Back W.G. Grace Afrikaans ويليام دبليو.جي. جريس Arabic ويليام دبليو.جي. جريس ARZ W. G. Grace AST ডব্লিউ. জি. গ্রেস Bengali/Bangla W. G. Grace Catalan William Gilbert Grace Czech W. G. Grace Welsh W.G. Grace Danish W. G. Grace German
 Grace photographed by George Beldam, c. 1902 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | William Gilbert Grace | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 18 July 1848 Downend, near Bristol | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 23 October 1915 (aged 67) Mottingham, Kent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname | WG, The Champion (and others) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed opener | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium (roundarm) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Role | All-rounder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations |
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| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut (cap 24) | 6 September 1880 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 1 June 1899 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1865–1906 | Gentlemen | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1866–1878 | USEE | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1869–1904 | MCC | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1870–1899 | Gloucestershire | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1900–1904 | London County | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive (subscription), 20 December 2024 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Part of a series of articles on |
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William Gilbert Grace MRCS LRCP (18 July 1848 – 23 October 1915) was an English cricketer who is widely considered one of the sport's all-time greatest players. Always known by his initials as "WG", his first-class career spanned a record-equalling 44 seasons from 1865 to 1908. Test cricket originated during his career, and he represented England in 22 matches from 1880 to 1899. In domestic cricket, he was mostly associated with Gloucestershire, the Gentlemen, Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), and the United South of England Eleven (USEE).
Right-handed as both batsman and bowler, Grace was an outstanding all-rounder who excelled at all the essential skills of batting, bowling, and fielding, though it is for his batting that he is most renowned, as he is held to have invented modern batsmanship. He dominated the sport during his career, and his technical innovations and enormous influence have left a lasting legacy. Usually opening the innings, he was particularly admired for his mastery of all strokes, and his level of expertise was said by contemporary reviewers to be unique. He generally captained the teams he played for at all levels because of his skill and tactical acumen. Grace nominally held amateur status as a player, but he was said to have made more money from his cricketing activities than any contemporary professional. He was an extremely competitive player and, though he was one of the most famous men in England, he was also one of the most controversial on account of his gamesmanship and moneymaking.
He came from a cricketing family which included his elder brother Edward ("EM"), and his younger brother Fred. In 1880, they were members of the same England team, the first time three brothers played together in a Test match. Grace took part in other sports—as a young man, he was a champion 440-yard hurdler, and played football for the Wanderers. In later life, he developed enthusiasm for golf, lawn bowls, and curling. He qualified as a medical practitioner in 1879.
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