Full name Frederick Robert Spofforth
Born September 9, 1853, Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales
Died June 4, 1926, Ditton Hill Lodge, Long Ditton, Surrey, England (aged 72 years 268 days)
Major teams Australia, New South Wales, Victoria
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast-medium
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 18 | 29 | 6 | 217 | 50 | 9.43 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 11 | 0 |
First-class | 155 | 236 | 41 | 1928 | 56 | 9.88 | 0 | 3 | 83 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 18 | 30 | 4185 | 1731 | 94 | 7/44 | 14/90 | 18.41 | 2.48 | 44.5 | 6 | 7 | 4 |
First-class | 155 | 30593 | 12759 | 853 | 9/18 | 14.95 | 2.50 | 35.8 | 84 | 32 |
Test debut | Australia v England at Melbourne, Mar 31-Apr 4, 1877 scorecard |
Last Test | Australia v England at Sydney, Jan 28-31, 1887 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1874/75 - 1887/88 |
Tall, spindly, and a player who consistently tested the wits of opposing batsmen, Fred "The Demon" Spofforth was Australia's first true fast bowler. His first-class career spanned the 23-year period between 1874 and 1897 and, throughout that time, his accuracy, his lionhearted endeavour and the phenomenal rapidity of his wicket taking made him a revered figure. Although he possessed a relatively unremarkable run-up and action (the most notable feature of which was a high leap just before he released the ball) and was never regarded as a tearaway fast bowler, Spofforth was an inspiration both for his peers and succeeding generations of pacemen. From the time of his debut for New South Wales, he was a larger than life character in the sport - the quality of his performances matched in kind by his ability to enhance the growing popularity of cricket in Australia.
Australian Cricket Hall of Fame 1996