Ten Drunks and a Parson

Ted Peate was rated by W. G. Grace as the world’s best spin bowler. Ten Drunks and a Parson traces his rise and fall, from his days touring the country with a troupe of clowns to his dramatic breakthrough to England fame. His character flaws led to his sacking by new Yorkshire captain Lord Hawke when he was at the peak of his powers. The fascinating life story of Ted Peate, a top Victorian cricketer hailed by W. G. Grace as the world’s best spin bowler. This is the first-ever biography of Peate! Peate is the cricketer whose name heads the Lord’s honours board. Yet he ended his life broke and is buried in an unmarked grave at the side of the runway at Leeds-Bradford airport. Read and you’ll discover: How Peate was the last man out in the famous first ‘Ashes’ Test when Australia beat England at The Oval in 1882 The truth behind Peate’s character flaws, including his weakness for drink, which led to his sacking by new Yorkshire captain Lord Hawke when he was at the peak of his powers His working-class origins, his season touring local fetes with a group of clowns, plus the dramatic breakthrough that led to a tour of Australia after just one full season The murky world of the professional cricketer, including new details about the scandal-ridden 1882 England tour to Australia With unprecedented insight into Peate’s life and times, the book will appeal to lovers of Yorkshire county cricket, plus anyone interested in the emergence of the England cricket team or the development of sport in Britain.