Full name Edward William Pooley
Born February 13, 1842, Chepstow, Monmouthshire
Died July 18, 1907, Lambeth, London (aged 65 years 155 days)
Major teams England, Middlesex, Surrey
Batting style Right-hand bat
Fielding position Wicketkeeper
Relation Brother - FW Pooley
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First-class | 370 | 645 | 56 | 9345 | 125 | 15.86 | 1 | 32 | 496 | 358 |
Mat | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | Ave | Econ | SR | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First-class | 370 | 627 | 390 | 6 | 2/39 | 65.00 | 3.73 | 104.5 | 0 | 0 |
First-class span | 1861 - 1883 |
Edward Pooley, the once famous Surrey wicket-keeper, died in Lambeth Infirmary on the 18th of July. He had for a long time been in very poor circumstances and was often compelled to seek the shelter of the workhouse. All through his cricket career it was generally supposed that he was born in 1843 and the real date of his birth was only made known by himself in his interview in Old English Cricketers. It seems that when he determined to take up cricket professionally his father thought that he would have a better chance if he knocked a few years off his age. Thus, though regarded at the time as quite a young player, he was over 23 when in May, 1861, he played at the Oval for a team of Surrey Colts against the Gentlemen of the Surrey Club with Hayes and Heartfield. At the time his future fame as a wicketkeeper was unthought of, and presumably he was tried for his batting. Playing on the same side were Harry Jupp, and the still surviving J. Bristow. In 1862 Pooley was engaged as one of the bowlers at the Oval, but his regular connection with the Surrey XI did not begin until about 1865. In the meantime he played for Middlesex, making his first appearance at Lord"s for that county against the MCC on July 25, 1864. The match was a memorable one inasmuch as Grundy and Wootton got Middlesex out in the first innings for a total of 20. The story of how he came to succeed Tom Lockyer is graphically told by himself in Old English Cricketers. He said: "My introduction to wicket-keeping would be about the year 1863. Old Tom Lockyer"s hands were bad, and the ground being fiery he could not take his usual place behind the sticks. Mr. F. P. Miller, the Surrey captain, was in a quandary as to who should relieve him, so I, saucy-like, as usual, went up to him and said 'Mr. Miller, let me have a try.' 'You? What do you know about wicketkeeping? Have you ever kept wicket at all?" was Mr. Miller"s remark. 'No, never, but I should like to try," I replied. 'Nonsense" said he, and when just at that moment H. H. Stephenson came up and remarked 'Let the young'un have a go, sir," Mr. Miller thereupon relented. I donned the gloves, quickly go two or three wickets, and seemed so much at home that Tom Lockyer was delighted, and said I was born to keep wicket and would have to be his successor in the Surrey team. What he said came true."