George Lohmann

Who was George Lohmann?

George Alfred Lohmann is regarded as one of the greatest bowlers of all time. Statistically, he holds the lowest lifetime Test bowling average among bowlers with more than fifteen wickets and he has the second highest peak rating for a bowler in the ICC ratings. He also holds the record for the lowest strike rate in all Test history.

He bowled at around medium pace and on the primitive pitches of his time could gain a lot of spin, so that when rain affected the pitch he was invariably quite unplayable. However, against the best batsmen Lohmann possessed a great deal of skill and guile, and he could vary his pace, flight and break so deceptively as to worry batsmen on better pitches. He was the finest slip fielder of his time and in county cricket a good enough hard-hitting batsman to score two centuries for Surrey and average 25 in 1887.