George Giffen

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = George Giffen

---

country = Australia
fullname = George Giffen
nickname =
living =
dayofbirth = 27
monthofbirth = 3
yearofbirth = 1859
placeofbirth = Norwood, South Australia
countryofbirth = Australia
dayofdeath = 29
monthofdeath = 11
yearofdeath = 1927
placeofdeath = Parkside, South Australia
countryofdeath = Australia
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm = 1.80
batting = Right-hand
bowling = Right-arm off spin
role = All-rounder
international =
testdebutdate = 31 December
testdebutyear = 1881
testdebutagainst = England
testc

lasttestdate = 10 August
lasttestyear = 1896
lasttestagainst = England
odidebutdate =
odidebutyear =
odidebutagainst =
odic

lastodidate =
lastodiyear =
lastodiagainst =
odishirt =
club1 = South Australia
year1 = 1877–1903
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year2 =
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club3 =
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clubnumber3 =
club4 =
year4 =
clubnumber4 =
deliveries =
columns = 2
column1 = Tests
matches1 = 31
runs1 = 1238
bat avg1 = 23.35
100s/50s1 = 1/6
top score1 = 161
deliveries1 = 6391
wickets1 = 103
bowl avg1 = 27.09
fivefor1 = 7
tenfor1 = 1
best bowling1 = 7/117
catches/stumpings1 = 24/0
column2 = FC
matches2 = 251
runs2 = 11758
bat avg2 = 29.54
100s/50s2 = 18/54
top score2 = 271
deliveries2 = 46610
wickets2 = 1023
bowl avg2 = 21.29
fivefor2 = 95
tenfor2 = 30
best bowling2 = 10/66
catches/stumpings2 = 195/0
column3 =
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runs3 =
bat avg3 =
100s/50s3 =
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top score4 =
deliveries4 =
wickets4 =
bowl avg4 =
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best bowling4 =
catches/stumpings4 =
date = 7 March
year = 2008
source = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/0/57/57.html CricketArchive

George Giffen (27 March 1859 – 29 November 1927) was a cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. An all-rounder who batted in the middle order and often opened the bowling with medium-paced off-spin, Giffen captained Australia during the 1894–95 Ashes series and was the first Australian to score 10,000 runs and take 500 wickets in first-class cricket. He was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame on 26 February 2008.

Early life and career

Giffen was born in the Adelaide neighbourhood of Norwood in 1859 to Richard Giffen, a carpenter and his wife Elizabeth (née Challand).cite web|last = Morris| first = Christopher| year = 1972| url = http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A040275b.htm| title = Giffen, George (1859 - 1927)| work = Australian Dictionary of Biography - online edition| publisher = Australian National University|accessdate = 2008-05-11] He played cricket with enthusiasm as a boy and attracted the notice of two brothers, Charles and James Gooden, who coached him.Fact|date=May 2008 He started his cricket career with Norwood Cricket Club, later moving to the West Adelaide club.Pollard, pp. 467–469.]

Early in 1877 he played for South Australia against a visiting East Melbourne team making 16 and 14, the highest score in each innings, but South Australian cricket was then much below the standard of the two eastern colonies.Fact|date=May 2008 In November 1877 he made his first-class cricket debut against Tasmania. Giffen made 47 runs and took 4 wickets for 16 runs in the Tasmanian first innings. Tasmania was forced to follow-on (bat twice in a row) and in the second innings Giffen managed to capture another 2 wickets.cite web| url = http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2155.html| title = South Australia v Tasmania: Other First-Class matches 1877/78| publisher = CricketArchive| accessdate = 2008-05-17] It was not until November 1880 that the first regular match between South Australia and Victoria took place at Melbourne. Giffen made 3 and 63 and took two wickets for 47 in the first innings. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2428.html|title=Victoria v South Australia: Other First-Class matches in Australia 1880/81|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] In the follow up match in Adelaide later that season, Giffen took 5 wickets for 59 runs (5/59); Victoria won the match by 151 runs. He became a regular member of the South Australian team and although he took a few seasons to develop his full powers, if he failed as a bat he usually made up for it with a good bowling performance.Fact|date=June 2008

Test cricket

Beginning

Giffen, only 22 years old, made his Test debut in Melbourne against England in 1881–82. Having just joined the postal service, Giffen was almost hesitant to ask for leave.Robinson (1996) pp. 59–65.] Giffen made 30 runs before being bowled by Tom Emmett but was unable to take a wicket. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2529.html|title=Australia v England: A Shaw's XI in Australia 1881/82 (1st Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] Left out of the side for the Second Test in Sydney, he returned for the Third Test. Australia won the match by five wickets by Giffen made only two runs and was not given a chance to bowl. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2534.html|title=Australia v England: A Shaw's XI in Australia 1881/82 (3rd Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] In the final Test of the series, Giffen captured his first Test wicket—William Scotton stumped by Jack Blackham for 27. He took 2/17 and, with the bat, made 14 in a drawn match. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2535.html|title=Australia v England: A Shaw's XI in Australia 1881/82 (4th Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] Australia won the series two Tests to nil.

