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4 unusual facts about George Lohmann


Bowling average

In Test cricket, George Lohmann is listed as having the superior average by each of the Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, ESPNcricinfo and CricketArchive.

After applying these criteria, George Lohmann holds the record for the lowest average in Test cricket, having claimed 112 wickets at an average of 10.75.

George Lohmann

Returning to the British Cape Colony to maintain his health, Lohmann played no more first-class cricket until February, yet on the matting wickets in three "Tests" (the England eleven was no more than England "A" of today), Lohmann was so unplayable that he took 35 wickets for the remarkable average of just 5.80 runs each.

In the Second Test at the SCG, Lohmann became the first bowler to take eight wickets in a Test innings, and in the abnormally dry summer of 1887 showed himself far ahead of any other bowler – taking 154 wickets when the next best was 114.


Sir Tim O'Brien, 3rd Baronet

He toured with MCC teams twice: in 1887–88 he went with George Vernon to Australia and in 1895–96 he went with Lord Hawke's side to South Africa, where he acted as captain once against South Africa at Port Elizabeth in February 1896, winning the game largely as a result of George Lohmann's match return of 15/45 (7/38 and 8/7).

Thomas Bowley

He made his first-class debut for Surrey in 1885 and became a formidable member of the Surrey attack with George Lohmann and Jack Beaumont.


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