An Australian Test cricketer.
He was known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren (Memorial 149898635) said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby winner". Trumper was also a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. His photograph taken by George Beldam in 1905 (incorporated into the colour photo that is part of this memorial) is often considered to be the greatest cricketing photograph ever taken.
He played some first class cricket in 1894/5 but did not achieve immediate success. However, his talent was recognised and it led to him being chosen for the Australian tour to England in 1899. He soon showed his ability, scoring 135 not out against England at Lord's Cricket Ground and 300 not out against Sussex. After the Lord's innings in June 1899, the great English batsman W. G. Grace (Memorial 7368531) approached the Australian dressing room and presented Trumper with his own bat, declaring, "From the present champion to the future champion."
His most remarkable Test season was played in England in 1902. It was one of the wettest summers on record, yet in 53 innings he scored 2,570 runs, and without a single not out had an average of 48.49. Harry Altham wrote: "From start to finish of the season, on every sort of wicket, against every sort of bowling, Trumper entranced the eye, inspired his side, demoralized his enemies, and made run-getting appear the easiest thing in the world."
C. B. Fry (Memorial 6531616) added, "He had no style, and yet he was all style. He had no fixed canonical method of play, he defied all orthodox rules, yet every stroke he played satisfied the ultimate criterion of style – the minimum of effort, the maximum of effect."
"No one," wrote Plum Warner, "ever played so naturally. Batting seemed just part of himself, and he was as modest as he was magnificent."
He was modest, retiring and generous. A teetotaller and non-smoker, his general conduct was an example to his fellow players, and he was a great favourite with the public both in England and Australia. Monty Noble (Memorial 139310983) had no hesitation in calling him the world's greatest batsman, a genius without compare. In 1902, in arguably his greatest innings, he became the first player to achieve the very rare feat of making a century on the first morning of a Test match, scoring 103 before lunch against England at Old Trafford.
Other notable highlights of his career include scoring 292 against Tasmania, including a century before lunch (1908); scoring 100 in 58 minutes against Victoria (1906); 201 against South Australia (1913). His innings of 293 for an Australian XI against Canterbury (1914), scored in a little over three hours, was made in partnership with Arthur Sims (Memorial 146236592), and their stand of 433 still remains the record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, and Trumper's innings remains the highest score by a number nine batsman. His last 68 first-class innings, from 1910 to 1914, gave him an average of 60. His ability as a batsman, however, cannot be valued by averages or the number of runs scored. His eminence was shown on bad wickets, for when other batsmen were struggling merely to keep their wickets intact, he was still able to time the ball and execute strokes all round the wicket.
Honours he received during his life and subsequently include being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903; in the 1963 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was selected by Neville Cardus (Memorial 20319) as one of the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. This was a special commemorative selection requested by Wisden for its 100th edition. The other five players chosen were Sydney Barnes (Memorial 6446093), Don Bradman, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs (Memorial 16732460) and Tom Richardson.
In 1996 he was made one of the ten inaugural inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the others being Fred Spofforth (Memorial 38044804), John Blackham (Memorial 222191011), Clarrie Grimmett (Memorial 105283126), Bill Ponsford (Memorial 123461620), Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O'Reilly (Memorial 139723680), Keith Miller (Memorial 137218281), Ray Lindwall, and Dennis Lillee. The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust announced on 12 June 2008 that the new grandstand on the old hill at the SCG was to be named in his honour.
His health declined rapidly in 1914 and he died as a result of Bright's disease in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 28 June 1915, aged 37. He was buried in Waverley Cemetery after the largest funeral procession ever seen in Sydney (with 250,000 mourners lining the route) and was survived by his wife Sarah, his son Victor and daughter Nancy.
His legacy remains over a century later as one of the greatest in a great era of international cricket.
He was known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren (Memorial 149898635) said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby winner". Trumper was also a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. His photograph taken by George Beldam in 1905 (incorporated into the colour photo that is part of this memorial) is often considered to be the greatest cricketing photograph ever taken.
He played some first class cricket in 1894/5 but did not achieve immediate success. However, his talent was recognised and it led to him being chosen for the Australian tour to England in 1899. He soon showed his ability, scoring 135 not out against England at Lord's Cricket Ground and 300 not out against Sussex. After the Lord's innings in June 1899, the great English batsman W. G. Grace (Memorial 7368531) approached the Australian dressing room and presented Trumper with his own bat, declaring, "From the present champion to the future champion."
His most remarkable Test season was played in England in 1902. It was one of the wettest summers on record, yet in 53 innings he scored 2,570 runs, and without a single not out had an average of 48.49. Harry Altham wrote: "From start to finish of the season, on every sort of wicket, against every sort of bowling, Trumper entranced the eye, inspired his side, demoralized his enemies, and made run-getting appear the easiest thing in the world."
C. B. Fry (Memorial 6531616) added, "He had no style, and yet he was all style. He had no fixed canonical method of play, he defied all orthodox rules, yet every stroke he played satisfied the ultimate criterion of style – the minimum of effort, the maximum of effect."
