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11 things you may not know about W.G. Grace

W.G. Grace is an instantly recognisable figure even 100 years after his death on 23 October 1915. Few sporting figures have had his staying power in the public consciousness. But then few sporting figures have dominated, revolutionised and epitomised their game as he did with cricket.

Yet the man himself has been largely eclipsed by his own mythology over the last century. Author, broadcaster, and presenter of The Last Days of W.G., Charlie Connelly has chosen a selection of perhaps surprising facts about William Gilbert Grace.

1. He was the first captain of the England bowls team


2. He was the first cricketer to score 1000 runs before the end of May

Still a major achievement among batsmen and women today, W.G. did it for the first time in 1895, aged 46.


3. He had "the dirtiest neck I ever kept behind"...

...according to wicket-keeper the Hon. Alfred Lyttleton.


4. He was undoubtedly an all-round athlete

Grace in 1869 twice cleared nine feet in the pole vault.


5. His first innings score was three, not out

Aged just eight, W.G. played his first cricket match on 19 July, 1857 for West Gloucestershire against Bedminster at Mangotsfield.


6. He was once the face of God

When the Monty Python team needed a face for God in Monty Python and the Holy Grail they chose the face of W.G. Grace.


7. He was the first major sports star to endorse a condiment...

And the condiment in question - Colman's Mustard.

Charlie Connelly is dwarfed by WG Grace

8. At the age of 18, Grace scored a double century and won the 440 yards hurdles in one day

In 1866, Grace hit 224 not out for the Gentlemen of England against Surrey at The Oval, before travelling straight to an athletics meeting at Crystal Palace where he triumphed 20 yards ahead of the rest.

9. W.G. had a curiously high-pitched speaking voice, especially for such a large man

10. He was the first cricketer to hit a triple century

In 1876 he scored 839 runs in three innings in eight days including not one, but two triple centuries. Nobody had done this before.

11. He didn't bat or bowl in his final game

W.G. Grace played his last cricket match on August 8, 1914, for Eltham against Northbrook, just days after the start of the First World War. The match was drawn. He was aged 66.

The Last Days of W.G. is on Radio 4 on Saturday 24 October 2015, and available to listen online or via the iPlayer Radio App for 30 days.

Listen to The Last Days of W.G.

More on W.G. Grace and the history of cricket from across the BBC