Giffen was selected to tour England with the Australian team in 1882. He was moderately successful, taking 32 wickets at an average of 21.84 and making 699 runs averaging 19.02. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_British_Isles_1882/f_Australians_Bowling.html|title=First-class Bowling for Australians: Australia in British Isles 1882|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_British_Isles_1882/f_Australians_Batting.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding for Australians: Australia in British Isles 1882|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] In the celebrated match against England—later designated a Test match—Giffen made 2 runs in the first innings but was dismissed by Ted Peate for a "duck" in the second. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2642.html|title=England v Australia: Australia in British Isles 1882 (Only Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] Australia, through a magnificent bowling effort from Fred Spofforth and Harry Boyle, won the match by seven runs. The match was the origin of the term "The Ashes" for Test series between the two nations. A mock obituary placed in the "The Sporting Times" lamented "the death of English cricket" and noted that "The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia."Pollard (1988), pp. 43&ndash44.]

Ivo Bligh and his English team arrived in Australia in 1882–83 determined to win back "the Ashes". In the First Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Giffen made 36 runs, his highest Test score to date. He followed this with his best figures with the ball, capturing 4/38 in the England second innings, helping Australia to a nine wicket victory. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2662.html|title=Australia v England : IFW Bligh's XI in Australia 1882/83 (1st Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] In the Second Test, Giffen made a "golden duck", dismissed first ball without scoring but took 4/89 in England's only innings; the English won the Test by an innings and 27 runs. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2663.html|title=Australia v England: IFW Bligh's XI in Australia 1882/83 (2nd Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] Giffen was promoted to open the batting for the Third Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground, where he made 41 and 7 England won the Test by 69 runs, winning the first "Ashes" series 2–1. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2664.html|title=Australia v England: IFW Bligh's XI in Australia 1882/83 (3rd Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] [cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/154318.html|last=Lynch|first=Stephen|title=England in Australia, 1882-83|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack - online archive|publisher=John Wisden & Co|accessdate=2008-06-29] In February 1884, Giffen became the first Australian to take all ten wickets in a first-class match, taking 10/66 for an Australian XI against the Rest. Later that year, he was once again included in the Australian team to tour England, led by Billy Murdoch. The Australians lost the three Test series one Test to nil, but had the best of the two drawn matches.Wynne-Thomas (1989), p. 214.] In the Second Test at Lord's, Giffen top-scored in the first innings, making 63 runs;. England won the Test by an innings and 5 runs. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2861.html|title=England v Australia: Australia in England 1884 (2nd Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] Giffen took 81 wickets in England at an average of 19.60, [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_England_1884/f_Australians_Bowling.html|title=First-class Bowling for Australians: Australia in England 1884|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] however he "tended to be expensive". His best batting performance for the tour was 118 against Lancashire; a match in which he also took a "hat-trick". [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2818.html|title=Lancashire v Australians: Australia in England 1884|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29]

An English team led by Alfred Shaw toured Australia in 1884–85 to contest the "Ashes". England won the First Test by eight wickets but the match was overshadowed by a dispute between the teams; the Australian team wished a larger share of the match profits.cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/153446.html|title=England in Australia, 1884-85|year=1886|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack - online archive|publisher=John Wisden & Co.|accessdate=2008-06-29] As a result, most of the Australian team, including Giffen, made themselves unavailable for the next two Tests. This action was unpopular with the Australian public. Charles Kingston, then South Australian Attorney-General, said "the Australian eleven would have the reputation of having sacrificed the cricketing honour of their nation to monetary considerations". Giffen and the others returned for the Fourth Test in Sydney where Australia won by eight wickets; Giffen taking 7/117 in the England first innings. [cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2926.html|title=Australia v England: A Shaw's XI in Australia 1884/85 (4th Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] England won the Fifth Test by an innings and 98 runs,cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/2/2927.html|title=Australia v England: A Shaw's XI in Australia 1884/85 (5th Test)|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] retaining the Ashes in a 3–2 series victory.

