Heathfield Harman Stephenson, a surgeon's son from Esher, made his Surrey debut in 1853 and through the second half of the 1850s established himself as one of the leading professional all-rounders in the country — a fast-roundarm bowler, occasional wicket-keeper and capable middle-order batsman. He toured North America with Parr in 1859 and would, two years later, captain the first English tour of Australia.
Stephenson's middle-class origins — the son of a surgeon — were exceptional in mid-Victorian professional cricket. Most professionals came from artisan or labouring backgrounds. His education and bearing made him acceptable to the Spiers and Pond promoters when they were looking for a captain to take English cricket overseas.
By 1858 Stephenson was the leading fast-roundarm bowler in the Surrey side after Caffyn and was a regular middle-order batsman. The 1859 season confirmed him as a tour-class cricketer.
H.H. Stephenson was born at Esher, Surrey, on 3 May 1833, the son of a surgeon — an unusual social background for a Victorian professional cricketer. He turned professional in his teens and made his first-class debut for Surrey against Kent at the Oval in 1853. By 1856 he was a regular in F.P. Miller's championship side; by 1857 he had made the All-England Eleven. Stephenson bowled right-arm fast roundarm with a high action, batted in the middle order, and not infrequently kept wicket — a useful versatility on tour. He was selected for Parr's North America tour in September 1859 and was one of the leading bowlers there; the same combination of skills would lead Spiers and Pond, the Melbourne caterers, to choose him over Parr to captain the first Australian tour in 1861-62. His peak as a batsman came later, in 1864 and 1865, when he scored 824 and 788 runs and made all three of his first-class hundreds. He retired after his benefit in 1871 and went on to coach at Uppingham School until his death.
3 May 1833: Stephenson born at Esher, Surrey
1853: First-class debut for Surrey vs Kent at the Oval
1856-57: Regular in Champion County Surrey side and AEE
1859: Selected for Parr's North America tour
1861-62: Captains first English tour of Australia
1864-65: Peak batting seasons; all three first-class hundreds
1871: Retires after benefit; takes Uppingham coaching post
3 May 1833
Born at Esher
1853
First-class debut for Surrey
1859
Tours North America with Parr
1861-62
Captains first English tour of Australia
1871
Retires; coach at Uppingham
“Stephenson was an all-rounder, being a decent batsman, fast round-arm bowler and in addition he not infrequently kept wicket.”
The Spiers and Pond Australian tour of 1861-62, captained by Stephenson, was the founding event of Anglo-Australian cricket. After his playing retirement his coaching at Uppingham produced cricketers including Lord Harris and Hon. Ivo Bligh, the captains of the 1880s.
A versatile Surrey professional whose 1850s emergence made him the natural leader of the historic 1861-62 Australian tour.
Stephenson is the bridge figure between Parr's England of the late 1850s and the era of overseas tours that followed. As Uppingham's coach he shaped the next generation of amateur captains. His 1853 debut and 1859 tour selection mark his arrival on the senior English stage.
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.