Ernest Bale
Encyclopedia
Ernest William Bale was an English
cricketer
who played 148 first-class
matches between 1904 and 1920, the great majority of these (138) being for Worcestershire
, for whom he was the first-choice wicket-keeper
for several years before the First World War. Roy Genders
considered that Bale's keeping in 1911, when Worcestershire came ninth in the County Championship
— their best finish until 1939 — "contributed greatly towards such an excellent season".
Bale played for Surrey
's Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship as early as June 1902,
but his first-class debut came exactly two years later, when he appeared for London County
against Leicestershire
at Crystal Palace Park. He had a quiet match, claiming the single dismissal of Harry Whitehead and scoring 4*
and 22*.
Later that month, Bale made his Surrey
debut, against Oxford University
at The Oval
,
and for the remainder of the season he divided his time between Surrey and London County.
There then followed a significant gap in his first-class career. London County's first-class days were at an end, and Bale had the misfortune to be a contemporary at Surrey with Herbert Strudwick
. It soon became clear that the exceptional Strudwick was not likely to be dislodged as the county's regular keeper. Bale played a few times for Surrey's Second XI in 1905, but then determined to qualify for another county, Worcestershire.
He made his debut for Worcestershire in May 1908, against MCC
at Lord's
; he performed two stumpings, held one catch, and scored 2 and 27.
Although he only played eight more games that summer, the following year he was selected on 13 occasions, and by 1910 he had taken over from George Gaukrodger
as Worcestershire's number one keeper. He was selected for The Rest to face champions Kent
at the end of the season,
and Wisden
adjudged him second only to Strudwick in England.
Bale played in two official Test
Trial games in 1911,
but made little impression in either and, with Strudwick now in possession of the England keeper's spot, never came so close to England selection again. For Worcestershire, however, he continued to play consistently up until the First World War; he made his highest score of 43 for the county against the touring South Africans in May 1912.
After the war, he played a few more times for Worcestershire, but his place behind the stumps was now mostly being taken by the ill-fated Arthur Jewell
and Bale retired from the game in 1920.
Bale was an occasional bowler, and took the first of his nine first-class wickets for London County in 1904, claiming the scalp of Warwickshire
's Tom Fishwick.
His best bowling of 3-46 was achieved for Worcestershire against H. K. Foster's XI at Hereford
in 1919.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
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 148 first-class
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...
matches between 1904 and 1920, the great majority of these (138) being 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...
, for whom he was the first-choice 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...
for several years before the First World War. Roy Genders
Roy Genders
William Roy Genders was an English cricketer who played ten first-class games just after the Second World War...
considered that Bale's keeping in 1911, when Worcestershire came ninth in the County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
— their best finish until 1939 — "contributed greatly towards such an excellent season".
Bale played for Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
's Second XI in the Minor Counties Championship as early as June 1902,
but his first-class debut came exactly two years later, when he appeared for 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...
against Leicestershire
Leicestershire County Cricket Club
Leicestershire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh national cricket structure, representing the historic county of Leicestershire. It has also been representative of the county of Rutland....
at Crystal Palace Park. He had a quiet match, claiming the single dismissal of Harry Whitehead and scoring 4*
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
and 22*.
Later that month, Bale made his Surrey
Surrey County Cricket Club
Surrey County Cricket Club is one of the 18 professional county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Surrey. Its limited overs team is called the Surrey Lions...
debut, against Oxford University
Oxford University Cricket Club
Oxford University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team, representing the University of Oxford. It plays its home games at the University Parks in Oxford, England...
at The Oval
The Oval
The Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
,
and for the remainder of the season he divided his time between Surrey and London County.
There then followed a significant gap in his first-class career. London County's first-class days were at an end, and Bale had the misfortune to be a contemporary at Surrey with Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick
Herbert Strudwick was an English wicket-keeper...
. It soon became clear that the exceptional Strudwick was not likely to be dislodged as the county's regular keeper. Bale played a few times for Surrey's Second XI in 1905, but then determined to qualify for another county, Worcestershire.
He made his debut for Worcestershire in May 1908, against MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
at Lord's
Lord's Cricket Ground
Lord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
; he performed two stumpings, held one catch, and scored 2 and 27.
Although he only played eight more games that summer, the following year he was selected on 13 occasions, and by 1910 he had taken over from George Gaukrodger
George Gaukrodger
George Warrington Gaukrodger 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...
as Worcestershire's number one keeper. He was selected for The Rest to face champions 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...
at the end of the season,
and Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
adjudged him second only to Strudwick in England.
Bale played in two official Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
Trial games in 1911,
but made little impression in either and, with Strudwick now in possession of the England keeper's spot, never came so close to England selection again. For Worcestershire, however, he continued to play consistently up until the First World War; he made his highest score of 43 for the county against the touring South Africans in May 1912.
After the war, he played a few more times for Worcestershire, but his place behind the stumps was now mostly being taken by the ill-fated Arthur Jewell
Arthur Jewell
Major Arthur North Jewell was an English cricketer who played 29 first-class matches between 1910–11 and 1920, mostly for Worcestershire.-Early life and career:...
and Bale retired from the game in 1920.
Bale was an occasional bowler, and took the first of his nine first-class wickets for London County in 1904, claiming the scalp of Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
's Tom Fishwick.
His best bowling of 3-46 was achieved for Worcestershire against H. K. Foster's XI at Hereford
Racecourse Ground, Hereford
The Racecourse Ground is a cricket ground in Hereford, England. The two ends are known as the Pavilion End and the Racecourse End.Worcestershire County Cricket Club played five first-class matches here between 1919 and 1983, and one other first-class game was also staged in 1919...
in 1919.
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...