Victor Trumper facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Victor Trumper

Trumper photographed in about 1905 by George Beldam
Personal information
Full name	Victor Thomas Trumper
Born	(1877-11-02)2 November 1877 Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Died	28 June 1915(1915-06-28) (aged 37) Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right arm medium
International information
National side	Australia
Test debut (cap 79)	1 June 1899 v England
Last Test	1 March 1912 v England
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1894/95–1913/14	New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class Matches 48 255 Runs scored 3,163 16,939 Batting average 39.04 44.57 100s/50s 8/13 42/87 Top score 214* 300* Balls bowled 546 3,822 Wickets 8 64 Bowling average 39.62 31.37 5 wickets in innings 0 2 10 wickets in match 0 0 Best bowling 3/60 5/19 Catches/stumpings 31/– 173/–
Source: Cricinfo, 30 September 2009

Victor Thomas Trumper (born November 2, 1877 – died June 28, 1915) was an amazing Australian cricketer. He was known as the most stylish and skilled batsman during the "Golden Age of cricket." This was a time when cricket was very popular. Victor could play incredibly well even on wet fields, which other players found impossible. Another famous cricketer, Archie MacLaren, once said that compared to Victor, he was like a slow "cab-horse" next to a fast "Derby winner." Trumper also helped start rugby league in Australia.

Early Life and School

Victor Trumper was likely born in Sydney, Australia. There is no exact record of his birth. His parents are thought to be Charles Thomas Trumper and Louisa Alice "Louie" Coghlan.

Victor went to Crown Street Superior Public School. He showed great talent as a batsman from a young age. When he was only 17, Trumper scored 67 runs. This was for a team of promising young players against an English team visiting Australia. The game was played at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

Cricket Career Highlights

In the 1894/95 season, Trumper played for New South Wales. He played against South Australia but did not score many runs. He was left out of the main team for two years. However, M. A. Noble, a good judge of talent, believed in Victor. After some debate, Trumper was chosen at the last minute for the Australian team going to England in 1899.

First Big Scores

Victor quickly showed his skill. He scored 135 runs without being out against England at Lord's Cricket Ground. He also scored 300 runs without being out against Sussex. After his great game at Lord's in June 1899, the famous English batsman W. G. Grace gave Trumper his own bat. Grace said, "From the present champion to the future champion." This special bat is now in the Australian Museum in Canberra.

Amazing 1902 Season

Trumper's best Test season was in England in 1902. It was one of the wettest summers ever. Yet, Trumper scored 2,570 runs in 53 games. He never got out and had an average of 48.49 runs. Harry Altham wrote that Trumper "made run-getting appear the easiest thing in the world."

Other cricket experts also praised him. C. B. Fry said Trumper "defied all orthodox rules." He added that Trumper's play looked easy and effective. Plum Warner noted that Trumper played "so naturally" and was very humble. Monty Noble called him the world's greatest batsman.

First Century Before Lunch

In 1902, Trumper made history. He became the first player to score a century (100 runs) before lunch in a Test match. He scored 103 runs before lunch against England at Old Trafford.

"Jumping out for a straight drive", George Beldam, around 1905 – arguably the most famous photograph in the history of cricket

Later Career and Records

Victor Trumper had many other great moments. He scored 292 runs against Tasmania in 1908, including a century before lunch. In 1906, he scored 100 runs in just 58 minutes against Victoria. He also made 201 runs against South Australia in 1913.

In 1914, Trumper scored 293 runs for an Australian XI team. This was done in a little over three hours. He played with Arthur Sims, and their partnership of 433 runs is still a record for the eighth wicket in first-class cricket. Trumper's score is also the highest by a number nine batsman. From 1910 to 1914, his last 68 first-class games gave him an average of 60 runs. His amazing skill was most clear on difficult fields. When other players struggled, he could still hit the ball well.

Starting Rugby League

Even though he was famous for cricket, Trumper was also a good rugby player. He played a big part in starting rugby league in Australia. In 1907, players were unhappy with how rugby was run. Trumper held meetings at his sports store. On August 8, 1907, a meeting took place with many rugby players and officials. The New South Wales Rugby Football League was formed. This group would go on to run Australia's main rugby league competition. Trumper was chosen as its first treasurer.

Later Life and Passing

Trumper's health got worse in 1914. He passed away from Bright's disease (a kidney illness) in Darlinghurst, Sydney, on June 28, 1915. He was 37 years old. Victor Trumper was buried in Waverley Cemetery. His funeral was the largest ever seen in Sydney, with 250,000 people lining the streets. He left behind his wife Sarah, his son Victor, and his daughter Nancy.

Victor's son, Victor Trumper Jr (1913–1981), also played cricket for New South Wales. Victor Trumper was also the uncle of Admiral Sir Victor Smith, who was the first Australian to become an admiral.

Honors and Recognition

Awards and Hall of Fame

• Trumper was named a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1903.
• He received Life Membership of the New South Wales Rugby League in 1914.
• In 1963, he was chosen as one of the "Six Giants of the Wisden Century." This was a special honor for the 100th edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack.
• In 1981, he was honored on a postage stamp by Australia Post.
• In 1996, he was one of the first ten people inducted into the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.
• On September 30, 2009, Victor Trumper was added to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame. He was formally inducted on January 4, 2010.

Memorials

• On June 12, 2008, a new grandstand at the SCG was named in Trumper's honor.
• On November 2, 2008, the SCG hosted the first "Victor Trumper Day." This event celebrated his life and raised money for charity.
• Trumper Park Oval in Paddington, New South Wales, is named after him. The Trumper Pavilion at Chatswood Oval also carries his name.

Images for kids

• 

  Victor Trumper's career performance graph.