A G Steel

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = A. G. Steel


country = England
fullname = Allan Gibson Steel
dayofbirth = 24
monthofbirth = 9
yearofbirth = 1858
placeofbirth = West Derby, Lancashire
countryofbirth = England
dayofdeath = 15
monthofdeath = 6
yearofdeath = 1914
placeofdeath = Hyde Park, London
countryofdeath = England
batting = Right-handed
bowling = Right arm fast-medium / slow-medium
international = true
testdebutdate = 6 September
testdebutyear = 1880
testdebutagainst = Australia
testc

lasttestdate = 17 July
lasttestyear = 1888
lasttestagainst = Australia
club1 = Lancashire
year1 = 1877 – 1893
club2 = MCC
year2 = 1880 – 1890
club3 = Cambridge University
year3 = 1878 – 1881
deliveries = balls
columns = 2
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 13
runs1 = 600
bat avg1 = 35.29
100s/50s1 = 2/0
top score1 = 148
deliveries1 = 1360
wickets1 = 29
bowl avg1 = 20.86
fivefor1 = 0
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 3/27
catches/stumpings1 = 5/–
column2 = First-class
matches2 = 162
runs2 = 7,000
bat avg2 = 29.41
100s/50s2 = 8/36
top score2 = 171
deliveries2 = 31,137
wickets2 = 789
bowl avg2 = 14.78
fivefor2 = 64
tenfor2 = 20
best bowling2 =9/63
catches/stumpings2 = 141/–
date = 23 September
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/52/52.html CricketArchive

Allan Gibson "AG" Steel (registered at birth as Alan Gibson Steel) (24 September 1858 in Liverpool – 15 June 1914 in London) was a Lancashire and England cricketer, who was reckoned by some in his day to be the equal of the legendary W G Grace.

His was a stalwart in the Cambridge University side. According to HS Altham, "it was unquestionably A.G. Steel's bowling that made the difference between a good and a great eleven".

Steel, who was known by his initials, captained England on four occasions, winning three times and losing once. His highest Test score of 148 was the first Test match century scored at Lord's. He was president of the Marylebone Cricket Club for 1902.

Three of his brothers Ernest, Douglas and Harold, also played first-class cricket for Lancashire, and his son Allan Ivo Steel played a handful of first-class matches for MCC and Middlesex.

Steel took part in the original Ashes match and is commemorated by the poem inscribed on the side of the urn:

:"When Ivo goes back with the urn, the urn;":"Studds, Steel, Read and Tylecote return, return;":"The welkin will ring loud,":"The great crowd will feel proud,":"Seeing Barlow and Bates with the urn, the urn;":"And the rest coming home with the urn."

References

* [http://content.cricinfo.com/england/content/player/20350.html Cricinfo page on A G Steel]
* [http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/52/52.html CricketArchive page on A G Steel]

ee also

*History of Test cricket (to 1883)
*Test matches in the 19th century (1884 to 1889)