Charles Turner takes 250 wickets in an English season (1888)

Charles Turner achieved a historic bowling milestone in 1888 by taking 283 wickets in an English season, surpassing Ted Peate's record. This performance established a benchmark for single-season wicket-taking that was later exceeded only by Tom Richardson in 1895 and Tich Freeman in 1928 and 1933.

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Background and detail

Background. Charles Thomas Biass Turner, an Australian bowler regarded as one of the finest produced by Australia, developed his skills significantly after moving to Sydney in 1886–87. His performance in the English summer of 1888 was prolific, resulting in 283 wickets at an average of 11.27 runs each. This tally exceeded Ted Peate's 1882 record by 69 wickets.

Context. While Turner's 1888 performance was exceptional, his subsequent seasons varied. In 1888–89, unresponsive wickets in Australia limited his wicket count to 29. However, he remained highly regarded for English conditions, taking 179 first-class wickets in 1890. His career highlights include a record bowling analysis for a Test at the SCG in 1887–1888.

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