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Details
ROBERT ABEL (1857-1936)
The Guv'nor bat, manufacted by Abel & Lane, Kennington, the front with traces of pasted press clipping, the reverse with "357 not" inscribed in top right corner (front blade with cracks and holes, grip worn); and a business card for R. Abel & Sons, card headed "Guv'nor Cricket Bats are the Best", signed by W.J. Abel.
Robert Abel, or 'The Guv'nor' as he was affectionately known, did not make his first-class debut for Surrey until he was 23 and then made little impact on the cricketing world for the next six years. His innings of 144 in 1886 against Australia made his name and in the same summer he reached 1,000 runs for the first of 14 times. Between 1895 and 1902 he exceeded 2,000 runs and in 1901 scored 3,309 runs to create a new first-class record - "He gathers runs like blackberries everywhere he goes" said C.B. Fry.
The above bat was used by Abel to hit his record-breaking 357 not out for Surrey v. Somerset at the Oval in May 1899. This was the second highest individual score at this time and included 1 six, 7 fives and 38 fours. This was also the highest score at the Oval until surpassed by Hutton in 1938, and was also the highest score by a player carrying his bat. It remains Surrey's highest individual score and their total of 811 their highest ever innings.
To commemorate his record-breaking innings, Abel inscribed on the bat "357 not" and pasted on press clippings about his achievement. (2)
The Guv'nor bat, manufacted by Abel & Lane, Kennington, the front with traces of pasted press clipping, the reverse with "357 not" inscribed in top right corner (front blade with cracks and holes, grip worn); and a business card for R. Abel & Sons, card headed "Guv'nor Cricket Bats are the Best", signed by W.J. Abel.
Robert Abel, or 'The Guv'nor' as he was affectionately known, did not make his first-class debut for Surrey until he was 23 and then made little impact on the cricketing world for the next six years. His innings of 144 in 1886 against Australia made his name and in the same summer he reached 1,000 runs for the first of 14 times. Between 1895 and 1902 he exceeded 2,000 runs and in 1901 scored 3,309 runs to create a new first-class record - "He gathers runs like blackberries everywhere he goes" said C.B. Fry.
The above bat was used by Abel to hit his record-breaking 357 not out for Surrey v. Somerset at the Oval in May 1899. This was the second highest individual score at this time and included 1 six, 7 fives and 38 fours. This was also the highest score at the Oval until surpassed by Hutton in 1938, and was also the highest score by a player carrying his bat. It remains Surrey's highest individual score and their total of 811 their highest ever innings.
To commemorate his record-breaking innings, Abel inscribed on the bat "357 not" and pasted on press clippings about his achievement. (2)
Provenance
By family descent.
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