On 31 August 1876, during the first innings of Surrey v Notts at Trent Bridge, Robert Tolley fractured a finger in trying to complete a catch and had to leave the field. George Power went on as substitute fielder and, with Surrey captain Walter Read's generous agreement, was allowed to bat.
In a low-scoring game, he made three in Nottinghamshire’s only innings, caught behind by Pooley off the bowling of Southerton, but still contributed to an easy Notts win, by an innings and 24 runs, catching Surrey’s last wicket, G G Jones, to give Alfred Shaw a six-wicket second innings haul and 11 in the match.
Power did not play again for Notts, nor – as far as records can be verified – in any other First-Class or senior cricket.
George Edward Power was born in Highgate, London on 16 May 1849 and was educated at Great Ealing School and Guy’s Hospital; in 1874, he scored two centuries for Guy’s, one against Surrey. Although resident in Lewisham in 1876, he appeared often for Nottingham Amateurs in the preceding year.
A member of the Royal College of Surgeons, Power died in Hucknall Torkard on 29 October 1904.
July 2020
Nottinghamshire First-Class Number: 154