Ernie Robson
Encyclopedia
Ernest Robson was an English cricket
er who played over 400 first-class
matches for Somerset County Cricket Club
between 1895 and 1923.
in 'second-class' cricket.'Second-class' cricket was a term often used to describe matches between county sides which did not have first-class
status. Robson batted at number eleven
in this match, and was not required to bowl. Cheshire instead opted to rely solely on their opening bowlers, who bowled in excess of 39 overs each in the match against Warwickshire
. He also made two appearances for the Gentlemen of Cheshire in this season, batting as part of the middle order, and opening the bowling on each occasion. He appeared regularly for Cheshire in 1892 and 1893, gradually bowling more and more overs for the county. By the end of 1893, he was opening the bowling, and had performed particularly well against Derbyshire
, claiming six wickets – though he was over twice as expensive
as opening bowler James Bretherton. He didn't appear in county cricket in the following 1894 season.
appearances for Somerset
, claiming two wickets, a duck
, 24 runs and a catch during a seven wicket loss to Cambridge University
. A week later he fell for another duck during the first-innings against Oxford University
, and although he recovered to score 35 in the second-innings, he failed to claim any wickets and didn't play again that season. His County Championship
debut came in 1896 against local rivals Gloucestershire
. Bowling in an attack dominated by Ted Tyler
—who claimed 14 wickets in the match—Robson returned three wickets during his 25 overs. With the bat, he surpassed his previous best and scored 41 in the second-innings from number four in the order, helping Somerset to a 123 run victory.
He became a first-team regular in 1896, playing 18 matches. During this season, he scored his first half-century in first-class cricket, and claimed five-wickets in an innings for the first time. He continued to play regularly for Somerset until the First World War, when County Cricket was cancelled for the duration of the conflict. He enjoyed his best years with the bat around the turn of the century
, averaging 31.75—his highest season average—in 1899, a season in which he made 10 half-centuries. The following season he achieved his maiden first-class century
, though his season average dropped back below 20. In 1901, he improved; passing 100 on two occasions, including his highest total in first-class cricket—163 not out
—made in the second-innings of a match against Oxford University. He only passed one hundred twice more in his career, once in 1909 and for the last time in 1921. His bowling peaked later in his career, in the years surrounding the war. In 1909 he claimed ten wickets in a first-class match for the first time, and averaged
under for the second, and last, time in his career. He claimed over 50 first-class wickets in every season between 1908 and 1922 with the exception of 1911 and 1920, when he took 47 and 49 respectively. His most successful season in terms of total number of wickets was 1921, when he claimed 84, a huge total by modern standards, but at the time only a modest achievement – Alex Kennedy
claimed 186 that season.
He played his final match for Somerset in July 1923, aged 53, opening the bowling in the first-innings and despite his years, he bowled 18 overs. Rheumatism
and the onset of a serious illness made him decide to retire from playing cricket, and he joined the first-class umpires
list. He officiated in his maiden first-class match later in the 1923 season, between Somerset and the touring West Indians. His health deteriorated, and this was the only match he umpired. He died in May 1924. At the time of his last match for Somerset, he had made more appearances for Somerset than any other cricketer, his 424 appearances comfortably placing him ahead of Sammy Woods
' 299. He was later passed by Harold Stephenson
(427) and Brian Langford
(504). His 1122 wickets for Somerset were also a club-record, ahead of Ted Tyler
's 864, and Jack White
, who had 889 wickets at the close of the 1923 season, but went on to surpass Robson's tally, finishing his career with 2165 wickets for Somerset.
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 played over 400 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 for Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
between 1895 and 1923.
Early county career with Cheshire
Robson made his debut for a county side in 1891, representing CheshireCheshire County Cricket Club
Cheshire County Cricket Club is one of the county clubs which make up the Minor Counties in the English domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Cheshire and playing in the Minor Counties Championship and the MCCA Knockout Trophy...
in 'second-class' cricket.'Second-class' cricket was a term often used to describe matches between county sides which did not have 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...
status. Robson batted at number eleven
Batting order (cricket)
In cricket, the batting order is the sequence in which batsmen play through their team's innings, there always being two batsmen taking part at any one time...
in this match, and was not required to bowl. Cheshire instead opted to rely solely on their opening bowlers, who bowled in excess of 39 overs each in the match against 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...
. He also made two appearances for the Gentlemen of Cheshire in this season, batting as part of the middle order, and opening the bowling on each occasion. He appeared regularly for Cheshire in 1892 and 1893, gradually bowling more and more overs for the county. By the end of 1893, he was opening the bowling, and had performed particularly well against Derbyshire
Derbyshire County Cricket Club
Derbyshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the England and Wales domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Derbyshire...
, claiming six wickets – though he was over twice as expensive
Run rate
In cricket, the run rate , or runs per over is the number of runs a batsman scores in an over of 6 balls. It includes all runs, even the so-called extras awarded due to errors by the bowler. Without extras and overthrows, the maximum run rate is 36 – if every ball were struck for six and, as...
as opening bowler James Bretherton. He didn't appear in county cricket in the following 1894 season.
