by Abhishek Mukherjee
1897 was Gilbert Jessop's watershed season.
1,219 runs at 30 (at about a run a ball, as we know), 116 wickets at 18, ground fielding of quality probably never seen before, mostly for Cambridge – three years after he had made his debut for Gloucestershire. Wisden named him Cricketer of the Year.
Then he toured the USA in September with Plum Warner's men, where he, despite not being at his best with bat, bowled brilliantly.
The ordinary show might have to do with the voyage to the United States. Jessop was a terrible sea traveller.
The return voyage was just as terrible. The digestive problems from the westward journey returned. As he lay tossing and turning, the ship passed an iceberg. While there was no collision, the temperature dropped sharply, resulting in Jessop catching a chill.
Jessop went down with renal colic. It took him a year to recover. He had to give the autumn term at Cambridge a miss.
The doctors advised him a strict vegetarian diet till summer. He also stayed in Penzance, Cornwall, to avoid another chill. More restrictions followed.
He returned to Cambridge in April, but the form did not. He even considered withdrawing from the side. However, Gloucestershire included him in their team for the match against Sussex at Hove.
As the Gloucestershire team assembled, Jessop sought medical advice from his captain, the most famous doctor in the history of cricket who had played key role in Jessop's rise in the early part of his career.
A concerned Dr Grace changed the course of treatment. Among other things, he insisted on two changes in his lifestyle: a course of champagne, and an end to the vegetarianism.
Jessop recovered from the initial slump to finish the season with 873 runs at 24 and 69 wickets at 22. This included 12/67 (including 11 without a fielder's assistance) and 55* for Cambridge against Hampshire.
His only hundred was a 68-minute 112 out of a team score of 206, against Tom Richardson, JT Hearne, George Hirst, and Johnny Briggs. The accompanying photograph was taken during the match.
Disclaimer: This story does not have a moral.