George Bonnor: A star non-smoker
In the late 19th century, English and Australian cricketers formed combined teams to play games billed as Smokers versus Non-Smokers. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the two encounters between the addicts and the tobacco free
During the early days of Test cricket, team boundaries were often pliant; matches took place on tours with players walking across from one side to another to become parts of curiously-formed teams.
When the Australian team toured England in 1884, just two years after ‘Ashes’ had come into being, the hosts won the three Test series 1-0. After the serious contests were over, a First-Class match was played at Lord’s with the players of the two teams mingling to form Anglo-Australian XIs. The sides were based not on nationality but addiction.
That’s right. As the tour drew to a close, on September 15 and 16 a curious match was held between the Smokers and Non-Smokers.
The team not afflicted by the nasty habit obviously scored higher in terms of fitness. The Non-Smokers were led by Australian captain Billy Murdoch, with WG Grace opening the innings with Alec Bannerman. With the great hitter George Bonnor, Dick Barlow, EM Grace and the captain himself, they formed a daunting line up.
The Smokers, albeit perhaps perennially short of wind, were full of formidable cricketers with an unfortunate fondness for the puff. Lord Harris led the devotees of tobacco, with the bowling spearheaded by Fred ‘Demon’ Spofforth. With George Palmer, Edmund Peate, George Giffen and Tom Emmett they probably boasted a better bowling unit. And with Percy McDonnell, William Gunn, boosted by Palmer and Giffen again, the batting was not too bad either.
On the first day, Bonnor delighted the spectators with his massive hits, plundering 124. And when the Smokers batted, WG ran through the batting with eight scalps in the match. Fitness proved a decisive factor as the Non-Smokers triumphed by nine wickets.
A similar game was arranged when England toured Australia in 1886-87. The Smokers and Non-Smokers were again drawn up from the teams of the hosts and visitors. Played in March 1887 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, it saw a feast of runs for the Non-Smokers. Skipper Arthur Shrewsbury scored a double hundred, William Bruce and William Gunn piled up centuries. Using their superior lungs to the full, the Non-Smokers plundered 803. This being a period before the inception of the declaration rule, they batted on till into the third day when their innings finally ran to a close. Palmer scored a hundred in response, and the Smokers managed 356. They followed on, with the match ending in a draw –five wickets standing in the second innings of the addicts.
The final moments of this game were curious. William Scotton defended the last delivery and, wanting a souvenir, picked the ball up. The fielders, wanting the same memento for themselves, appealed in a chorus. Scotton was ruled out and is registered in scorecards as ‘Handled the Ball’.
As cricket turned more serious down the years, these curious contests were held no more.