Grace W.G. Junior Image 1 Cambridge University 1895

Description

West Brompton, Kensington, London born William Gilbert Grace Junior, known as W.G. Junior, was the first-born son of W.G. Grace, the greatest English cricketer of the Victorian era.

He won scholarships to Clifton College and Pembroke College, Cambridge, where he studied mathematics. Wearing spectacles, unusual at the time, his first pronounced success was gained in the Reigate Festival of 1894, when he played a not out innings of 148 for his father’s XI. against Mr. W. W. Read’s XI. At Cambridge on June 1st 1896, he and G.S. Graham-Smith made 337 together for the first wicket of Pembroke College v. Caius College, and at the Crystal Palace on September 16th, 1901, he and W.L. Murdoch (who carried out his bat for 200) put on 355 for the first wicket of London County v. Erratics. In these matches his scores were respectively 213 and 150, but none were classed as first class.

He played in 57 first class matches for Cambridge University (from 1894 to 1896, winning his Blue), Gloucestershire (for whom he played from 1893 to 1898) M.C.C. (1894 and 1895), and London County (from 1900 t0 1903) playing as an all-rounder, batting right-handed and bowling right-arm fast-medium. He made 1,324 runs at an average of 15.21 with a highest score of 79 among 5 half centuries, and took 42 wickets at an average of 39.45 with a best of 6-79.

Grace often played for Gloucestershire, London County and M.C.C. alongside his father, his brother Charles Grace and his uncle E. M. Grace, mostly under his father’s captaincy. Grace also played rugby union for the Northants and East Midland XV.

He became a schoolteacher, teaching at Oundle School in Northamptonshire and then at Royal Naval College, Osborne. He died in 1905 at the age of 30 after an operation for appendicitis.