"No one," wrote Plum Warner, "ever played so naturally. Batting seemed just part of himself, and he was as modest as he was magnificent."
He was modest, retiring and generous. A teetotaller and non-smoker, his general conduct was an example to his fellow players, and he was a great favourite with the public both in England and Australia. Monty Noble (Memorial 139310983) had no hesitation in calling him the world's greatest batsman, a genius without compare. In 1902, in arguably his greatest innings, he became the first player to achieve the very rare feat of making a century on the first morning of a Test match, scoring 103 before lunch against England at Old Trafford.
Other notable highlights of his career include scoring 292 against Tasmania, including a century before lunch (1908); scoring 100 in 58 minutes against Victoria (1906); 201 against South Australia (1913). His innings of 293 for an Australian XI against Canterbury (1914), scored in a little over three hours, was made in partnership with Arthur Sims (Memorial 146236592), and their stand of 433 still remains the record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, and Trumper's innings remains the highest score by a number nine batsman. His last 68 first-class innings, from 1910 to 1914, gave him an average of 60. His ability as a batsman, however, cannot be valued by averages or the number of runs scored. His eminence was shown on bad wickets, for when other batsmen were struggling merely to keep their wickets intact, he was still able to time the ball and execute strokes all round the wicket.
Honours he received during his life and subsequently include being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903; in the 1963 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was selected by Neville Cardus (Memorial 20319) as one of the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. This was a special commemorative selection requested by Wisden for its 100th edition. The other five players chosen were Sydney Barnes (Memorial 6446093), Don Bradman, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs (Memorial 16732460) and Tom Richardson.
In 1996 he was made one of the ten inaugural inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the others being Fred Spofforth (Memorial 38044804), John Blackham (Memorial 222191011), Clarrie Grimmett (Memorial 105283126), Bill Ponsford (Memorial 123461620), Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O'Reilly (Memorial 139723680), Keith Miller (Memorial 137218281), Ray Lindwall, and Dennis Lillee. The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust announced on 12 June 2008 that the new grandstand on the old hill at the SCG was to be named in his honour.
His health declined rapidly in 1914 and he died as a result of Bright's disease in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 28 June 1915, aged 37. He was buried in Waverley Cemetery after the largest funeral procession ever seen in Sydney (with 250,000 mourners lining the route) and was survived by his wife Sarah, his son Victor and daughter Nancy.
His legacy remains over a century later as one of the greatest in a great era of international cricket.
An Australian Test cricketer.
He was known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren (Memorial 149898635) said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby winner". Trumper was also a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. His photograph taken by George Beldam in 1905 (incorporated into the colour photo that is part of this memorial) is often considered to be the greatest cricketing photograph ever taken.
He played some first class cricket in 1894/5 but did not achieve immediate success. However, his talent was recognised and it led to him being chosen for the Australian tour to England in 1899. He soon showed his ability, scoring 135 not out against England at Lord's Cricket Ground and 300 not out against Sussex. After the Lord's innings in June 1899, the great English batsman W. G. Grace (Memorial 7368531) approached the Australian dressing room and presented Trumper with his own bat, declaring, "From the present champion to the future champion."
His most remarkable Test season was played in England in 1902. It was one of the wettest summers on record, yet in 53 innings he scored 2,570 runs, and without a single not out had an average of 48.49. Harry Altham wrote: "From start to finish of the season, on every sort of wicket, against every sort of bowling, Trumper entranced the eye, inspired his side, demoralized his enemies, and made run-getting appear the easiest thing in the world."
C. B. Fry (Memorial 6531616) added, "He had no style, and yet he was all style. He had no fixed canonical method of play, he defied all orthodox rules, yet every stroke he played satisfied the ultimate criterion of style – the minimum of effort, the maximum of effect."
"No one," wrote Plum Warner, "ever played so naturally. Batting seemed just part of himself, and he was as modest as he was magnificent."
He was modest, retiring and generous. A teetotaller and non-smoker, his general conduct was an example to his fellow players, and he was a great favourite with the public both in England and Australia. Monty Noble (Memorial 139310983) had no hesitation in calling him the world's greatest batsman, a genius without compare. In 1902, in arguably his greatest innings, he became the first player to achieve the very rare feat of making a century on the first morning of a Test match, scoring 103 before lunch against England at Old Trafford.
Other notable highlights of his career include scoring 292 against Tasmania, including a century before lunch (1908); scoring 100 in 58 minutes against Victoria (1906); 201 against South Australia (1913). His innings of 293 for an Australian XI against Canterbury (1914), scored in a little over three hours, was made in partnership with Arthur Sims (Memorial 146236592), and their stand of 433 still remains the record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, and Trumper's innings remains the highest score by a number nine batsman. His last 68 first-class innings, from 1910 to 1914, gave him an average of 60. His ability as a batsman, however, cannot be valued by averages or the number of runs scored. His eminence was shown on bad wickets, for when other batsmen were struggling merely to keep their wickets intact, he was still able to time the ball and execute strokes all round the wicket.
