On the 22 September 1880, English first-class cricketer, George Frederick Grace (1850-1880)  died from pneumonia aged 29. After being exposed to wet weather, he developed a cold, shortly after playing for England against Australia in his one and only Test match at the Oval.

Although the England v Australia match was granted Test status retrospectively, it is the first instance of three brothers playing together in a Test match with EM, WG and Fred all members of the England team.

A right-handed batsman, who bowled right arm fast round-arm, Grace played for Gloucestershire  and the United South of England XI. He appeared in 195 matches rated first-class for statistical purposes, in which he scored 6,906 runs, his highest score being 189 not out.

He took 329 wickets with a best performance of 8 for 43. An outstanding fielder and occasional wicket-keeper, he held 170 catches and completed three stumpings. Grace was always praised for his fielding and, in that Test match, he held what has been called ‘the most famous deep field catch in history’.

Widely known as Fred, he was the youngest member of the Grace family. He had four elder brothers who all played cricket, including the famous Dr. ‘WG’ Grace. Like his brothers, he learned how to play cricket at home on the practice pitch his family created on the site of a former orchard. He was coached by his father, Dr. Henry Grace, and his uncle, Alfred Pocock. His mother, Martha, was also a keen participant, and she provided the driving force and the motivation which led to the competitive edge EM, WG and Fred Grace had as players

His earliest appearance in a match rated first-class was in 1866, aged 15, at the Magdalen Ground, Oxford for a hastily organised Gentlemen of England XI against Oxford University,

In June 1868, Grace played for the new Gloucestershire CCC in its first-ever match, a two-day game at Lord’s against the MCC. The county club was not actually new because it had pre-existed for over 20 years as the West Gloucestershire CC, based in Bristol, and was effectively run by the Grace family.

Fred Grace was unquestionably a top-class cricketer but, like everyone else, was overshadowed by WG. 

Born in Downend, near Bristol in 1850, he died in Basingstoke, Hampshire.

22 September, 2019