Arthur Shrewsbury

Arthur Shrewsbury (11 April 1856 – 19 May 1903) was an English cricketer, and rugby football administrator, who organised the first British Isles rugby tour to Australasia in 1888, and who was widely rated as competing with W. G. Grace for the accolade of being the best batsman of the 1880s; Grace himself, when asked who he would most like in his side, replied simply, "Give me Arthur".

An opening batsman, he played his cricket for Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club and played 23 Test matches for England, captaining them in 7 games, with a record of won 5, lost 2. He was the last professional to be captain until Len Hutton was chosen in 1952. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1890.

An expert on sticky wickets, Shrewsbury topped the first-class batting averages seven times including in 1902, his final season. The following spring, incorrectly believing he had an incurable disease, he shot himself at his sister's home in Gedling, Nottinghamshire.

Read more about Arthur Shrewsbury:  Early Life, First-class Beginnings, World Tour, Domestic Success, Test Success, Two Australian Tours, Best Batsman in England, After Test Career, Death, Statistical Overview, Style, Shaw and Shrewsbury

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