by Abhishek Mukherjee

Well over a century ago, even before the County Championship had begun, Surrey were playing Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge. They put up 115, bowled out Notts for 89, then reached 157/3 by stumps on Day 2.

The Reads – WW (Walter) and Maurice – helped Surrey reach 264/3 next morning. The lead was now 290. With George Lohmann to spearhead the bowling, Surrey were outright favourites at this point.

Unfortunately, there was a small problem: Lohmann would certainly run through – but how to get him to bowl? There was no provision for declaration in the laws!

Captain John Shuter was himself at the crease when he took the decision. At the other end was Lohmann. The score was 280/5, the lead 306.

Shuter smashed the stumps with his bat and left, as did George Jones. The crowd laughed, but that was probably they did not realise what was going on.

The subsequent batsmen hit out wildly. Harry Wood and John Beaumont both stepped out, and when they missed the ball, they did not make an attempt to return to the crease. They simply left for the pavilion. And Lohmann lobbed one to the hands of Dick Attewell.

Surrey were bowled out for 289. Notts needed 316, a target that seemed impossible after a brief rain break.

However, there was still enough time for Lohmann to run through. Surrey won by 157 runs with 13 minutes remaining.

All this happened on 1 June 1887. Declarations were introduced in 1889. The image is Shuter's.