A. N. Hornby
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| A. N. Hornby England (Eng) | ||
| ||
| Batting style | Right-handed batsman (RHB) | |
| Bowling type | ? | |
| Tests | First-class | |
| Matches | 3 | 437 |
| Runs scored | 21 | 16109 |
| Batting average | 3.50 | 23.45 |
| 100s/50s | 0/0 | 16/75 |
| Top score | 9 | 188 |
| Balls bowled | 28 | 593 |
| Wickets | 1 | 11 |
| Bowling average | 0.00 | 23.45 |
| 5 wickets in innings | 0 | 0 |
| 10 wickets in match | 0 | 0 |
| Best bowling | 1/0 | 4/40 |
| Catches/stumpings | 0/0 | 313/3 |
|
Test debut: 2 January, 1879 | ||
Albert Neilson Hornby (Blackburn, Lancashire, 10 February 1847 – 17 December 1925 in Nantwich, Cheshire) was the England cricket captain who lost the Test match at home in 1882 against the Australian cricket team that gave rise to the Ashes.
The Test match in 1882 was a one-off game played at The Oval in London, England, and the English cricket team lost it to Australia. In response, the Sporting Times printed the following "obituary" to English cricket:
- In Affectionate Remembrance of ENGLISH CRICKET, which died at the Oval on 29th AUGUST, 1882, Deeply lamented by a large circle of sorrowing friends and acquaintances R.I.P.
- N.B. - The body will be cremated and the ashes taken to Australia.
A. N. Hornby later captained England in one more Test, when he stood in for Lord Harris in the first Test of 1884. In 1882 he also captained England at rugby, making him one of only two men to have captained England in both these sports, the other being Andrew Stoddart.
His lack of stature and excess of energy earned him the nickname "Monkey", while his players called him "The Boss". In all cricket sources, he is referred to by his initials, never by a nickname.
Together with his fellow Lancashire and England batsman Dick Barlow, Hornby was immortalised in one of the best known of all cricket poems, At Lord's by Francis Thompson which contains the famous lines:
- As the run stealers flicker to and fro,
- To and fro:
- O my Hornby and my Barlow long ago !
| Preceded by: Alfred Shaw | English national cricket captain 1882 | Succeeded by: Honourable Ivo Bligh |
