George Lohmann
A Victorian fast bowler of terrifying efficiency, he dominated batsmen with a precision that still sets statistical records over a century later.
1865–1901 (age 36)·English cricketer·Birthday: June 2·The Gilded Age
Biography
In the late 19th century, George Lohmann didn't just take wickets; he collected them with an almost casual brutality that rewrote the record books. Playing for Surrey and England, his medium-pace bowling was a masterclass in seam movement, subtle variation, and relentless accuracy. Batsmen of his era spoke of facing him with a sense of dread, as he could make the ball talk on even the deadest pitches. His Test statistics border on the mythical: an average so low it may never be challenged, and a strike rate that speaks of constant, immediate danger. Lohmann's career was tragically cut short by tuberculosis, which forced him to seek recuperation in South Africa, where he even played and coached. He died at just 36, leaving behind a legacy as perhaps the most statistically dominant bowler the game has ever seen.
The Gilded Age
1860–1882
Born during or after the Civil War, they built industrial America — the railroads, the steel mills, the first skyscrapers. An era of massive wealth, massive inequality, and the belief that the future belonged to whoever could build it fastest.
George was born in 1865, placing them squarely in The Gilded Age. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When George Was Born
The biggest hits of 1865
George's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1865Born
President: Andrew Johnson
1870Started school
President: Ulysses S. Grant
1878Became a teenager
President: Rutherford B. Hayes
1881Could drive
President: Chester A. Arthur
1883Could vote
President: Chester A. Arthur
1886Turned 21
Statue of Liberty dedicated in New York Harbor
President: Grover Cleveland
1895Turned 30
First public film screening by the Lumiere brothers
President: Grover Cleveland
1901Died at 36
Queen Victoria dies, ending the Victorian era
President: Theodore Roosevelt
Key Achievements
- Holds the lowest career Test bowling average (10.75) for any bowler with more than 15 wickets.
- Took 112 wickets in just 18 Test matches, including nine five-wicket hauls.
- Achieved a hat-trick playing for Surrey against the touring Australians in 1896.
- Captained England to victory in his final Test match as captain in 1896.
Did You Know?
He was also a capable batsman, scoring two first-class centuries.
Lohmann worked as a stockbroker in the City of London outside of cricket.
He traveled to South Africa for his health and played first-class cricket there, taking 86 wickets in just nine matches.
His brother, Albert Lohmann, also played first-class cricket for Surrey.
“A good length ball, well pitched, will get a man out more often than a fast one.”