Honours he received during his life and subsequently include being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903; in the 1963 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was selected by Neville Cardus (Memorial 20319) as one of the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. This was a special commemorative selection requested by Wisden for its 100th edition. The other five players chosen were Sydney Barnes (Memorial 6446093), Don Bradman, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs (Memorial 16732460) and Tom Richardson.
In 1996 he was made one of the ten inaugural inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the others being Fred Spofforth (Memorial 38044804), John Blackham (Memorial 222191011), Clarrie Grimmett (Memorial 105283126), Bill Ponsford (Memorial 123461620), Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O'Reilly (Memorial 139723680), Keith Miller (Memorial 137218281), Ray Lindwall, and Dennis Lillee. The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust announced on 12 June 2008 that the new grandstand on the old hill at the SCG was to be named in his honour.
His health declined rapidly in 1914 and he died as a result of Bright's disease in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 28 June 1915, aged 37. He was buried in Waverley Cemetery after the largest funeral procession ever seen in Sydney (with 250,000 mourners lining the route) and was survived by his wife Sarah, his son Victor and daughter Nancy.
His legacy remains over a century later as one of the greatest in a great era of international cricket.
He was known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren (Memorial 149898635) said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby winner". Trumper was also a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. His photograph taken by George Beldam in 1905 (incorporated into the colour photo that is part of this memorial) is often considered to be the greatest cricketing photograph ever taken.
He played some first class cricket in 1894/5 but did not achieve immediate success. However, his talent was recognised and it led to him being chosen for the Australian tour to England in 1899. He soon showed his ability, scoring 135 not out against England at Lord's Cricket Ground and 300 not out against Sussex. After the Lord's innings in June 1899, the great English batsman W. G. Grace (Memorial 7368531) approached the Australian dressing room and presented Trumper with his own bat, declaring, "From the present champion to the future champion."
His most remarkable Test season was played in England in 1902. It was one of the wettest summers on record, yet in 53 innings he scored 2,570 runs, and without a single not out had an average of 48.49. Harry Altham wrote: "From start to finish of the season, on every sort of wicket, against every sort of bowling, Trumper entranced the eye, inspired his side, demoralized his enemies, and made run-getting appear the easiest thing in the world."
C. B. Fry (Memorial 6531616) added, "He had no style, and yet he was all style. He had no fixed canonical method of play, he defied all orthodox rules, yet every stroke he played satisfied the ultimate criterion of style – the minimum of effort, the maximum of effect."
"No one," wrote Plum Warner, "ever played so naturally. Batting seemed just part of himself, and he was as modest as he was magnificent."
He was modest, retiring and generous. A teetotaller and non-smoker, his general conduct was an example to his fellow players, and he was a great favourite with the public both in England and Australia. Monty Noble (Memorial 139310983) had no hesitation in calling him the world's greatest batsman, a genius without compare. In 1902, in arguably his greatest innings, he became the first player to achieve the very rare feat of making a century on the first morning of a Test match, scoring 103 before lunch against England at Old Trafford.
Other notable highlights of his career include scoring 292 against Tasmania, including a century before lunch (1908); scoring 100 in 58 minutes against Victoria (1906); 201 against South Australia (1913). His innings of 293 for an Australian XI against Canterbury (1914), scored in a little over three hours, was made in partnership with Arthur Sims (Memorial 146236592), and their stand of 433 still remains the record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket, and Trumper's innings remains the highest score by a number nine batsman. His last 68 first-class innings, from 1910 to 1914, gave him an average of 60. His ability as a batsman, however, cannot be valued by averages or the number of runs scored. His eminence was shown on bad wickets, for when other batsmen were struggling merely to keep their wickets intact, he was still able to time the ball and execute strokes all round the wicket.
Honours he received during his life and subsequently include being named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903; in the 1963 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he was selected by Neville Cardus (Memorial 20319) as one of the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. This was a special commemorative selection requested by Wisden for its 100th edition. The other five players chosen were Sydney Barnes (Memorial 6446093), Don Bradman, W. G. Grace, Jack Hobbs (Memorial 16732460) and Tom Richardson.
In 1996 he was made one of the ten inaugural inductees into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame, the others being Fred Spofforth (Memorial 38044804), John Blackham (Memorial 222191011), Clarrie Grimmett (Memorial 105283126), Bill Ponsford (Memorial 123461620), Sir Donald Bradman, Bill O'Reilly (Memorial 139723680), Keith Miller (Memorial 137218281), Ray Lindwall, and Dennis Lillee. The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust announced on 12 June 2008 that the new grandstand on the old hill at the SCG was to be named in his honour.
His health declined rapidly in 1914 and he died as a result of Bright's disease in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on 28 June 1915, aged 37. He was buried in Waverley Cemetery after the largest funeral procession ever seen in Sydney (with 250,000 mourners lining the route) and was survived by his wife Sarah, his son Victor and daughter Nancy.
His legacy remains over a century later as one of the greatest in a great era of international cricket.
Bio by: Tim Reynolds
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