Greatest Cricket Moments

Jem Broadbridge — 'Our Jem' and the Other Half of Sussex's Roundarm Revolution

1825-06-01SussexJem Broadbridge's career, Sussex, 1814-18402 min readSeverity: Mild

Summary

Jem Broadbridge of Duncton, three years younger than Lillywhite and his partner at the other end, was the second of Sussex's twin roundarm spearheads of the 1820s. A right-arm fast-medium bowler and hard-hitting batsman, he was according to Haygarth 'for some seasons the best general cricketer in England, both as batsman, bowler and single wicket player'. He walked the 60-mile round trip from Duncton to Brighton to play for Sussex.

Background

Broadbridge had been playing club cricket in West Sussex since his teens. His first-class debut came in 1814 with a Sussex side that was already pioneering the new bowling style. By the early 1820s he was an automatic selection for Sussex.

Build-Up

By 1825 Broadbridge and Lillywhite had become the strongest opening attack in England. The MCC's tolerance of their roundarm action, in defiance of the formal law, was largely a recognition that no county side could compete with them.

What Happened

James Broadbridge — known to teammates as 'Our Jem' — was born at Duncton, a village near Petworth in Sussex, on 25 June 1795. He came from a farming family and worked the land all his life, never marrying, living in the same village from birth to death. His first-class career spanned the 1814 to 1840 seasons, with the bulk of his appearances coming in the 1820s and early 1830s. As a bowler he delivered right-arm fast-medium roundarm with a high arm action that pushed the limits of the existing law; as a batsman he was an aggressive hitter with a highest score of 135. With Lillywhite he formed the most feared bowling pair of the late 1820s and was central to Sussex's claim to be champion county. He bowled in two of the three roundarm trial matches of 1827, taking a total of 14 wickets in the first match alone (counting both innings, he and Lillywhite shared all the scoring). Broadbridge's commitment was legendary: he regularly walked the 30 miles from Duncton to Brighton on the day of a match, played, and walked back the next day. He died at Duncton in 1843, aged 47, having played in 102 first-class matches and taken at least 324 wickets.

Key Moments

1

25 Jun 1795: Born at Duncton, Sussex

2

1814: First-class debut for Sussex

3

1820s: Emerges as one half of Sussex's roundarm attack with Lillywhite

4

1827: Takes 14 wickets across two innings of the first trial match at Sheffield

5

Highest score 135

6

Walks 60 miles round trip Duncton-to-Brighton for matches

7

1840: Final first-class appearance

8

1843: Dies at Duncton, unmarried, aged 47

Timeline

1795

Born at Duncton, Sussex

1814

First-class debut for Sussex

1827

Roundarm trial matches

1840

Final first-class match

1843

Dies at Duncton

Aftermath

Broadbridge never matched Lillywhite's longevity — he played his last first-class match in 1840 and died three years later — but his place in the roundarm revolution was secure. Haygarth's verdict that he was 'the best general cricketer in England' for some of the late 1820s placed him above his more famous partner as an all-rounder.

⚖️ The Verdict

The other half of Sussex's roundarm pair — less famous than Lillywhite, less accurate, but according to Haygarth the more complete cricketer of the two during the great Sussex years.

Legacy & Impact

Broadbridge is less celebrated than Lillywhite in the long memory of cricket, partly because his career was shorter and partly because he never had the publishing dynasty to keep his name alive. But the roundarm revolution had two engines, not one, and Broadbridge was as much a part of it as Lillywhite.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is he less famous than Lillywhite?▾
His career was shorter, his sons did not become cricket publishers, and he died young at 47. Contemporaries, however, often rated him higher overall as a cricketer.
How far did he walk to play?▾
Some 30 miles each way between Duncton and Brighton — a 60-mile round trip he made repeatedly to turn out for Sussex.

Tags

#jem-broadbridge#sussex#roundarm-bowling#1820s#duncton#william-lillywhite#all-rounder#iconic-moment

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