|
Julius
Caesar was born in Godalming on March 25, 1830. He was the seventh
and last child of Benjamin and Ann (nee Bowler!!). As a child he
grew up in an atmosphere of cricket in Godalming and was a founder
member of Broadwater Cricket Club His cricketing skills first
brought him to the attention of the local press when he was 16 and
on the 7th of July 1846 the Surrey Gazette wrote of him:
“A
single-wicket match was played on the New Ground, Godalming,
between Julius Caesar, a lad of 16 years of age, of the Godalming
Cricket Club, and Mr C Coomber, of Eashing. Caesar went in first
and obtained five, which, with one wide, made six. Coomber fetched
three runs, which, with three wides, made six. Caesar for his
second innings got 49, and wides three, making a total with the
first of 58. Coomber followed and, after 35 balls were delivered,
obtained no run and scored only one wide, leaving Caesar the
winner by 51. The lad promises to be as noted in the game of
cricket as his ancient namesake was in the art of war. The
Godalming club are ready to back him against any lad of his age in
the County of Surrey.”
He
made his first class debut for Surrey 28th June 1849, against
Sussex at The Oval and his last first class game was on the 24th
August 1867. In all he played in 194 matches (333 innings) for a
total of 4879 runs with a batting average of 15.78. His highest
score was 132 and made 3 scores of 100 and 20 scores of 50. As a
bowler he took 13 wickets for a bowling average 23.62 and took 181
catches.
He
was a right-hand bat right-arm fast bowler (round-arm) but was
played more of a batsman than a bowler, he had many seasons of top
class cricket, making his debut for England in 1853, aged 23, He
was a member of the first team from the British Isles to tour
overseas - Parr's team to North America in 1859-60. He was also a
member of Parr's team that toured Australia and New Zealand in
1863-64 as a member of the second touring team to that country.
He
finished his playing days at the age of 37 but remained involved
in cricket locally, as an umpire, a cricketing outfitter in
Ockford Road, Godalming and also coached the boys at Charterhouse.
Following
the deaths of his wife and then his son, who committed suicide on
the railway line at Peasmarsh unfortunately, led him towards an
early grave. He died impoverished on March the 6th 1878 at his
lodgings in the Railway Tavern in Mill Lane Godalming and is
buried in the town cemetery.
|
