In 1908, a bookseller from Suffolk, who had been suffering from depression, disappeared in London, prompting a frantic search from his wife. He reappeared almost a month later having been living in the streets with no memory of his former life open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Middlesex's J. T. Hearne was the epitome of the respectable professional in a career lasting from 1888 to 1923. One of only four men to take over 3,000 first-class wickets, he was also (less famously) one half of the world's first "celebrity" cricketing couple oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/y...

In 1908, a bookseller from Suffolk, who had been suffering from depression, disappeared in London, prompting a frantic search from his wife. He reappeared almost a month later having been living in the streets with no memory of his former life open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Middlesex's J. T. Hearne was the epitome of the respectable professional in a career lasting from 1888 to 1923. One of only four men to take over 3,000 first-class wickets, he was also (less famously) one half of the world's first "celebrity" cricketing couple oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/09/29/y...

Yours Respectably, J. T. Hearne Although famous for his success as a bowler — and as one of only four men to take over 3,000 first-class wickets — J. T. Hearne of Middlesex was just as well-known for his utter respectability, the epitome of what the amateur establishment wanted from professional…

In 1891, just a few days after the census, two men died at a mill in the Lancashire town of Tyldesley. Philip Hill shot Thomas Syms dead and then turned the gun on himself. What led to the events of the Tyldesley Tragedy? open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Sad news about Dickie Bird. He was one in a long line of great — and somewhat eccentric — English umpires. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Sad news about Dickie Bird. He was one in a long line of great — and somewhat eccentric — English umpires. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

In 1891, just a few days after the census, two men died at a mill in the Lancashire town of Tyldesley. Philip Hill shot Thomas Syms dead and then turned the gun on himself. What led to the events of the Tyldesley Tragedy? open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

I often stumble across stories with no link to cricket which are extremely compelling. So I'm trying something different (not about the sport!). If you like stories from the past and finding out about lost lives, please have a look and maybe subscribe open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

I often stumble across stories with no link to cricket which are extremely compelling. So I'm trying something different (not about the sport!). If you like stories from the past and finding out about lost lives, please have a look and maybe subscribe open.substack.com/pub/lostlive...

Herbert Charles Tebbutt is one of only a handful of cricketers to have been murderers. An accomplished schoolboy cricketer and a wealthy man, he inexplicably killed his common-law wife Helen Williams (nee Jenks), her daughter, and their two children in 1932. He then killed himself

Herbert Charles Tebbutt is one of only a handful of cricketers to have been murderers. An accomplished schoolboy cricketer and a wealthy man, he inexplicably killed his common-law wife Helen Williams (nee Jenks), her daughter, and their two children in 1932. He then killed himself

No matter how dire the scenario, there is usually a precedent somewhere in cricket history. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

No matter how dire the scenario, there is usually a precedent somewhere in cricket history. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Despite having turned his back on county cricket, Sydney Barnes was recalled to the England team in 1907 as the selectors struggled to assemble a team. Over the next seven years he proved the best bowler in the world and perhaps one of the greatest of all time

Despite having turned his back on county cricket, Sydney Barnes was recalled to the England team in 1907 as the selectors struggled to assemble a team. Over the next seven years he proved the best bowler in the world and perhaps one of the greatest of all time

Plucked from obscurity to play for Lancashire and England, SF Barnes never behaved as professional cricketers were expected to at the time. But neither did he set the cricketing world alight, falling some way short of the potential that everyone saw in him. The result was a messy falling out.

Plucked from obscurity to play for Lancashire and England, SF Barnes never behaved as professional cricketers were expected to at the time. But neither did he set the cricketing world alight, falling some way short of the potential that everyone saw in him. The result was a messy falling out.

S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different.

S. F. Barnes is one of the few bowlers to have played over a century ago who is still remembered today. The main reason is that his statistical record remains astonishing, but it goes deeper than that. Barnes has become a legend, even if like all legends, the truth was slightly different.

