The fascinating life story of Ted Peate, a top Victorian cricketer hailed by W. G. Grace as the world-s best spin bowler. This is the first-ever biography of Peate!
Peate is the cricketer whose name heads the Lord-s honours board. Yet he ended his life broke and is buried in an unmarked grave at the side of the runway at Leeds-Bradford airport. Read and you-ll discover:
- How Peate was the last man out in the famous first -Ashes- Test when Australia beat England at The Oval in 1882
- The truth behind Peate-s character flaws, including his weakness for drink, which led to his sacking by new Yorkshire captain Lord Hawke when he was at the peak of his powers
- His working-class origins, his season touring local fetes with a group of clowns, plus the dramatic breakthrough that led to a tour of Australia after just one full season
- The murky world of the professional cricketer, including new details about the scandal-ridden 1882 England tour to Au
