Old Ebor

“The best of ’em today is half as good as Barnie”: The Enduring Legend of S. F. Barnes S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered — and even revered — today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different. But only slightly.

S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different.

“The best of ’em today is half as good as Barnie”: The Enduring Legend of S. F. Barnes S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered — and even revered — today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different. But only slightly.

S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different.

Cricket: a sport in terminal decline since 1773

A History of Looking Backwards Why Cricket was Always Better in My Day

Many people like to argue that cricket was better in the past — usually around 20 years ago. But this debate has been raging for over 200 years. Because cricket has always been better in my day...

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

A History of Looking Backwards Why Cricket was Always Better in My Day

Many people like to argue that cricket was better in the past — usually around 20 years ago. But this debate has been raging for over 200 years. Because cricket has always been better in my day...

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Gubby Allen, Dictator of English cricket After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

Gubby Allen, Dictator of English cricket After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

“From piercing accuracy to almost ludicrous irrelevance”: Gubby Allen’s Playing Career Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air.

Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air

“From piercing accuracy to almost ludicrous irrelevance”: Gubby Allen’s Playing Career Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air.

Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air

Cecil Parkin The Man Who Had To Be Right

The Lancashire and England bowler Cecil Parkin had a talent for self sabotage that almost reached an art form. His desire for validation and a desperation to be proven right ruined his career.
open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Cecil Parkin The Man Who Had To Be Right

The Lancashire and England bowler Cecil Parkin had a talent for self sabotage that almost reached an art form. His desire for validation and a desperation to be proven right ruined his career.
open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

“The West Indies will not produce a better”: “Float” Woods and the West Indies tour of England in 1900 Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

“The West Indies will not produce a better”: “Float” Woods and the West Indies tour of England in 1900 Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

Perceball How Percy Fender got there first

With apologies to lovers of "Bazball":

Perceball, or how Percy Fender got there first.

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Perceball How Percy Fender got there first

With apologies to lovers of "Bazball":

Perceball, or how Percy Fender got there first.

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

The Unexpected Fortune of Robert Posnett Smith One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain from 1876 until 1883 — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

The Unexpected Fortune of Robert Posnett Smith One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain from 1876 until 1883 — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

A Distant Echo Anderson, Rhodes and Stories That Come Back

Something very different: how the return of James Anderson to T20 cricket has echoes of a story from a long time ago open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

A Distant Echo Anderson, Rhodes and Stories That Come Back

Something very different: how the return of James Anderson to T20 cricket has echoes of a story from a long time ago open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

George Macaulay A Self-Destructive Kind of Determination

Another short piece on someone I just can't help but continually return to. Poor old Mac.

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

George Macaulay A Self-Destructive Kind of Determination

Another short piece on someone I just can't help but continually return to. Poor old Mac.

open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

The Dreams of Arie Molenaar Just as he was about to become the first Dutch cricketer to play professionally in England, Arie Molenaar was arrested in the Netherlands. The reason? His role in a murder that took place in the ve…

Arie Molenaar was a rising Dutch cricketer, set to become a pioneer when he signed a contract to play professionally in England. But it all came crashing down when his role in a 1945 murder came to light. oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/t...

The Dreams of Arie Molenaar Just as he was about to become the first Dutch cricketer to play professionally in England, Arie Molenaar was arrested in the Netherlands. The reason? His role in a murder that took place in the ve…

Arie Molenaar was a rising Dutch cricketer, set to become a pioneer when he signed a contract to play professionally in England. But it all came crashing down when his role in a 1945 murder came to light. oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/t...

Charlie Buller A Beautiful Wreck

Some characters are so incredible, so ridiculous, that you couldn't make them up. Charlie Buller certainly qualifies as one of those, even if most people have never heard of him.
open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Charlie Buller A Beautiful Wreck

Some characters are so incredible, so ridiculous, that you couldn't make them up. Charlie Buller certainly qualifies as one of those, even if most people have never heard of him.
open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Cricket, Medicine and Windrush: The Post-War Career of Bertie Clarke After the war, the West Indies Test bowler Bertie Clarke settled in England where he worked as a doctor and played lots of cricket, most notably for the BBC (for whom he had regularly broadcast). He played some county cricket and became friends with celebrities. Even though a scandal in the early 1960s resulted in his imprisonment, he continued to be respected and famous, not least for his work in assisting the "Windrush Generation" settle in England.

After the Second World War, Bertie Clarke settled in England, playing some county cricket and working as a doctor (with some celebrity patients). He also took hundreds of wickets for the BBC's cricket team. But this was just one part of a busy, and sometimes controversial, life

Cricket, Medicine and Windrush: The Post-War Career of Bertie Clarke After the war, the West Indies Test bowler Bertie Clarke settled in England where he worked as a doctor and played lots of cricket, most notably for the BBC (for whom he had regularly broadcast). He played some county cricket and became friends with celebrities. Even though a scandal in the early 1960s resulted in his imprisonment, he continued to be respected and famous, not least for his work in assisting the "Windrush Generation" settle in England.

After the Second World War, Bertie Clarke settled in England, playing some county cricket and working as a doctor (with some celebrity patients). He also took hundreds of wickets for the BBC's cricket team. But this was just one part of a busy, and sometimes controversial, life

C. B. Fry A Self-Written Myth

One of the strangest men to have captained England… Another short piece on the experimental substack! oldebor77.substack.com/p/c-b-fry

I believe that one had witnesses, although everyone was so starry-eyed around him, they might have hallucinated it

C. B. Fry A Self-Written Myth

One of the strangest men to have captained England… Another short piece on the experimental substack! oldebor77.substack.com/p/c-b-fry