Albert Relf

Infobox Historic Cricketer


nationality = English
country = England
country abbrev = ENG
name = Albert Relf
picture = Cricket_no_pic.pngbatting style = Right-hand bat
bowling style = Right-arm medium
tests = 13
test runs = 416
test bat avg = 23.11
test 100s/50s = -/1
test top score = 63
test balls = 1764
test wickets = 25
test bowl avg = 24.96
test 5s = 1
test 10s = -
test best bowling = 5/85
test catches/stumpings = 14/-
FCs = 565
FC runs = 22238
FC bat avg = 26.79
FC 100s/50s = 26/112
FC top score = 189*
FC balls = 108193
FC wickets = 1897
FC bowl avg = 20.94
FC 5s = 114
FC 10s = 23
FC best bowling = 9/95
FC catches/stumpings = 535/-
debut date = 11 December
debut year = 1903
last date = 27 February
last year = 1914
source = http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/19365.html

Albert Edward Relf, born at Burwash, East Sussex on June 26, 1874, and died at Wellington College, Berkshire on March 26, 1937, was a cricketer who played for Sussex and England.

Relf was an all-rounder who batted in the middle order and bowled off-breaks at medium pace with great accuracy. He played Minor Counties cricket for Norfolk before, at the age of 25, joining Sussex where he was an instant success. Initially played as a batsman, his bowling developed in 1903 to the point where he was picked for the MCC tour to Australia under Plum Warner. He played in two Tests, helping Tip Foster add 115 for the ninth wicket in his first match at Sydney.

Most of Relf's 13-match Test career, though, was played on two tours to South Africa in 1905-06 and 1913-14, and he played only once against Australia in England, taking five wickets for 85 in a total of 350 at Lord's in 1909, but then being dropped to accommodate Sydney Barnes for the remainder of the series. In the first Test at Johannesburg in 1905-06, he bowled the ball, allegedly down the leg-side, that enabled South Africa to record the first-ever victory over England. Warner, again his captain, was reported to have sighed: "Oh, Albert. How could you?"

In county cricket, Relf was prolific, achieving the "double" of 1000 runs and 100 wickets eight times, with a best in 1913 of 1846 runs and 141 wickets. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1914 where his batting "style" excited comment which was largely repeated in his obituary in Wisden 24 years later. "No one seeing him for the first time would suppose him capable of getting his hundreds in high-class company," Wisden said. "He has a way of letting the ball hit the bat that is certainly not impressive to the eye. Still, the fact remains, that season after season he makes as many runs as men who look twice as good as he is."

Relf played on after the First World War, scoring 153 against Leicestershire at Horsham in his final season, 1921. By this time, Relf's appearances were limited as he had succeeded his father as cricket coach at Wellington College, and he played later for Berkshire in the Minor Counties.

Relf shot himself at Wellington, apparently depressed by the illness of his wife.

His two younger brothers, Robert and Ernest, also played first-class cricket.