On the 28 June 1915, Australian cricketer Victor Thomas Trumper (1877 –1915) died in Darlinghurst, Sydney, Australia, aged 37. Trumper’s health declined rapidly in 1914 and he died as a result of Bright’s disease . Trumper was buried in Waverley Cemetery after the largest funeral procession ever seen in Sydney, with 250,000 mourners lining the route.

Victor Trumper

Trumper was born out of wedlock, which was quite a scandal at the time, probably in Sydney in 1877, although no record of his birth exists. He was educated at Crown Street Superior Public School, where he dominated school and junior cricket, so much so that many schools and teams refused to play against him. When only 17 years old Trumper made 67 runs for a team of promising juniors against a touring English team at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the ‘Golden Age of Cricket’ , he was capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets others found unplayable.

In 1894-1895 he played for New South Wales against South Australia, making 11 and 0 runs in his two innings. He failed with the bat at his next attempt too, and was left out of representative cricket for two years.

Trumper resumed first-class cricket in 1897-1898, but his breakthrough came the following season, when he made 873 runs, with a top score of 292 not out.

After a couple of years playing Sheffield Shield he had an outside chance of making the 1899 tour of England, but was not considered consistent enough and was left out. However, at the last moment, after a fine performance against the Australian team, he was added to the touring party and made his Test debut against England in 1899. He played his last Test against England in 1912. In his Test and first-class career of 303 matches, he amassed a total of 20,132 runs, including 50 centuries, his highest score being 300 not out.

Although he is best known for his prowess as a cricketer, Trumper was also a competent rugby player and can lay claim to being a key figure in the foundation of rugby league in Australia. 

Trumper was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903, and was awarded Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914. In the 1963 edition of the Wisden Cricketers’ Almanac Trumper was named as one of the Six Giants of the Wisden Century. And in 1981 he was honoured on a postage stamp issued by Australia Post. In 2008 the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust announced that the new grandstand was to be named in his honour.

Trumper was inducted into the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame in 2010.

28 June, 2019

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