George Ulyett was born on 21 October 1851, in Pitsmoor, Yorkshire, England. Two ship’s officers eyed the embarking passengers with almost non-committal interest, until their attentions were attracted by a well-built fellow struggling to the foot of the gangplank, carefully carrying a stone container. When questioned, he explained that he was to join Major R Gardner Warton’s touring cricketers in South Africa, as a replacement, and was asked to take out linseed oil as the fierce sun had dried out the cricket bats, causing them to crack and break. With the officers suitably convinced, George Ulyett stowed away the jar in his cabin, but not before tasting its contents, with a satisfied smile. A friend had kindly made him a parting gift of four gallons of whisky, probably in ‘the true spirit of the game’!
George Ulyett, one of cricket’s earliest characters, was the Ian Botham of England from 1875 to 1890. He was born on October 21st, 1851, at Pitsmoor, near Sheffield. A rule of the Pitsmoor Cricket Club restricted players under 18 joining but, such was 16-year-old George Ulyett’s potential after an initial refusal, that he became a member two months later. The rigorous daily life of a Sheffield steelwork’s rolling mill helped to harden Ulyett’s massive physique and make his work easier. Many times he slipped away to play cricket but, with growing successes, such ability was impossible to keep secret. Each occasion was marked by the presentation of his dismissal notice, but he proved indispensable, was forgiven, and reinstated.
Encounters with the “Big ‘un”
In 1871 Geroge Ulyett joined the Bradford Club professionally. Near the end of a two-year stay he played against the United South, at Bradford, and really brought his name to people’s notice. With the United States wanting only 66 to win in their second innings, Ulyett bowled W G Grace for 34.
This started a procession as Alan Hill and George Ulyett took 6 wickets without the batsmen crossing, and won the game for Bradford. This was Ulyett’s first encounter with Grace-the “Big ‘un”, as he liked to refer to the doctor. Not surprisingly, Yorkshire signed him up after this match. George Ulyett took the field with the Yorkshire XI for the first time in a game with Sussex, in 1873, at Bramall Lane, and played in the return at Brighton, a week later.
His London debut was scheduled when representing the North against The South at Prince’s Ground, in 1875. Imagine his disappointment to learn that The North already had 11 players when he arrived, so W G Grace asked him to umpire instead. Was it with reluctance that Ulyett gave the “Big ‘un” out LBW?
Harmless jests
George Ulyett was a powerful man. Such a large frame is outstanding in old photographs and prints, like the bass singer in the barber shop quintet, for his hair is parted in the middle, and a thick walrus moustache bristles from a cheery countenance. Tall and broad shouldered, he weighed 14 stones.
Among his many virtues, perhaps, humor was paramount. His enjoyment of playing cricket was ever obvious, and he encouraged others to share it with him. Many stories illustrate his practical jokes, and Tom Emmett, a county colleague, predicted a stage career for him because he had the ability to carry out his pranks with a straight face. Perhaps Emmett was thinking of the occasion when George Ulyett joined a procession of solemn faced school teachers, and marched with a serious expression.
Sometimes he was on the receiving end when fellow players returned his harmless jests. When on tour, once a telegram arrived in the dressing room for him, telling that his wife had given birth to twins. Typically, after the initial shock, he took it all in good part. It was Charles Ullathorne, a brilliant fielder in early Yorkshire IXs, who aptly named him “Happy Jack”, because of his cheerfulness when things went badly for the team. To the faithful county supporters he was simply the original “Garge.”. George Hirst would become his successor.
Immense power
Geroge Ulyett hit with immense power all-round the wicket, including a drive over square leg, and his cutting was regal. He hit the ball out to Bramall Lane in 1883, while Sir Pelham Warner recalled how he smashed the bowling of W Barnes over extra cover, into Block A, at Lord’s. The Lord’s pavilion was often a target but, after several direct strikes, he managed to miss it by going over the top.
One day, when the genial Sammy Woods was in his fast-bowling prime at Cambridge University, George Ulyett lofted him out of Fenners, and into a tub of mortar, being mixed to prepare footings for the houses in Woolaston Road. He once plundered 146 not out for Yorkshire against the MCC at Scarborough, hitting the ball out of the ground three times. His logic in building a long innings was to hit the ball harder each time, this being the recommended method of defence.
Superstitious tendency
George Ulyett’s bowling was a matchwinner seldom equaled. Although not able to control properly the swinging ball, his high action helped to achieve unsettling life, and a sharp cutback from the off. Sometimes movement in the air deserted him completely, while on other days, Lord Harris tells us, he needed a long-leg to counteract his wide swerving deliveries.