Many people like to argue that cricket was better in the past — usually around 20 years ago. But this debate has been raging for over 200 years. Because cricket has always been better in my day... open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Many people like to argue that cricket was better in the past — usually around 20 years ago. But this debate has been raging for over 200 years. Because cricket has always been better in my day... open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

After his playing career was over, Gubby Allen assumed an almost dictatorial control over English cricket, from the 1940s until the late 1960s. His pomposity and prejudice shaped the route taken by the sport, and the careers of several players, not always for the better.

Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air

Gubby Allen became famous as a dictatorial administrator and eminence grise at Lord's. But in his earlier days, he was a decent all-rounder who just fell short at the highest level. However, his shortcomings were forgotten in later years as his bowling and captaincy assumed an almost legendary air

The Lancashire and England bowler Cecil Parkin had a talent for self sabotage that almost reached an art form. His desire for validation and a desperation to be proven right ruined his career. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

The Lancashire and England bowler Cecil Parkin had a talent for self sabotage that almost reached an art form. His desire for validation and a desperation to be proven right ruined his career. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

Joseph "Float" Woods was a member of the first West Indies team to tour England. Although little is known about his life, his experiences on that 1900 tour are illustrative of what it would have been like to be a black cricketer in the Caribbean in this period.

With apologies to lovers of "Bazball": Perceball, or how Percy Fender got there first. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

With apologies to lovers of "Bazball": Perceball, or how Percy Fender got there first. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain from 1876 until 1883 — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

One of the early stalwarts of the Derbyshire team — and its second captain from 1876 until 1883 — was Robert Posnett Smith. He was a decent but not exceptional cricketer. But after his playing days were over, he inherited a vast fortune from his uncle. The only condition: he had to change his name.

Something very different: how the return of James Anderson to T20 cricket has echoes of a story from a long time ago open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Something very different: how the return of James Anderson to T20 cricket has echoes of a story from a long time ago open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Another short piece on someone I just can't help but continually return to. Poor old Mac. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Another short piece on someone I just can't help but continually return to. Poor old Mac. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Arie Molenaar was a rising Dutch cricketer, set to become a pioneer when he signed a contract to play professionally in England. But it all came crashing down when his role in a 1945 murder came to light. oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/t...

Arie Molenaar was a rising Dutch cricketer, set to become a pioneer when he signed a contract to play professionally in England. But it all came crashing down when his role in a 1945 murder came to light. oldebor.wordpress.com/2025/05/26/t...

Some characters are so incredible, so ridiculous, that you couldn't make them up. Charlie Buller certainly qualifies as one of those, even if most people have never heard of him. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Some characters are so incredible, so ridiculous, that you couldn't make them up. Charlie Buller certainly qualifies as one of those, even if most people have never heard of him. open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

After the Second World War, Bertie Clarke settled in England, playing some county cricket and working as a doctor (with some celebrity patients). He also took hundreds of wickets for the BBC's cricket team. But this was just one part of a busy, and sometimes controversial, life

After the Second World War, Bertie Clarke settled in England, playing some county cricket and working as a doctor (with some celebrity patients). He also took hundreds of wickets for the BBC's cricket team. But this was just one part of a busy, and sometimes controversial, life

One of the strangest men to have captained England… Another short piece on the experimental substack! oldebor77.substack.com/p/c-b-fry

One of the strangest men to have captained England… Another short piece on the experimental substack! oldebor77.substack.com/p/c-b-fry

Something a little bit different! I'm writing a few much shorter articles that are lighter on detail and heavier on flavour. Please feel free to check it out and subscribe; it might become a regular occurrence if no-one shouts at me too much open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Something a little bit different! I'm writing a few much shorter articles that are lighter on detail and heavier on flavour. Please feel free to check it out and subscribe; it might become a regular occurrence if no-one shouts at me too much open.substack.com/pub/oldebor7...

Bertie Clarke was a leg-spinner from Barbados who played three Tests for the West Indies in 1939. After a very successful season, he moved to England to study medicine. During the war, he became famous for his performances in charity games and as a broadcaster with the BBC.