Barnes arguably finest paceman who ever lived

DENNIS Lillee, Fred Trueman, Jeff Thomson, Harold Larwood, Glenn McGrath and Craig McDermott all have one thing in common.

They earned their rightful places in Ashes folklore as spearhead fast bowlers not to be messed with.

But a little over a century ago, one right-handed quick dominated cricket to such an extent that he is still revered today as arguably the finest paceman who ever lived.

England’s Sydney Barnes could make the ball both swing and break from off or leg.

Respected cricket commentator John Arlott paid tribute to Barnes in The Cricketer 50 years ago.

‘‘Simply to see him bowl — and he was over 60 on the only occasion I ever watched him in action — was to make the instant impression of majesty, hostility and control,’’ Arlott said.

‘‘This was, without doubt, a born bowler, who lived to bowl,’’ he said. ‘‘No batsman even dared to claim that he was Barnes’s master. Asked which of them he found most difficult, he answers ‘Victor Trumper’. Who next? ‘No one else ever troubled me’.’’

Sir Donald Bradman argued that Bill O’Reilly must have been a greater bowler because he commanded every ball developed in Barnes’s day, plus the googly.

Barnes said: ‘‘It’s quite true. I never bowled the googly.’’

Then, with a glint in his eye, he added: ‘‘I never needed it.’’

Barnes spent little more than two seasons in first-class cricket, preferring instead to play league cricket and represent Staffordshire in the Minor Counties championship.

It was in the arena of Test cricket, however, where Barnes shone.

His record is amazing. He played 27 times for England from 1901 to 1914, taking 189 wickets at an average of 16.43 runs each.

In 1911-12, Barnes enabled England to win the Ashes when he took 34 wickets in the series.

In 1913-14, playing his final Test series, he took a world record 49 wickets against South Africa.

Barnes was selected for his first overseas tour in 1901-02, despite having made only seven first-class appearances in the previous eight English seasons.

In Australia, he made his Test debut on December 13, 1901, at the SCG, where he took five wickets for 65 runs in the first innings.

Also making their debuts in this Test were Colin Blythe and Len Braund. Between them, the three debutant bowlers took all 20 Australian wickets as England won by an innings and 124 runs.

Australia levelled the series in the second Test at the MCG, winning by 229 runs, although Barnes had figures of 6-42 and 7-121.

Although successful, taking 19 wickets in the two Tests to add to the 13 in his previous seven first- class matches, Barnes was over-bowled.

He injured a knee in the third Test at Adelaide Oval and missed the remainder of the tour.

Barnes was selected only once in England’s home Ashes series against Australia in 1902. This was for the third Test, the only Test ever held at Bramall Lane, Sheffield, which Australia won by 143 runs.

Barnes took 6-49 and 1-50, but Monty Noble with 11 wickets was again Australia’s matchwinner.