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Chasing Jessop: The Mystery of England Cricket's Oldest Record
A compelling new look at the untold story behind one of English sport's oldest records.
In 1902, playing for England against Australia at The Oval, Gilbert Jessop played arguably the greatest innings in the history of cricket, turning what looked like certain defeat into what became an incredible victory, and doing so at such speed that he set a record for the fastest Test century for England that still stands more than 1,000 Test matches later.
Even Ben Stokes's team of Bazballers have been unable to put in the shade a cricketer for whom all-out attack was the only way to play long before T20 cricket was invented. But the precise circumstances of Jessop's astonishing performance have long been shrouded in mystery. The original scorebooks are missing and the accepted truth that he took 76 balls to reach his century has rarely been scrutinised.
Drawing on an array of long-forgotten contemporary sources, Simon Wilde forensically reconstructs one of England's most famous matches in an attempt to establish what really happened. How many balls did Jessop face? Might he have actually got to his hundred even faster? Jessop's relentless big hitting and fast scoring were revolutionary for cricket, but chimed with a speed-obsessed era which saw the start of the modern Olympics, the first mile-a-minute trains and the first 100mph cars, and the public adored him. As C.B. Fry said of 'No man has ever made cricket so dramatic an entertainment.'
PRAISE FOR THE BIOGRAPHY
'Dauntingly comprehensive and surprisingly light-footed' Simon Briggs, Daily Telegraph
'Superbly researched... His eye for detail never wavers. It's a pleasure to read' Vic Marks, Observer
'A well-written, engaging, analytical narrative rich in opinion and revealing facts' Country Life
In 1902, playing for England against Australia at The Oval, Gilbert Jessop played arguably the greatest innings in the history of cricket, turning what looked like certain defeat into what became an incredible victory, and doing so at such speed that he set a record for the fastest Test century for England that still stands more than 1,000 Test matches later.
Even Ben Stokes's team of Bazballers have been unable to put in the shade a cricketer for whom all-out attack was the only way to play long before T20 cricket was invented. But the precise circumstances of Jessop's astonishing performance have long been shrouded in mystery. The original scorebooks are missing and the accepted truth that he took 76 balls to reach his century has rarely been scrutinised.
Drawing on an array of long-forgotten contemporary sources, Simon Wilde forensically reconstructs one of England's most famous matches in an attempt to establish what really happened. How many balls did Jessop face? Might he have actually got to his hundred even faster? Jessop's relentless big hitting and fast scoring were revolutionary for cricket, but chimed with a speed-obsessed era which saw the start of the modern Olympics, the first mile-a-minute trains and the first 100mph cars, and the public adored him. As C.B. Fry said of 'No man has ever made cricket so dramatic an entertainment.'
PRAISE FOR THE BIOGRAPHY
'Dauntingly comprehensive and surprisingly light-footed' Simon Briggs, Daily Telegraph
'Superbly researched... His eye for detail never wavers. It's a pleasure to read' Vic Marks, Observer
'A well-written, engaging, analytical narrative rich in opinion and revealing facts' Country Life
320 pages, Hardcover
Published July 31, 2025
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
December 29, 2025
Brilliant!
This excellent book is the sort I like - history, cricket and detailed analysis. I have always wondered if 76 balls was correct for Jessop’s century. Some books say 75. In the modern era his three hits into and onto the pavilion would have brought him 18 runs, not 12, which would have made his century even less than 72-4 balls. Remarkable book. I was glued!
This excellent book is the sort I like - history, cricket and detailed analysis. I have always wondered if 76 balls was correct for Jessop’s century. Some books say 75. In the modern era his three hits into and onto the pavilion would have brought him 18 runs, not 12, which would have made his century even less than 72-4 balls. Remarkable book. I was glued!
Displaying 1 of 1 review