John Sharpe (cricketer)
Encyclopedia
John Sharpe was a bowler who was George Lohmann
's partner in the formidable Surrey sides that dominated the first years of the official cricket County Championship
. However, because softer and more primitive wickets meant backup bowlers were often unnecessary, Sharpe could never get into form once Lockwood
began developing as a bowler late in 1891, and his county career was, for his time, quite short despite some notable successes in Australia.
Though born in Nottinghamshire, Sharpe was overlooked by his native county in the 1880s when bowlers such as Shaw
and Attewell
could do everything needed to win matches, and he qualified for Surrey in the late 1880s. He emerged in 1889 with a sensational performance of 5 for 5 against Oxford University, but was always overshadowed by Lohmann in purely county cricket.
However, in 1890 Sharpe developed so much that he took 102 wickets in county matches for just 12.08 each - beating Lohmann in the averages. Because of his superb work in the "short spells of fine weather" (Wisden 1891) it was thought Sharpe was the best hard-wicket bowler in England. In 1891, Sharpe fully maintained his reputation for three months, with 9 for 47 on a bumpy wicket against Middlesex being outstanding, but he fell off in August as Lockwood showed some deadly form. However, his reputation on hard wickets meant he was already an automatic choice for the 1891/1892 Ashes tour and he worked remarkably hard - often with considerable success, as when he took 6 for 84 off 51 overs in the First Test at the MCG
.
In 1892, though, Sharpe could never get into form and he was dropped from the Surrey side long before the season ended. Though he was recalled in 1893 when Richardson
was injured, he did nothing and Surrey released him at the end of the year. He played for Nottinghamshire a couple of times in 1894, but any hopes he would strengthen their weakening bowling were destroyed very quickly: he took only ten wickets at 28.40 under conditions tremendously favourable to bowlers, and retired at the then-remarkably young age of 28.
Sharpe bowled fast-medium and could make the ball break back to an unusual degree on hard pitches. His extra-fast yorker was often deadly. Having lost an eye, he had no pretensions as a batsman, but he was quite active in the field for a player in that time.
George Lohmann
George Alfred Lohmann is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time...
's partner in the formidable Surrey sides that dominated the first years of the official cricket County Championship
County Championship
The County Championship is the domestic first-class cricket competition in England and Wales...
. However, because softer and more primitive wickets meant backup bowlers were often unnecessary, Sharpe could never get into form once Lockwood
William Lockwood
William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood William 'Bill' Lockwood (William Henry Lockwood; born 25 March 1868, Radford, Nottingham; died 26 April 1932, Radford, Nottingham was a fast bowler and the unpredictable, occasionally devastating counterpart to the amazingly hard-working Tom...
began developing as a bowler late in 1891, and his county career was, for his time, quite short despite some notable successes in Australia.
Though born in Nottinghamshire, Sharpe was overlooked by his native county in the 1880s when bowlers such as Shaw
Alfred Shaw
Alfred Shaw was an eminent Victorian cricketer and rugby footballer, who bowled the first ball in Test cricket and was the first to take five wickets in a Test innings . He who organised the first British Isles rugby tour to Australasia in 1888...
and Attewell
William Attewell
William Attewell was a cricketer who played for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and England. Attewell was a medium pace bowler who was renowned for his extraordinary accuracy and economy...
could do everything needed to win matches, and he qualified for Surrey in the late 1880s. He emerged in 1889 with a sensational performance of 5 for 5 against Oxford University, but was always overshadowed by Lohmann in purely county cricket.
However, in 1890 Sharpe developed so much that he took 102 wickets in county matches for just 12.08 each - beating Lohmann in the averages. Because of his superb work in the "short spells of fine weather" (Wisden 1891) it was thought Sharpe was the best hard-wicket bowler in England. In 1891, Sharpe fully maintained his reputation for three months, with 9 for 47 on a bumpy wicket against Middlesex being outstanding, but he fell off in August as Lockwood showed some deadly form. However, his reputation on hard wickets meant he was already an automatic choice for the 1891/1892 Ashes tour and he worked remarkably hard - often with considerable success, as when he took 6 for 84 off 51 overs in the First Test at the MCG
McG
Joseph McGinty Nichol , better known as McG, is an American director and producer of film and television, as well as a former record producer....
.
In 1892, though, Sharpe could never get into form and he was dropped from the Surrey side long before the season ended. Though he was recalled in 1893 when Richardson
Tom Richardson
Tom Richardson was an English cricketer. A fast bowler, Richardson relied to a great extent on the break-back , a relatively long run-up and high arm which allowed him to gain sharp lift on fast pitches even from the full, straight length he always bowled...
was injured, he did nothing and Surrey released him at the end of the year. He played for Nottinghamshire a couple of times in 1894, but any hopes he would strengthen their weakening bowling were destroyed very quickly: he took only ten wickets at 28.40 under conditions tremendously favourable to bowlers, and retired at the then-remarkably young age of 28.
Sharpe bowled fast-medium and could make the ball break back to an unusual degree on hard pitches. His extra-fast yorker was often deadly. Having lost an eye, he had no pretensions as a batsman, but he was quite active in the field for a player in that time.