Wilfred Rhodes's Test Debut — Trent Bridge, 1899

Rhodes was born in Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, in October 1877, the same village that produced George Hirst. He worked in a railway-engine works as a teenager; his Yorkshire chance came only after Bobby Peel's sacking in 1897. By the spring of 1899 he was the most-talked-about colt in England.

Australia won the toss and elected to bat. Grace, captaining, walked across to Rhodes before the first over and gave him the new ball — an unusual gesture for a left-arm spinner.

Rhodes had been promoted to Yorkshire's first XI in April 1898 to replace the sacked Bobby Peel. He took 154 first-class wickets at 14.60 in his first season and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1899. Selection for the First Test at Trent Bridge was almost automatic; what was less expected was that Grace, captaining, would open the bowling with him.

Rhodes bowled 35.1 four-ball overs in Australia's first innings of 252, taking 4 for 58. His first Test wicket was Monty Noble, caught off a turn-and-bounce delivery; he went on to remove Hugh Trumble (5), Jack Worrall (4) and Ernie Jones (1). He bowled tight; Wisden noted his 'remarkable steadiness for a colt.' In Australia's second innings he took 1 for 39 and helped England escape the Test by batting out the closing overs at number eleven.

The career that opened that day would run to 1930. Rhodes played 58 Tests, took 127 Test wickets, scored 2,325 Test runs (including a 179 at Melbourne in 1911-12), opened the batting with Jack Hobbs in a record 323-run partnership against Australia in 1911-12, and bowled to Don Bradman at The Oval in 1930 in his 58th and final Test. His first-class career produced 4,184 wickets — the most in cricket history — and 39,969 runs. Asked late in life what he remembered of Grace, Rhodes said: 'He could see further down the pitch than anyone I ever played with.'

“Mr Rhodes bowled with steadiness and judgement remarkable for a colt.”

“He could see further down the pitch than anyone I ever played with.”

Rhodes played all five Tests of 1899 and was a fixture in the England side for the next decade. He toured Australia six times. He took his 100th Test wicket in 1903; his 4,000th first-class wicket in 1929. He came back for one last Test against the West Indies at Kingston in 1930, aged 52, and remains the oldest Test player.