England

Wilfred Rhodes

Born: October 29, 1877, North Moor, Kirkheaton, Yorkshire

Wilfred Rhodes bio

Wilfred Rhodes, the legendary cricketer hailing from England, was the epitome of Yorkshire cricket during the county’s domination era. Known for his shrewdness and dour playing style, Rhodes was always quick to seize an opportunity on the field. His remarkable career spanned over several decades, leaving an indelible mark on the sport.

Born on October 29, 1877, in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, Wilfred Rhodes first made his presence felt in the cricketing world at a young age. At only 21 years old, he bowled for Yorkshire against MCC at Lord’s, making a modest start with six wickets. However, by the end of the season, he established himself as the greatest slow left-hand bowler in England, with an impressive record of 154 wickets at an average of 14.60.

Throughout his career, Rhodes demonstrated his versatility as an all-rounder. He scored over 30,000 runs for Yorkshire, averaging 30 per innings. When playing for England, he contributed over 2,000 runs, with an average of 30, and took 127 wickets at an average of 26.96.

One of the highlights of Rhodes’ career occurred in 1903-04 during a Test match against Australia in Sydney. Partnering with RE Foster, Rhodes notched an extraordinary last-wicket partnership of 130 runs, in which he contributed an unbeaten 40. This partnership remains the most persistent and prolific in Test match history to this day.

In 1911-12, Rhodes temporarily put aside his bowling skills when he and Jack Hobbs opened each England innings. However, with the outbreak of World War I and the subsequent reduction in Yorkshire’s bowling attack, Rhodes rediscovered his bowling prowess. In 1919, at the age of nearly 42, he headed the bowling averages for Yorkshire with 164 wickets, averaging 14.42. Rhodes proved that he had not lost his touch, seamlessly picking up his bowling arts where he had left off years before.

Over the years, Rhodes became known for his accuracy and precision as a bowler. He frequently outwitted batsmen with his variation of flight and consistent pitch, demanding their close attention and lulling them into making mistakes. His mastery of length and ability to deceive batsmen often resulted in catches in the deep field, with scoresheets regularly featuring “c Denton b Rhodes” or “c Tunnicliffe b Rhodes”.

Despite his reputation as a slow bowler, Rhodes was not afraid to make an impact with the bat. He was one of the first batsmen to adopt the full-fronted stance, and in a Test match against Australia at Lord’s in 1912, he partnered with Hobbs to dominate the hitting, scoring 52 runs out of his share of 77. While he typically avoided the flashy strokes, Rhodes proved himself capable of making significant contributions when needed.

Off the field, Rhodes was known for being a man of few words, often nattering to himself during matches. However, as he aged, he became more affable and would engage in genial chatter. Despite losing his eyesight in his later years, he still attended cricket matches, relying on his acquired sense to follow the play.

Wilfred Rhodes retired from competitive cricket in 1930, leaving behind an esteemed legacy. With nearly 40,000 runs scored in 37 seasons and 4,184 wickets taken, he firmly established himself as one of the greatest cricketers in history. His impact on the sport, along with his representation of Yorkshire county cricket, will forever be remembered in the annals of the game.

Although he passed away on July 8, 1973, Wilfred Rhodes’ contributions to cricket continue to be celebrated. His remarkable skills, unwavering dedication, and enduring love for the sport make him an everlasting icon in cricketing history.

Wilfred Rhodes career stats

Batting stats

Batting Matches Innings Nos Runs High score Ave BF SR 100s 50s 4s 6s Ct St
Tests 58 98 21 2325 179 30.19 - - 2 11 - 1 60 0
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FC 1110 1534 237 39969 267* 30.81 - - 58 197 - - 765 0
List A - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Bowling stats

Bowling Matches Innings Balls Runs Wkts BBI BBM Ave Econ SR 4w 5w 10w
Tests 58 90 8225 3425 127 8/68 15/124 26.96 2.49 64.7 6 6 1
T20Is - - - - - - - - - - - - -
ODIs - - - - - - - - - - - - -
FC 1110 - 185742 70322 4204 9/24 - 16.72 2.27 44.1 - 287 68
List A - - - - - - - - - - - - -
T20s - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Explore more cricketers