Q: When did Julius Caesar take the Kennington Oval?
A: Julius Caesar first took the Oval at Kennington in 1849 when he made his first appearance for Surrey. Pseudonymous cricketers were not unknown (a famous gentleman cricketer of the previous generation went by the name of ‘Felix’), but Julius Caesar was not an assumed name. His father, Benjamin Caesar, was also a cricketer, as was a brother.
Julius’ career started well. He was a stalwart of Godalming cricket club, gained county honours aged 19, and went on to play in the first overseas cricket tour — of North America in 1859. He also opened for the touring side against Australia in 1863/4 (not very well, it seems).
Over-arm bowling was still not the thing in those days, but J. Caesar was a fast round-arm bowler (the arm coming round the side, but below the shoulder). He got a creditable five-for in this glorious match — Eleven Gentlemen of Godalming v. Twelve Caesars.
Capsule biographies of Caesar’s life all mention his tragic later years, but I’m going to have to buy Geoff Amey’s biography of Caesar, The Ill-Fated Cricketerto find out more.
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