George Anderson

GEORGE ANDERSON, the veteran Yorkshire cricketer, died on November 27th, 1902, at Bedale, his native place. Born on the 20th of January, 1826, he was in his seventy-seventh year, and had, of course, long ceased to take any active part in the game. Indeed, to the present generation of players he was only s name. In his day, however, he was a notable figure in the cricket field, and by general consent the best of Yorkshire bats-men. He had a fine commanding style, and no one could drive harder. Standing six feet high, he had groat strength and a very striking presence. For many years he was a member of the All-England Eleven, playing first under the captaincy of William Clarke, and then of George Parr.

From his early youth he was associated with Yorkshire cricket, and he had reached his highest point as a batsmen before the present County Club Was formed-about thirty-eight years ago. He captained the eleven for several seasons before dropping out through increasing age. The last big innings he ever played in a first class match was 99 not out for Yorkshire against Notts, at Trent Bridge, in 1864. He went to Australia with George Parr's team in the winter of 1863-64, but, owing, perhaps, to severe sea-sickness on the voyage out, scarcely did himself justice in the Colonies. Of Parr's unbeaten. side the only survivors, now that Anderson has gone, are Mr. E. M. Grace and William Caffyn. One of the most remarkable matches in which Anderson ever took part in London was the one at the Oval, in 1862, between Surrey and England, in which Willsher was no-balled by John Lilly white, for bowling over the shoulder --an incident that led to the alteration of Law X, in 1864. Towards England's total of 503 Anderson contributed 42, the chief scorers being Tom Hayward (117), Grundy (95), and Carpenter (94). A little earlier in the season of 1862, Anderson played an innings of 57 for the North of England against Surrey, at the Oval, and made a drive for 8, which, to this day, is talked about by old cricketers. A man of kindly disposition, Anderson was always very popular among his brother professionals. He played his first match at Lords, for North against South, in 1851.