Variations in published cricket statistics
Variations in published cricket statistics have come about because there is no official view of the status of cricket matches played in Great Britain prior to 1895 or in the rest of the world prior to 1947. As a result, historians and statisticians have compiled differing lists of matches that they recognise as (unofficially) first-class. The problem is significant where it touches on some of the sport's first-class records, especially in regards to the playing career of W. G. Grace.
Broadhalfpenny Down, one of the venues at which the earliest known scorecards were compiled
Sammy Woods bowled the delivery that gave W. G. Grace his one hundredth first-class century
W. G. Grace takes guard in 1883, the year of two disputed matches for Gloucestershire v Somerset
Jack Hobbs (left) walks out to bat at the Sydney Cricket Ground with his opening partner Herbert Sutcliffe. Their career statistics are dependent on the status of matches they played in India in 1930-31.
William Gilbert Grace was an English amateur cricketer who was important in the development of the sport and is widely considered one of its greatest players. He was nominally amateur as a cricketer, but he is said to have made more money from his cricketing activities than any professional cricketer. He was an extremely competitive player and, although he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and moneymaking.
Grace photographed by George Beldam, c. 1902
Picture of Grace taken in 1872 by Elliott & Fry
Grace pictured in 1874 with Harry Jupp
An 1877 illustration of Grace by Leslie Ward emphasises his trademark beard and MCC cap