the amateur gentlemen.
He reminded the cricket upper echelons of his existence by turning out for the Players XI in July that year. After taking 2 for 67 in twenty-five overs in the Gentlemen’s first innings, he took 7 for 38 in the second to help the Players to victory. That was Barnes’ only first-class game that year until September but it certainly made sure that he was not forgotten.
During September, Barnes warmed up for the tour to South Africa by playing in some representative first-class games including the Rest of England against a combined Kent and Yorkshire XI at the Oval. He bowled his team to victory with 7 for 20 in the second innings. He had taken 35 wickets in the four first-class games he played that year and had booked his place on the boat to South Africa.
In the last Test series before the First World War – there was to be no more international cricket until 1920 – Sydney Barnes, at the age of forty, set records that have still not been matchedtoday. He did it in his own relentless, dominating style and the tour ended with a classic Barnes dénouement.
He had been to South Africa once before when he coached and played for Claremont Cricket Club in Cape Town in the winter of 1898/99. This experience and the good form that he had been in towards the end of the summer stood him in good stead at the start of the tour. He got 36 wickets in four warm up matches and was primed for the First Test at Durban.
Barnes took 5 for 57 in South Africa’s first innings with only Herbie Taylor able to play him with any confidence. Taylor scored 109 out of a final total of 182 and was the last man to be dismissed. This was the start of an epic battle between the best bowler in the world and one of the best batsmen in the world. Barnes got him cheaply in the second innings as well as four other victims and England had won the first Test.
Many years later, Barnes was asked which batsman he had found most difficult to bowl to. He replied “Victor Trumper”. When asked if there was anyone else, he retorted “No one else ever troubled me.” This gives a clue to the confidence, some might say arrogance, that Barnes had. He could have given Herbie Taylor a mention. In a series totally dominated by Barnes, Taylor scored over 500 runs and was the only batsman that ever looked comfortable against him.
The second and third Tests were both played at Johannesburg. Barnes produced a performance in the Second Test that is still the second best bowling figures ever achieved in Test matches: 17 wickets for 159 runs. This is what Wisden had to say:
“It was Barnes’s match. On no occasion was the great bowler seen to quite such advantage. He took 17 wickets – 8 for 56 and 9 for 103 – proving quite irresistible on the last morning.”
Wilfred Rhodes and Phil Mead scored centuries and England won by an innings and 12 runs. The Third Test was closer. South Africa were set 396 to win in the last innings and when Taylor and Zulch made 153 for the first wicket, it looked like they might do it. Barnes was made to struggle for just about the first time on the tour. After the first wicket fell, South Africa collapsed and England eventually won by 91 runs, Barnes took 5 for 102. Together with his 3 wickets from the first innings, Barnes now had 35 wickets from only three Tests.
In the tour games immediately after the Third Test, Barnes continued to take wickets. His final total of first-class wickets for the tour was 104 from just twelve games. In addition, he took another 21 wickets in two games not classified as first-class.
Around this time, he seemed to relax, or was tired or thought it was too easy and Herbie Taylor took full advantage. Barnes had a modest game against Transvaal and then, in the last game before the Fourth Test, the tourists took on Natal. Taylor scored 91 in the first innings and a century in the second, and England lost their only match of the tour. Barnes did get 5 for 44 in the first innings but
He reminded the cricket upper echelons of his existence by turning out for the Players XI in July that year. After taking 2 for 67 in twenty-five overs in the Gentlemen’s first innings, he took 7 for 38 in the second to help the Players to victory. That was Barnes’ only first-class game that year until September but it certainly made sure that he was not forgotten.
During September, Barnes warmed up for the tour to South Africa by playing in some representative first-class games including the Rest of England against a combined Kent and Yorkshire XI at the Oval. He bowled his team to victory with 7 for 20 in the second innings. He had taken 35 wickets in the four first-class games he played that year and had booked his place on the boat to South Africa.
In the last Test series before the First World War – there was to be no more international cricket until 1920 – Sydney Barnes, at the age of forty, set records that have still not been matchedtoday. He did it in his own relentless, dominating style and the tour ended with a classic Barnes dénouement.
He had been to South Africa once before when he coached and played for Claremont Cricket Club in Cape Town in the winter of 1898/99. This experience and the good form that he had been in towards the end of the summer stood him in good stead at the start of the tour. He got 36 wickets in four warm up matches and was primed for the First Test at Durban.
Barnes took 5 for 57 in South Africa’s first innings with only Herbie Taylor able to play him with any confidence. Taylor scored 109 out of a final total of 182 and was the last man to be dismissed. This was the start of an epic battle between the best bowler in the world and one of the best batsmen in the world. Barnes got him cheaply in the second innings as well as four other victims and England had won the first Test.
Many years later, Barnes was asked which batsman he had found most difficult to bowl to. He replied “Victor Trumper”. When asked if there was anyone else, he retorted “No one else ever troubled me.” This gives a clue to the confidence, some might say arrogance, that Barnes had. He could have given Herbie Taylor a mention. In a series totally dominated by Barnes, Taylor scored over 500 runs and was the only batsman that ever looked comfortable against him.
The second and third Tests were both played at Johannesburg. Barnes produced a performance in the Second Test that is still the second best bowling figures ever achieved in Test matches: 17 wickets for 159 runs. This is what Wisden had to say:
“It was Barnes’s match. On no occasion was the great bowler seen to quite such advantage. He took 17 wickets – 8 for 56 and 9 for 103 – proving quite irresistible on the last morning.”
Wilfred Rhodes and Phil Mead scored centuries and England won by an innings and 12 runs. The Third Test was closer. South Africa were set 396 to win in the last innings and when Taylor and Zulch made 153 for the first wicket, it looked like they might do it. Barnes was made to struggle for just about the first time on the tour. After the first wicket fell, South Africa collapsed and England eventually won by 91 runs, Barnes took 5 for 102. Together with his 3 wickets from the first innings, Barnes now had 35 wickets from only three Tests.
In the tour games immediately after the Third Test, Barnes continued to take wickets. His final total of first-class wickets for the tour was 104 from just twelve games. In addition, he took another 21 wickets in two games not classified as first-class.
Around this time, he seemed to relax, or was tired or thought it was too easy and Herbie Taylor took full advantage. Barnes had a modest game against Transvaal and then, in the last game before the Fourth Test, the tourists took on Natal. Taylor scored 91 in the first innings and a century in the second, and England lost their only match of the tour. Barnes did get 5 for 44 in the first innings but
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