Victor Trumper:
Australia
Batter
D.O.B: 02/11/1877
International Career: 1899 – 1912
“God, no doubt, could have created a better batsman than Victor Trumper had he wished. But so far, he hasn’t.” – Sir Neville Cardus
A stunning player with an iconic style, Victor Trumper is GOTG 15
The Crown Prince of cricket, Victor Trumper was unequivocally the best of a generation and in the eyes of many, remains the greatest batter of all time. With an ease and grace to all that he did, Trumper balanced his brilliance with an enviable consistency that elevated him above his peers.
Born in the year of the first Test match, Victor Trumper was one of nine children – though only six survived to adulthood. Growing up playing cricket in the backyard with his father, a young Vic soon graduated to competitive matches for Crown Street Superior Public School, where his poise and power quickly revealed themselves. He was blessed with a quick eye and even quicker feet; allowing him to dismiss bowling with relative ease and hinting at this early stage that he would become, as Cardus wrote, “no mere batsman of impulsive genius, but in the purest sense a stylist.”
Upon his selection for New South Wales, Trumper began a majestic deluge of runs – irrepressible even by the often diabolical wickets of the day. With fast hands, a high back lift, fluent arc and immaculate follow through, he scored quickly and all around the ground. In 1899, he crunched 292* against Tasmania, and his glamorous style, combined with an impressive tally of First-Class runs, earned him selection for the 1899 tour of England. From there, he rapidly established himself as the pre-eminent player of a generation. His outstanding 135* at Lord’s in his second Test was even enough to impress W.G Grace; the bearded batting colossus entered the dressing room after the match and presented Trumper with a bat that bore a bold prediction: “From the past champion to the future champion.”
George Beldam's iconic "Jumping Out For A Straight Drive" (Bradman.com.au)
Though the runs continued to flow, it was the style in which he accrued them that truly endeared Trumper to fans around the world. Such was his majesty, that it captivated crowds and opponents alike. Ashley Mallett even suggested that, “when Trumper strode onto the green sward of his beloved SCG, the crowd rose in a standing ovation. Even the blades of grass seemed to bow respectfully in the wake of the great man.” Perhaps the best indication of his style and grandeur at the wicket, however, was captured by George Beldam in 1905. The iconic photograph, Jumping Out For A Straight Drive, is arguably the most famous image in cricketing history and as Mark Nicholas concludes, “all of the energy and motion in batting – as you are about to strike – is caught in this extraordinary moment.”
So, imbued with what Mallett described as a “grace, orthodoxy and poetry of motion that lifted batting to a new standard,” Trumper went about rewriting the record books. In 1902 – incidentally his best tour to England – Trumper was confronted with a wet wicket on the first morning at Old Trafford. Unperturbed and unleashing a fearsome counter-attack, he became the first batter to crack a century in a session. Amassing an incredible 2,570 runs across 35 matches on the tour, he confirmed his status as a cricketing immortal. Boasting a rare consistency in an era where the wickets made for endlessly challenging batting, Trumper finished his Test career with a stunning Home series against South Africa; 662 runs at an average of 94.
Though he rose to acclaim around the world, Trumper remained humble and measured throughout his life. An endearing quality, it blended with his extraordinary on-field talent to make him the most popular Australian cricketer of his time. Indeed, Frank Iredale – a teammate of Trumper – said of his friend: “He had one of those natures which called to you and in whose presence, you felt it was good to live.” The highest of praise, his strength of character is corroborated by David Frith, who suggest that Trumper, along with being “the most glamorous, attacking player,” was, more importantly, “also the loveliest of men.”
Cruelly taken by Bright’s disease at the age of 37, Trumper’s passing closed a rich chapter in the history of Australian cricket. Widely respected throughout his life and sorely missed after his premature death, Victor Trumper had left an indelible mark on the game of cricket – one that fascinates and delights even today.
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