by Abhishek Mukherjee
What is the most ridiculous cricket betting story you have heard? Here is one.
Fred Huish
The Australians began their 1896 Ashes campaign with seven wins (three by an innings) and two draws in their first nine matches. Then came the MCC match.
MCC scored 219 after Australia faced a big blow. After sending down nine overs, George Giffen went down with sciatica and took no further part in the match.
When MCC bowled, 'Old Jack' Hearne and Dick Pougher reduced the Australians to 18/3. MCC were on top, but it was far from being a one-sided contest.
Sitting in the Lord's crowd was Kent wicketkeeper Fred Huish. Fifteen years after the match, he would effect nine stumpings in a match against Surrey, still a world record.
Now, "in a pure spirit of joke", Huish placed a 100-1 bet that the Australians would not be able to add another run.
It was an impossible bet, but JJ Kelly was soon out, hitting one back to Pougher.
Clem Hill, one of the greatest batsmen in history, was bowled next ball.
Hugh Trumble survived the over, but Hearne bowled Frank Iredale at the other end.
Two maidens followed, by Pougher to Trumble, then from Hearne to Joe Darling. Then Pougher bowled Trumble.
18/7. Giffen would not bat.
Charles Eady, who would score 566 in an innings in 1901-02 (still the highest in all adult cricket), walked out. By now Huish probably felt supremely confident, so he placed a 50-1 wager on Eady getting a golden duck.
Eady was yorked first ball by Pougher.
Tom McKibbin saved the hat-trick. Then he hit the next ball to mid-wicket.
Pougher (5/0) and Hearne (4/4) had bowled out the Australians for 18 after they were 18/3. Huish pocketed the money, though it is not clear exactly how much.
This happened on 11 June 1896.