First-class cricket for Somerset
In 1895 Robson made his first of 424 first-classFirst-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...
appearances for Somerset
Somerset County Cricket Club
Somerset 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 Somerset...
, claiming two wickets, a duck
Duck (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a duck refers to a batsman's dismissal for a score of zero.-Origin of the term:The term is a shortening of the term "duck's egg", the latter being used long before Test cricket began...
, 24 runs and a catch during a seven wicket loss to Cambridge University
Cambridge University Cricket Club
Cambridge University Cricket Club is a first-class cricket team. It now plays all but one of its first-class cricket matches as part of the Cambridge University Centre of Cricketing Excellence , which includes Anglia Ruskin University...
. A week later he fell for another duck during the first-innings 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...
, and although he recovered to score 35 in the second-innings, he failed to claim any wickets and didn't play again that season. His County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
debut came in 1896 against local rivals Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire County Cricket Club
Gloucestershire 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 Gloucestershire. Its limited overs team is called the Gloucestershire Gladiators....
. Bowling in an attack dominated by Ted Tyler
Ted Tyler
Edwin James Tyler was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1891 and 1907...
—who claimed 14 wickets in the match—Robson returned three wickets during his 25 overs. With the bat, he surpassed his previous best and scored 41 in the second-innings from number four in the order, helping Somerset to a 123 run victory.
He became a first-team regular in 1896, playing 18 matches. During this season, he scored his first half-century in first-class cricket, and claimed five-wickets in an innings for the first time. He continued to play regularly for Somerset until the First World War, when County Cricket was cancelled for the duration of the conflict. He enjoyed his best years with the bat around the turn of the century
Century
A century is one hundred consecutive years. Centuries are numbered ordinally in English and many other languages .-Start and end in the Gregorian Calendar:...
, averaging 31.75—his highest season average—in 1899, a season in which he made 10 half-centuries. The following season he achieved his maiden first-class century
Century (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, a batsman reaches his century when he scores 100 or more runs in a single innings. The term is also included in "century partnership" which occurs when two batsmen add 100 runs to the team total when they are batting together. A century is regarded as a landmark score for...
, though his season average dropped back below 20. In 1901, he improved; passing 100 on two occasions, including his highest total in first-class cricket—163 not out
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...
—made in the second-innings of a match against Oxford University. He only passed one hundred twice more in his career, once in 1909 and for the last time in 1921. His bowling peaked later in his career, in the years surrounding the war. In 1909 he claimed ten wickets in a first-class match for the first time, and averaged
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
under for the second, and last, time in his career. He claimed over 50 first-class wickets in every season between 1908 and 1922 with the exception of 1911 and 1920, when he took 47 and 49 respectively. His most successful season in terms of total number of wickets was 1921, when he claimed 84, a huge total by modern standards, but at the time only a modest achievement – Alex Kennedy
Alex Kennedy
Alexander Stuart "Alec" Kennedy was an Hampshire cricketer and one of the ten highest wicket-takers in first-class cricket Alexander Stuart "Alec" Kennedy (24 January 1891, Edinburgh, Scotland – 15 November 1959, Southampton, England) was an Hampshire cricketer and one of the ten highest...
claimed 186 that season.
He played his final match for Somerset in July 1923, aged 53, opening the bowling in the first-innings and despite his years, he bowled 18 overs. Rheumatism
Rheumatism
Rheumatism or rheumatic disorder is a non-specific term for medical problems affecting the joints and connective tissue. The study of, and therapeutic interventions in, such disorders is called rheumatology.-Terminology:...
and the onset of a serious illness made him decide to retire from playing cricket, and he joined the first-class umpires
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
list. He officiated in his maiden first-class match later in the 1923 season, between Somerset and the touring West Indians. His health deteriorated, and this was the only match he umpired. He died in May 1924. At the time of his last match for Somerset, he had made more appearances for Somerset than any other cricketer, his 424 appearances comfortably placing him ahead of Sammy Woods
Sammy Woods
Samuel Moses James "Sammy" Woods was an Australian sportsman who represented both Australia and England at Test cricket, and appeared thirteen times for England at rugby union, including five times as captain. He also played at county level in England at both soccer and hockey...
' 299. He was later passed by Harold Stephenson
Harold Stephenson
Harold William Stephenson was an English first-class cricketer who played for Somerset. He captained Somerset from 1960 until his retirement in 1964....
(427) and Brian Langford
Brian Langford
Brian Anthony Langford , is a former English first-class cricketer who played as an off-spin bowler for Somerset...
(504). His 1122 wickets for Somerset were also a club-record, ahead of Ted Tyler
Ted Tyler
Edwin James Tyler was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Somerset County Cricket Club between 1891 and 1907...
's 864, and Jack White
Jack White (cricketer)
John Cornish White, known as "Farmer" or "Jack", was an English cricketer who played for Somerset and England. White was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1929...
, who had 889 wickets at the close of the 1923 season, but went on to surpass Robson's tally, finishing his career with 2165 wickets for Somerset.