For such a composed character, George Ulyett had a superstitious tendency, because if he missed his run-up early in the game, it was proof he would not take a wicket that day, and would ask to be taken off. When batting, he only took guard once. Luckily, this quirk of human nature did little to affect his performance, because he soon became one of Yorkshire’s king-pins. He opened the batting and bowling for a period and captained the side in the absence of Lord Hawke. The latter turned to Georg Ulyett as his senior professional, but John Tunnicliffe took over this role later.
The importance of George Ulyett’s presence in the Yorkshire XI is described in Wisden 1882, when stating that if he had been available for the three games he missed, Yorkshire would probably have won the title in 1881. Apart from the occasional glass of beer, George Ulyett thrived on hard fought tussles, games of cut and thrust, when players battled to narrow wins. The Roses clashes served to appease his appetite.
In the Sheffield game, 1883, he did the hat-trick, and scored 61, an exhibition that gave him immense pleasure. Even in such strained situations George Ulyett introduced a smile, as when taking a position of close point to Lancashire batsman, Richard Barlow. Taking guard Barlow muttered to Ulyett, “Get back, Jack, I wouldn’t like to kill thee”. As Barlow was never recognized as a hard-hitter, point laughingly replied “If that did, Dick, I’d be first that’d killed with hard hitting”! A few balls later the luckless batsman cut a loose ball outside the off stump, only to see George Ulyett, effortlessly, pluck the ball out of the air.
Magnificent 149 at Melbourne
Alfred Shaw led the 1881/92 team that travelled to New Zealand and Australia, via America. Playing a game in San Francisco, a baseball pitcher was chosen by the opposition to baffle the crack batsmen with his ability to make the ball swerve and dip in flight. After George Ulyett had thrashed 167 not out in a short time, the dejected pitcher openly showed his disgust with the game of cricket! In the first-class games of that tour, Ulyett scored the only century, with a classic 149 in the third Test Match, at Melbourne.
His highest score ever was 199 not out made against Derbyshire, in 1887. Twice more he travelled to Australia and, of course, to South Africa in 1888/9. When JH Roberts was allowed to return because of a family bereavement, Ulyett joined the first party ever to tour South Africa. Sir C Aubrey Smith captained this successful side and must have been delighted to receive such a potent bat liniment! Of George Ulyett’s home Tests, the Oval game of 1882 was his bitterest memory.
The mythical Ashes were born when Australia beat England by 7 runs after the home team failed to get the 87 runs needed for victory in the second innings. Ulyett thought the English batsmen allowed themselves to be intimidated by the speed of Fred Spofforth, after all “me and the Doctor had made half of ’em”, he lamented. He often explained that his England selection was based on his talent for whistling and, possibly, for good behavior!
He had more pleasant memories of the Lord’s Test in 1884, but probably more painful. George Bonnor, batting at number 6 for Australia, and an even bigger man than Ulyett at 16 stones and 6 feet 6 inches tall, crashed a half-volley back towards the bowler. All eyes followed the ball’s imaginary line of flight to the boundary, but Ulyett had caught it in his follow through, much to the horror of many eye-witnesses. Lord Harris and W G Grace said he was silly to try for it, and Punch magazine proposed that he could be useful catching cannonballs, in wartime! After finishing 7 for 36, from 39 overs and 23 maidens, England won by an innings and 5 runs, and George Ulyett was presented with the ball.
Mr Grimston, an ageing Lord’s member, and respected critic, gave the hero of the hour a gold coin to commemorate the finest catch he had ever seen. In the first Test at Manchester, 1886, George Ulyett was batting when the scores were level. His vast hit into the outfield heralded a stampede by watching reporters describe England’s five-wicket victory to their waiting editors. He, unintentionally, had the last laugh again, when Garrett caught him on the boundary. This, eventual, four-wicket win was set up with Ulyett’s 4 for 46 in Australia’s first innings.
Last Test and a Benefit Match
He played his last Test Match in 1890, at Lord’s of all places. It was a fitting stage from which to take his final curtain-call, and he did it in style. England only made a meagre 172 in the first innings, but Ulyett contributed 74 most valuable runs. His innings set the foundation for a victory for England by seven wickets. In 23 Tests, he made nearly 1,000 runs, and took 50 wickets. He was the first English batsman to score a Test century, and 50 runs in each innings of a Test Match.
In recognition of loyal and outstanding service to his country, Yorkshire arranged a benefit match for George Ulyett against Surrey, in 1887, the Jubilee Year of Queen Victoria. Unfortunately, the game was finished in two days, but disappointing gate receipts were enhanced by £700 from a subscription list. The final figure was a pleasing one of 4 digits. After retiring from cricket in 1893, Ulyett became a publican for a short period. Through cricket, he had been left in reasonably comfortable circumstances, due mainly to his own explanation to “being lucky in getting so many trips across the water”.
