It was 126 years ago today...

...that WG Grace told the world to play. He's been going in and out of style, but he's guaranteed to raise a smile. Etc.

On September 6, 1880, England started their first Test match in this country against Australia at the Oval. And they say that the Ashes season began late last summer. Dr Grace marked his debut with an innings of 152. Bless him. The sad coda to this Test was the fate of WG's younger brother Fred, one of three Graces in the England side. He was out for a duck to the second ball he faced in both innings but held a stunning catch on the boundary as England won by five wickets. The batsmen had turned for a third run before the ball settled in Fred's hands.

Two weeks later, GF Grace was dead after contracting pneumonia.