5 Ashes heroes who committed suicide in later life

Arthur Shrewsbury

Arthur Shrewsbury was the best batsman in the world for a decade

When W.G. Grace was asked who he would want first in his team, he famously answered, "Give me Arthur". Arthur Shrewsbury was the mainstay of the Nottinghamshire batting line-up for over two decades and the best batsman in England throughout the 1880s. He scored three Test centuries, all against the old enemy and two of them at Lord's.

He was an accumulator of runs and was extremely difficult to dislodge.

He was instrumental in the success his sports goods business ( in partnership with fellow cricketer Alfred Shaw) tasted in the late 19th century. Moreover, to his credit, he, along with Shaw and Lillywhite Junior, organised some of the early tours to Australia.

But Shrewsbury had certian peculiarirties, which often forced him to fight with demons created by himself. He always appeared in a cap as he was not comfortable with premature balding. He used to travel long distances daily to reach the grounds because he preferred to sleep at his home in Nottingham. In fact, from 1869 to 1902, his 'home in Nottingham' was Queen's Hotel on Arkwright Street.

As he neared the end of his illustrious career, he began to suffer from hypochondria. Some years later it took a serious turn when he started feeling some discomfort around his kindeys and got himself admitted to a nursing-home in London. Nothing alarming was found but he was too weak, at least mentally, to carry on as a cricketer.

On May 12th 1903, he purchased a revolver but the bullets he purchased along with it were the wrong ones. He had to return once again to the shop on May 19th, to rectify the mistake. That evening, having requested his girfriend to make some cocoa for him, he retired to his room. A few minutes later, his girlfriend heard a rather strange noise coming from Arthur's room upstairs. She asked what was it about. "Nothing.', replied Arthur. He had shot himself in the left side of his chest. He was not sure if that was enough and hence he drew the trigger once again, this time placing the pistol to his right temple.

That was the sad end of one of England's finest batsmen.

Recommended reading: Give me Arthur by Peter Wynne-Thomas