James Southerton played for England in the first two Test matches ever played. He holds records that will never be broken - the first Test cricketer to die; and records that could yet be broken, but have stood so far since 1877 - the oldest man to make his Test debut (49 years and 119 days). Born in Petworth, in 1827, his family moved to Mitcham, Surrey when he was a child. He grew up playing cricket on the famous Mitcham Cricket Green, the nursery of Surrey cricket. A barber by trade, he played as much cricket as he could, reflecting his love of the game, but also to to make money. A devoted family man, he would travel wherever he could demand a wage. Beginning as a batsman and medium-fast bowler, very late in his career he turned to slow bowling and achieved a level of success never previously achieved, taking a prodigious number of wickets season after season (100 wickets in a season ten times).In the years before qualification rules were applied, he turned out for Sussex, where he was born, Surrey, where his permanent residence was, and Hampshire, where he was employed for some years at the Antelope Ground. In one year he played for all three counties in the same season. Southerton played with and against W.G. Grace on many occasions. He was a member of Grace's touring side to Australia in 1873-74. There was a heavy respect between the two, though arguments too and Southerton expressed his own view of Grace that he was "a damn bad captain". Subsequently, he joined Lillywhite's tour to Australia and New Zealand where he played in the 2 games against XIs of Australia, at Melbourne in 1877, which were subsequently labelled the first Test matches. Universally respected, Southerton could be stubborn to the extreme where convinced he was in the right. He was once caught by W.G. Grace, who appealed (jokingly) for the catch, off a ball that clearly bounced yards in front of him. Southerton walked and refused to return even though the unpires, Grace and other players were calling him back. His stubborness also got him into trouble with his employers at both Sussex and Hampshire, though without permanent damage in either case. Towards the end of his playing career, Southerton became landlord of The Cricketers pub, opposite Mitcham Green. Having formed a connection with Southerton on his tours overseas, the Australian touring side of 1878 came to Mitcham for practice and doubtless enjoyed hospitality in The Cricketers which they used as a base. Southerton saw the pub as his source of income as his playing days came to an end. However, only months after retirement, though he was still employed as superintendent of ground bowlers at the Oval, he succumbed to an attack of pleurisy. Thousands attended his funeral. "A thoroughly respectable, self-reliant, good sort was James Southerton", said Charles Alcock, Secretary of Surrey. There has never been a full biography of Southerton. Making copious use of contemporary newspaper accounts and Southerton's own writing (he kept a diary on both his international tours, and sent reports back to the newspapers in England for publication), this book fills that gap. Mitcham Cricket Green is the oldest continuously-used cricket ground in the world. All proceeds will go to Mitcham Cricket Club funds, in its fight for survival so that record may continue.