His home ground of Bramall Lane had always been his favourite to play on, but now he liked nothing better than to sit and watch his beloved Yorkshire, so successful, and still under the leadership of Lord Hawke. On one bitterly cold June day in 1898, Ulyett met George Hirst on the pavilion steps and, putting his hand on Hirst’s shoulder, slowly confided “Young ‘Un”, He always called George Hirst by this name, “I’m finished”.
He caught pneumonia and died before the end of that week. Such a sad prediction had been fulfilled, just a mile or two from his birthplace, and at the tragically young age of 47. There have been many English cricketing heroes since; perhaps they were fortunate to be set such an outstanding example, by one of the first.
George Ulyett Pleasant memories
George Ulyett’s opening partner was Louis Hall, a product of the Yorkshire nursery at Lascelles Hall. It is difficult to imagine two such opposites, for Hall was a Methodist preacher, and a total abstainer. The pair were referred to as ‘the saint’ and ‘the sinner’, while Yorkshire wits suggested that when Louis played the organ, George played the fool! The two were first on the list of great opening partnerships Yorkshire contributed to cricket.
Eleven times Hall and George Ulyett produced opening century stands, and, in 1885, they accomplished it in each inning against Sussex. In a remarkable game at Canterbury in 1887, Yorkshire’s first three batsmen each reached a century, with George Ulyett 124 made out of the first 169 runs. Between 1873 and 1893 he played 407 games for the county, scoring over 16,000 runs, averaging 24. In five seasons he made over 1,000 runs, and of his 18 centuries, 15 were for Yorkshire.
He took nearly 500 wickets, averaging 18. It would have been a mighty task getting Ulyett to quote these statistics, as modesty was yet another of his virtues. When A W Pullin-alias “Old Ebor, was compiling notes for his book “Talks with Old English Cricketers”, it was essential that he interviewed George Ulyett. Many appointments were cancelled at the last minute because Ulyett had received a telegram or postcard, calling him away. These excuses were finally thwarted by the author asking a friend of Ulyett to call on the cricketer, and Pullin accompanied him.
George Ulyett was far too modest to discuss his many successes. To be chosen for the Gents vs Players game at Lord’s was, at this period of cricket’s history, the acme of any cricketer’s career. Even after the first Test Match of 1877, the honour of representing either the Gentlemen or the Players was for several decades more prestigious than gaining England selection. George Ulyett played his first game for the Players, albeit at The Oval, in 1875, but fulfilled an ambition the following year, at Lord’s.
Between 1875 and 1892, he starred 37 times, with many feats of wicket-taking and consistently high scores with the bat. In 65 innings, he made nearly 1,800 runs, with an average of 27, and his 30 wickets cost 30 runs each. The highlights started with 53 and 118 at Prince’s, in 1877, while in 1881, at The Oval, he opened the batting with 57 and 80. At Lord’s in 1883, scores of 65 and 51 established him as a firm favourite with the public. The following year, he hit 134 out of 213 while at the wicket. This Oval slaughter was just the prelude to his 96 and 64 at Lord’s, a few days later.
This popular fixture, over the year, is studded with Ulyett’s all-round performances. The first Test match between Australia and England was arranged to be played in Melbourne over four days, and George Ulyett represented England in this great milestone. Although achieving little success, he was able to make amends in the Second Test, two weeks later, with scores of 52 and 63, helping England to a four-wicket victory, thus avenging Australia’s win in the previous game.
This touring team of professionals was managed, and captained, by James Lillywhite, and Ulyett had every cause to be satisfied with his showing, thus making future selection almost a formality. Lord Harris skippered the next England tourists in 1878/9, a team composed of 12 amateurs, plus two Yorkshire professionals, Tom Emmett and George Ulyett. Even though the results were not good, Ulyett proved the main run-getter, and topped the batting averages.
Sadly, this tour will be remembered for the unsavory scenes at Sydney, when Murdoch, the New South Wales captain, was adjudged run out. This action caused onlookers to encroach upon the playing area where, after being attacked, Lord Harris was escorted safely to the pavilion by his two pros’, each wielding a stump. George Ulyett certainly had more pleasant memories, for he had taken 4 wickets in 4 balls. Batting with his captain, Ulyett was instructed to take things easy, and build a good score.
His response was to hit at almost every ball, together with an apology that “he felt he had a hitting fit on”. To Yorkshire supporters this action recalled a similar situation during a Roses match, when Yorkshire wanted 6 runs to win with just the last wicket standing. Geroge Ulyett tried to hit Johnny Briggs out of the ground, and was caught on the boundary. There were no recriminations, nor harsh words, when discussing the narrow Lancashire win, because it was accepted that that was the way Geroge Ulyett played his cricket.
Death
George Ulyett died on 18 June 1898 at Yorkshire at the age of 46.
