W.G. Grace's Maiden First-Class Hundred — 224 Not Out at the Oval, 1866

Grace had played 14 first-class matches before the 1866 season without scoring a century. His brothers E.M. and Henry had both already made big scores; the family expectation was high. The Oval pitch in 1866 was slow and uneven, harder for batsmen than batters of later eras might assume.

Surrey, weakened by the absence of one of their fast bowlers, batted first and reached a respectable 268. England's reply was anchored by Grace from early on the second morning. By lunch he had passed his first first-class fifty; by tea he was past 150 and the only question was whether he would tire.

By the summer of 1866 Grace was already the most talked-about young cricketer in England, but he had yet to score a first-class hundred. England v Surrey at the Oval, played 30 July to 1 August, gave him the chance. Surrey scored 268 in their first innings. England, with Grace at number two, replied with 521. Grace, dropped early, batted through the rest of the innings for 224 not out — his maiden first-class century reached at a single bound and turned at once into a double. The innings was technically remarkable for its straight driving and on-side play; contemporaries noted the way he moved his feet on a slow Oval pitch that had bowlers' marks in the rough. The most-told anecdote of the innings concerns its second day. The National Olympian Association was holding athletics at Crystal Palace, and Grace had entered the 440 yards hurdles race over twenty hurdles. With his score on around 50 and Walker happy to let his amateurs have their indulgences, the captain agreed to a temporary retirement. Grace took a hansom to Sydenham, won the hurdles in 70 seconds, and returned to the Oval to resume his innings. England won by an innings and a few. Surrey, beaten heavily, were a second-tier county for the rest of the decade. Grace's career as a run-machine had begun.

“He was thenceforward the biggest name in cricket and the main spectator attraction.”

“The boy is a marvel; he is far above any cricketer of his age that I have ever seen.”

Grace's reputation was now established beyond argument. He scored a further century later in the 1866 season and added another in 1867. By 1868 he was averaging over 50 in first-class cricket. The hurdles win at Crystal Palace gave the press a story that has been retold in every Grace biography since.