Mordecai Sherwin

Mordecai Sherwin

Personal information
Batting style	Right-handed batsman
Bowling style	Right-arm fast
International information
National side	English
Career statistics
Competition	Tests	First-class
Matches	3	328
Runs scored	30	2,332
Batting average	15.00	7.59
100s/50s	0/0	0/0
Top score	21*	37
Balls bowled	0	270
Wickets	0	8
Bowling average	n/a	13.50
5 wickets in innings	0	0
10 wickets in match	0	0
Best bowling	n/a	2/7
Catches/stumpings	5/2	611/225
Source: [1],

Mordecai Sherwin (26 February 1851 in Greasley, Nottinghamshire, England – 3 July 1910 in Nottingham, England) was a professional footballer and cricketer who played in goal for Notts County and as a wicket-keeper for Nottinghamshire between 1878 and 1896.

As a footballer, Sherwin played in goal for County during the 1870s and early 1880s and was, according to the sportswriter "Tityrus" (the pseudonym of J.A.H. Catton, editor of the Athletic News), the idol of the crowd despite his unpromising physique:

"Although only 5ft. 9ins, and bordering on 17 stone, he was a kind of forerunner to the mighty Foulke... very nimble, as quick a custodian as he was a wicket-keeper. In one match, when the Blackburn Rovers were playing at the Trent Bridge ground, that sturdy and skillful outside right, Joseph Morris Lofthouse, thought he would have a tilt with Sherwin.

"He charged him, and rebounded. Sherwin said: "Young man, you'll hurt yourself if you do that again." Undeterred, Lofthouse returned to the attack, but Sherwin stepped aside with the alacrity of a dancer, and the Lancashire lad found out how hard was the goalpost and how sharp its edge.

"Sherwin was a wonder. It was the custom in those days for teams to entertain each other to dinner after a match... At one banquet Sherwin "obliged" with Oh, dem golden slippers, and surprised the gathering with a jig and a somersault. At seventeen stones!"

As a cricketer, Sherwin captained Nottinghamshire in 1887 and 1888. He also played three Test matches for England on the tour to Australia in 1886/7. He was named as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1891.

After he retired as a cricketer, he umpired until 1901, and even stood in one Test in 1899. By trade, Sherwin was a publican. Sherwin had a wife, Emma, and at least six children, Mary, William, Emma, Ellen, Mordecai and Frederick.

The name of Arthur Conan Doyle's most famous character, Sherlock Holmes, is said to have been inspired partially by Sherwin, and partially by Frank Shacklock.

References

• Catton, J.A.H. ("Tityrus") (2006 reprint of 1926 original). The Story of Association Football. Cleethorpes: Soccer Books. ISBN 1-86223-119-2.
• Brief profile of Mordecai Sherwin by Don Ambrose
• CricketArchive page on Mordecai Sherwin
• Cricinfo page on Mordecai Sherwin

External links

• Citation as Wisden Wicket-keeper of the Year in 1891
• Memories of Nottinghamshire cricketers

Sporting positions
Preceded by Alfred Shaw	Nottinghamshire County cricket captain 1887-1888	Succeeded by John Dixon

Persondata
Name	Sherwin, Mordecai
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 February 1851
Place of birth
Date of death	3 July 1910
Place of death