Record breaker

Giffen, in a sign of things to come, made a remarkable double for South Australia against Victoria in March 1886. He captured 17 wickets for the match—including 9/91 in the first innings—and made over 100 runs.cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/3/3042.html|title=South Australia v Victoria: Other First-Class matches in Australia 1885/86|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] This was the first time anyone had take over ten wickets and make 100 runs in a match.Perry (2000), pp. 58–65.] The Australian team touring England in 1886 did not meet with much success, losing all three Tests. "Wisden Cricketers' Almanack" remarked that "there is nothing to place the [Australians] on any higher standard than would have been attained by any good county team that went playing about the country".cite web|url=http://content-www.cricinfo.com/wisdenalmanack/content/story/292905.html|title=The Australians in England - 1886|year=1887|work=Wisden Cricketers' Almanack - online archive|publisher=John Wisden & Co.|accessdate=2008-06-29] Giffen made only 60 runs for in the Tests and took only four wickets.cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_England_1886/t_Australia_Batting.html|title=Test Batting and Fielding for Australia: Australia in England 1886|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_England_1886/t_Australia_Bowling.html|title=Test Bowling for Australia: Australia in England 1886|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] In the other matches, however, Giffen was more successful. He made 1424 runs for the tour—only Sammy Jones scored more for the Australians—and took 154 wickets, including five wickets in an innings no less than 13 times.cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_England_1886/f_Australians_Batting.html|title=First-class Batting and Fielding for Australians; Australia in England 1886|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] cite web|url=http://www.cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/ENG/Australia_in_England_1886/f_Australians_Bowling.html|title=First-class Bowling for Australians Australia in England 1886|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=2008-06-29] quote|Giffen was emphatically the success of the tour, and the fact that he came out first in both batting and bowling speaks volumes for his excellence. Indeed it would be impossible at the present day to name his superior as an all-round cricketer.|Wisden Cricketers' Almanack|

tyle and legacy

His first class performances include many achievements. Nine times he scored a century and took 10 wickets in the one match. Twice he scored a century and took more than a dozen wickets. No other cricketer in the world has ever done it. He is the only bowler in the world to snare 16 wickets in a match five times. He was the first to take 17. When he was 24 he became the first bowler outside England to get a whole side out with 10-66. He is also the first Australian to take 1000 first-class wickets and score 10000 runs.

Giffen's best figures were 271 runs and 16 wickets (9/96 and 7/70) for the match for South Australia vs. Victoria in 1891. In all he scored 18 first-class centuries, 4 of them doubles.

Giffen also performed well in English conditions. On each of his five tours he topped both the batting and bowling overall tour averages, yet another unique Giffen feat. The great all rounder led Australia in four of the five Tests during 1894 tour. His 34 Test wickets was a series record at that time and he also scored the most runs for that series. Giffen played his last Test in 1896 but remained a force at the first-class level for some time, at the age of 41 he captured 13 English wickets to steer South Australia to a victory over the tourists. Three years later he finished his career with scores of 81, 97 not out and 15 wickets (7/75 and 8/110) against Victoria. Giffen was a robust batsman noted for his driving he also had a fine cut and glance. A slow to medium pace bowler he was brilliant with his deceptive off spin and the master in flight and changes of pace which he took many wickets.

George though has often been accused of more than a sprinkling of nepotism, using his influence to try and help his brother Walter Giffen. Walter played Test cricket for Australia despite below average performances for South Australia and when George was named Captain of the 1894 tour Walter having made 11 runs in his three Tests to date and a poor domestic season was also named, many believing because of George's influence over the selection.

George Giffen has a grandstand at the Adelaide Oval named after him. He died in Parkside, South Australia. In 2008 he was inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Famecite news| first = Brydon| last = Coverdale| title = Healy given Hall of Fame honour| url = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/339725.html?CMP=OTC-RSS| publisher = Cricinfo| date = 2008-02-25| accessdate = 2008-02-25]

Personal life

Giffen also played Australian rules football at a high level, representing the Norwood Football Club for whom he is credited as kicking their first ever goal in the South Australian Football Association.Fact|date=May 2008 "He would cap brilliant runs that paralysed all opposition with superb kicks, turning in a moment the whole tide of play.", an observer at the time said.cite web| url = http://www.slsa.sa.gov.au/manning/sa/sport/footy.htm#football| title = South Australia - Sport: A Personal Reminiscence| work = The Manning Index of South Australian history| publisher = State Library of South Australia| accessdate = 2008-05-12]

Notes

References

*cite book|authorlink=Roland Perry |last=Perry |first= Roland |year=2000 |title=Captain Australia: A History of the Celebrated Captains of Australian Test Cricket |location=Sydney |publisher=Random House Australia |isbn=1-74051-174-3
*cite book |last=Pollard |first=Jack |authorlink=Jack Pollard |title=Australian Cricket: The game and the players |year=1988 |publisher=Angus & Robertson |location=Sydney |isbn=0 207 15269 1
*cite book |last=Robinson |first=Ray |coauthors=Haigh, Gideon |title=On top down under: Australia's cricket captains (revised edition) |year=1996 |publisher=Wakefield |location=Adelaide |isbn=1 86254 387 9
*cite book |last=Wynne-Thomas|first=Peter|title=The Complete History of Cricket Tours at Home and Abroad|year=1989 |publisher=Hamlyn|location=London|isbn=0 600 55782 0

External links

* [http://content.cricinfo.com/ci/content/player/5382.html Cricinfo Article on George Giffen]

Persondata
NAME=Giffen, George
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Cricketer
DATE OF BIRTH=27 March 1859
PLACE OF BIRTH=Norwood, South Australia
DATE OF DEATH=29 November 1927
PLACE OF DEATH=Parkside, South Australia