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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders both past and present.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander viewers are warned that this website contains images of deceased persons.

The Gallery’s Acknowledgement of Country, and information on culturally sensitive and restricted content and the use of historic language in the collection can be found here.

Sammy (Samuel Wood)

1892
Henry Seppings-Wright, Vincent Brooks, Day & Son (lithographer) and Vanity Fair Magazine (publisher)

from the series ‘Vanity Fair’
chromolithograph on paper (sheet: 39.5 cm x 27.0 cm, image: 32.0 cm x 19.0 cm)

Samuel 'Sammy' Woods (1867-1931), cricketer, is one of only five men to have played Tests for both Australia and England. Raised in Sydney and educated at Sydney Grammar and Royston College, he proceeded to Jesus College, Cambridge, where he won blues in both cricket and rugby. Although he is best known as a cricketer, he captained the English rugby team, and played thirteen internationals for England between 1890 and 1895. He played all his county cricket for Somerset, gaining initial renown as a bowler, but ceasing to bowl after 1896 and sealing his reputation as a fast scorer at the crease. (A record he set with Vernon Hill in 1898 stood for 112 years.) Although he had not played first class cricket in Australia, he joined the Australian team in 1888; he played ordinarily, but was named one of Wisden's inaugural Cricketers of the Year. In all, he played three Tests for Australia, and three for England. In 1895, he bowled the easy ball on which WG Grace made his hundredth century. Woods made his last appearance with Somerset in 1910; five years later, he was at Gallipoli. He lived and died in Taunton, Somerset, one of the best-loved inhabitants of the town. One of his contemporaries remembered that 'if you wanted to know Taunton, you walked round it with Sam Woods on a summer morning before the match.'

Purchased 2010

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. Works of art from the collection are reproduced as per the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). The use of images of works from the collection may be restricted under the Act. Requests for a reproduction of a work of art can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

Artist and subject

Henry Seppings-Wright (age 42 in 1892)

Vincent Brooks, Day & Son

Vanity Fair Magazine

Samuel Wood (age 25 in 1892)

Subject professions

Sports and recreation

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The National Portrait Gallery acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of Country throughout Australia and recognises the continuing connection to lands, waters and communities. We pay our respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures and to Elders past and present. We respectfully advise that this site includes works by, images of, names of, voices of and references to deceased people.

This website comprises and contains copyrighted materials and works. Copyright in all materials and/or works comprising or contained within this website remains with the National Portrait Gallery and other copyright owners as specified.

The National Portrait Gallery respects the artistic and intellectual property rights of others. The use of images of works of art reproduced on this website and all other content may be restricted under the Australian Copyright Act 1968 (Cth). Requests for a reproduction of a work of art or other content can be made through a Reproduction request. For further information please contact NPG Copyright.

The National Portrait Gallery is an Australian Government Agency