Art & Life: Postcard biographies - John Major on W G Grace (1848- 1915)

After the success of the first series of postcard biographies taken from the NPG's archives, this is a new series of specially commissioned 70-word biographies of and by major figures of today

William Gilbert Grace was taught cricket by his mother in a Gloucestershire orchard. A Doctor by profession, he dominated Victorian sport. His girth and flowing black beard made him instantly recognisable. He revolutionised batting technique, amassed 80,000 runs over 35 years, and captured 7,000 wickets. Loved by his contemporaries, he became a national monument and the embodiment of cricket. Before WG, cricket was a country house sport. He made it our National game.

! John Major by John Wonnacott, 1997 c NPG. William Gilbert Grace by Archibald Wortley, 1890 c NPG.