Grace, W. G. (1848-1915), a British cricket player, was one of the greatest cricketers of all time. He created a new style of play, especially in batting, at a time when cricket was a developing game. This style continues to influence cricketers today.
Grace, or W. G. as he was known, set many records at a time when wickets were rough and unreliable compared with those of today. Many of the records have been broken, but his 43-year career still ranks high above that of any other cricketer. His total score was 54,901 runs, including 126 centuries, at an average of 39.55 for each innings. He also took 2,876 wickets, at an average of 17.92 runs each. His highest score was 344 for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) against Kent in 1876. His most successful season was in 1871, when he scored a total of 2,739 runs and took 78 wickets.
William Gilbert Grace was born on July 18, 1848, in Downend, near Bristol, England. He qualified as a doctor, and “Dr. Grace” became a nickname for him in the cricket community. He played his first important match for West Gloucestershire at the age of 9. He retired in 1908 and died on Oct. 23, 1915.
