American Cricket: Arthur Howell Brockie - 114 Not Out

Arthur Howell Brockie was the younger half-brother of Billy Brockie, the most successful first-class captain in the history of the Gentlemen of Philadelphia cricket team.

Arthur started to play for the Germantown junior cricket team at the age of eleven and made his debut for the senior eleven aged 15. He struggled to hold down a regular place in what was the strongest cricket club in Philadelphia.

He then played, with some success in two minor matches for the Gentlemen of Philadelphia in 1892 and 1893 but it was a year later when he made his greatest mark.

At the still tender age of 19 he made his first-class cricket debut in his "golden summer" of 1894. He played in two matches and looked as though he was on the verge of becoming one of the elite of Philadelphia cricketers.

That failed to materialise and this is the story of the Philadelphian that got away