THE Somerset Cricket Museum has been presented with two prized items relating to the legendary Teddy Tyler.

The slow left armer was one of the cricketers who played a major part in helping Somerset gain first class status and between 1891 and 1907 appeared in 177 first class matches during which he took 864 wickets at an average of 22.34. Tyler holds the record for the best bowling figures by a Somerset bowler for the 10 for 49 he took against Surrey in 1895.

During his career Tyler took 15 wickets in a match twice, 14 wickets in a match on three occasions and 13 wickets twice. One of the items presented was the ball that was used by Tyler to take the first ever hat-trick for Somerset in First Class cricket. He claimed the hat-trick in the match against Yorkshire at the end of August 1895, taking the three prized wickets of JT Brown, Denton and Tunnicliffe.

In the first innings Tyler claimed seven for 133 and in the second he took seven for 114, which included the hat-trick. The hat-trick ball along with some early Somerset CCC yearbooks signed by Tyler were donated by Brian Lee, who said: “Ted Tyler was a very distant relative on my dad’s side and the cricket ball and books have been passed down through the family over the years.

“I was born here in Taunton and now live in Newton Abbot. I watched a lot of the matches in the 1970s and 1980s during the Glory Years and I still come up to watch Somerset occasionally.”

He added: “The books and hat-trick ball have been at my house sitting on the shelf and occasionally I got them down to look at, but thought it was time that other people had the chance to have a look at them.

”The second item relating to Tyler was an engraved silver cigarette box presented to the bowler to commemorate his 14 for 122 against Gloucestershire at Ashley Down, Bristol, in May, 1896. In the first innings Tyler took six for 50 which he followed up with eight for 72 in the second - in both of which he took the wicket of Dr. W. D. Grace.

Stephen Astaire who donated the cigarette box said: “ I collect boxes and vesta cases with interesting engravings on them. I bought the cigarette box off e-bay 10 or 15 years ago and now I have got so many that I thought I'd thin my collection out.

“I contacted Jamie Cox and told him I’d got this box and thought it ought to be exhibited so would the club like to have it. Mike Unwin from the Somerset Cricket Museum replied to me and I have brought it down today.”

Chief Executive Jamie Cox was on hand to receive the two new treasured items relating to the achievements of one of Somerset’s early heroes. Edwin James Tyler was born in Kidderminster on 13th October 1864 and played his early cricket for the town club. He played for Worcestershire in 1885 and 86. He played in one Test match which was against South Africa in 1895-6 taking 3 for 49. Tyler remained living in Taunton until he died on 25th January 1917, aged 52.