Charles Bannerman, the man who had scored Test cricket's first century in March 1877, played his last Test in February 1879. He continued for NSW until 1888 but his career declined sharply. He coached in Melbourne, Sydney and New Zealand, and stood as umpire in twelve Tests between 1887 and 1902. He died in poverty in Sydney in 1930.
Bannerman had reached the top in 1877 with the first Test century. By 1880 he was already in decline. The Australian cricket structure of the 19th century made no provision for retired professionals.
After the 1878 tour failed to repeat his 1877 form, Bannerman struggled. By 1881 he was no longer an automatic NSW selection.
Bannerman played three Tests in total — both 1877 Melbourne Tests and the 1879 Test at Melbourne. After the 1878 tour of England (where he failed to score a century in 28 first-class innings) his batting form collapsed. He continued to play for NSW until 1888 but never again approached his 1877 form. The official explanation for his retreat from Test cricket was ill-health; less officially, contemporary accounts pointed to gambling debts and heavy drinking. From the late 1880s he made his living as a coach in Melbourne, Sydney and at Lancaster Park in New Zealand. From 1887 to 1902 he stood as umpire in 12 Tests in Australia. By his retirement he was indigent. The Australian Cricket Board paid him a small pension in his last years. He died at Surry Hills, Sydney, on 20 August 1930, aged 79. His brother Alec — 'Little Alec' — outlived him by six years and remains one of the longest-serving Australian batsmen.
Plays three Tests; last in Feb 1879
Disappointing 1878 tour of England
Last NSW match 1888
Coaches in Melbourne, Sydney and Christchurch in 1890s
Umpires 12 Tests 1887-1902
Granted small pension by Australian Cricket Board
Dies in Sydney, 1930, aged 79
Mar 1877
Test cricket's first century: 165 retired hurt
1878
Tour of England — disappointing form
Feb 1879
Last Test, third in history
1888
Last NSW match
1887-1902
Stands in 12 Tests as umpire
Aug 1930
Dies in Sydney
“He was the first hero of Australian cricket and one of the saddest of its old-age stories.”
Charles's brother Alec played 28 Tests for Australia between 1879 and 1893. The Bannerman family produced two of the founding figures of Australian Test cricket — Charles the dasher, Alec the stonewaller. The Bannermans' joint contribution to the first quarter-century of Australian cricket was substantial.
The first Test centurion's career declined as fast as it had begun. From batting hero to coach to umpire to pauper — a 19th-century cricket arc in miniature.
Bannerman's later life is a sad coda to one of cricket's most spectacular firsts. The 67.34% innings share he set in March 1877 still stands. The Australian Cricket Hall of Fame inducted him posthumously in 2009.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.