundarm became known as "Sussex bowling" and this nickname stuck for a long time.
In 1829, Broadbridge was joint top batsman with William Searle
William Searle
William Searle was an English cricketer in the 19th century. He was right-handed as a bowler and a fielder but he batted left-handed. Searle played mainly for Surrey...
, both scoring 265 runs. Broadbridge averaged 18.92 (HS 52) and Searle 20.38 (HS 87). In 1830, he topped the bowling again, taking 27 wickets (BB 5-?).
Broadbridge had been arguably the best player in England during the 1820s but he was past his best in the 1830s, although he still had much to offer in terms of knowledge and experience. He continued playing until the 1840 season.
Roundarm controversy
Broadbridge and Lillywhite were innovators who did much to have roundarm bowlingRoundarm bowling
In cricket, roundarm bowling is a style that was introduced in the first quarter of the 19th century and had largely superseded underarm bowling by the 1830s. Using a roundarm action, the bowler has his arm extended at about 90 degrees from his body at the point where he releases the ball...
legalised. In the 1827 season
1827 English cricket season
The roundarm controversy came to a head before the 1827 English cricket season and MCC agreed to the staging of three trial matches between Sussex and All-England. Roundarm's supporters made the grandiose claim that their campaign was a march of intellect...
, three roundarm trial matches
Roundarm trial matches
The roundarm trial matches were a series of cricket matches between Sussex and All-England during the 1827 English cricket season. Their purpose was to help the MCC, as the game's lawgivers, to decide if roundarm bowling should be legalised or if the only legitimate style of bowling should be...
were staged between Sussex and All-England
All-England Eleven
In cricket, the term All-England has been used for various non-international teams that have been formed for short-term purposes since the 1739 English cricket season and it indicates that the "Rest of England" is playing against, say, MCC or an individual county team...
to evaluate roundarm vis-à-vis underarm
Underarm bowling
In cricket, underarm bowling is as old as the sport itself. Until the introduction of the roundarm style in the first half of the 19th century, bowling was performed in the same way as in bowls, the ball being delivered with the hand below the waist...
. Broadbridge and Lillywhite were allowed to bowl roundarm for Sussex but the All-England players had to bowl underarm. The result of the "trial" was inconclusive but in practice, with umpires turning a blind eye, Broadbridge and Lillywhite continued to bowl roundarm without penalty.
Style and technique
Known to his fellow cricketers as "Our Jem", Broadbridge was arguably the outstanding all-rounderAll-rounder
An all-rounder is a cricketer who regularly performs well at both batting and bowling. Although all bowlers must bat and quite a few batsmen do bowl occasionally, most players are skilled in only one of the two disciplines and are considered specialists...
of his time. According to Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth
Arthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
in Scores and Biographies, he was "considered for some seasons the best general cricketer in England, both as a batsman, bowler and single wicket
Single Wicket
Single wicket cricket is a form of cricket played between two individuals, who take turns to bat and bowl against each other. The one bowling is assisted by a team of fielders, who remain as fielders at the change of innings. The winner is the one who scores more runs...
player". He bowled right arm fast medium and batted right-handed. He was described by Haygarth as "an extremely hard hitter".
The bowling of Broadbridge and Lillywhite was the key factor in the success of Sussex, which was hailed as the Champion County in the 1820s. Haygarth says that Broadbridge began as a "slinging" bowler who afterwards delivered roundarm. He was quicker than medium pace but varied his length and speed "with effect".
Broadbridge was described as "one of the most fox-headed fellows that ever bowled and was enough to worry and puzzle any man alive".
In the third of the roundarm trial matches
Roundarm trial matches
The roundarm trial matches were a series of cricket matches between Sussex and All-England during the 1827 English cricket season. Their purpose was to help the MCC, as the game's lawgivers, to decide if roundarm bowling should be legalised or if the only legitimate style of bowling should be...
in 1827, Broadbridge was out to one of the most unusual dismissals ever recorded. Despite his team having been told to bat steadily in their second innings when chasing 120 to win, Broadbridge at the start literally threw his bat out of his hands at a wide delivery. Bat and ball made contact and the ball flew off to point where it was caught by William Ward
William Ward (cricketer)
William Ward was a noted English cricketer. He came from an affluent family which owned property on the Isle of Wight. He was educated at Winchester College, and then received financial training in Antwerp.-Life and career:William Ward was a prominent right-handed batsman and an occasional slow...
and Broadbridge was out. England then won by 25 runs.
Family and personal life
Broadbridge belonged to a farming family and lived all his life at Duncton. He regularly walked from Duncton to Brighton and back (a sixty mile round trip) to play cricket. He was the son of William and Mary Broadbridge. His height was 5ft 10in and he weighed about 12 stones. He died unmarried at the age of 47 only a couple of years after he finished playing cricket.His elder brother William
William Broadbridge
William Broadbridge was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1817 to 1830...
(1790-1860) was an occasional Sussex player in 25 matches between 1817 and 1830. His younger brother Robin (born 1797) played four matches between 1822 and 1824. The Broadbridge brothers were cousins of their Sussex colleague George Millyard
George Millyard
George Millyard was an English professional cricketer who played first-class cricket from 1835 to 1842...
.
Broadbridge's home village of Duncton has a pub named The Cricketers in honour of himself and his colleague Jemmy Dean
Jemmy Dean
James "Jemmy" Dean was an English cricketer who played for Sussex County Cricket Club in the 19th century....
, another lifelong resident.
Further reading
- H S AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1926 - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999 - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 - Arthur HaygarthArthur HaygarthArthur Haygarth was a noted amateur cricketer who became one of cricket's most significant historians....
, Scores & Biographies, Volumes 1-2 (1744-1840), Lillywhite, 1862 - John MajorJohn MajorSir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
, More Than A Game, HarperCollins, 2007 - James PycroftJames PycroftJames Pycroft is chiefly known for writing The Cricket Field, one of the earliest books about cricket, published in 1851. Pycroft mythologised cricket as a noble, manly and essentially British activity James Pycroft (1813, Geyers House, Wiltshire – 1895-03-10, Brighton, Sussex) is chiefly known...
, The Cricket Field, Longman, 1854