Why is 111 in cricket called a Nelson?????????

Answer 1

The number 111 is sometimes called a "nelson" (particularly as a score in cricket or darts) after Admiral Nelson, who allegedly only had "One Eye, One Arm, One Ball" near the end of his life. (This is sometimes bowdlerized to say that he lost "One Eye, One Arm, One Life" during his naval career.) Another suggestion is that the number is derived from his three great victories, thus Copenhagen, Nile & Trafalgar which gives the sequence "Won - Won - Won".

A score of 111 or multiples thereof (called "double nelson", "triple nelson" etc.) is considered an ill omen in cricket, because the figures "111" resemble a wicket without bails. Some people, most notably David Shepherd, develop superstitions around nelsons.

Answer 2

111 Nelson

Answer 3

Following the one-one-one analogy below - in the pre-decimal days some bank cashiers used the term "Nelson" for an amount of one pound, one shilling, and one penny A "Nelson" in cricket

In its simplest terms, a "Nelson" is the score of 111 runs (222 equals a "double Nelson" etc). It is considered to be extremely unlucky - i.e. the batsman will be out next ball etc.

This belief is held most strongly (but not specifically) by the Australians as in losing the 1954-5 Ashes series 3-1, Australia were twice dismissed for 111, as they were in the famous Headingley Test of 1981, when Botham made his famous 149 and Bob Willis then took 8-34.

The origins of this term lie in the erroneous notion that Admiral Nelson had one eye, one arm, and one leg; in reality, of course, Nelson lost an arm and an eye but retained the use of both legs.

It is possible that the number refers to three of his great naval victories, perhaps Copenhagen, the Nile, and Trafalgar:
- thus giving won-won-won.

There is an old Gloucestershire superstition that to avoid a dismissal on the next ball, all the team, except the batsman, must have their feet off the ground.

Whenever the score is on a Nelson, double-Nelson etc. umpire David Shepherd hops in the air until the score changes.

Answer 4

Why is 111 known as 'Nelson'? "I've no idea!" That was the first reaction of Professor David Crystal, one of the world's foremost experts on English usage. There are more theories than hard facts:

1. The term stems from the mistaken idea that Nelson had one eye, one arm and one leg: hence one, one, one. (In fact, he had two legs.)


2. That it commemorates Nelson's three great naval victories: Copenhagen, the Nile, Trafalgar. Hence: won, won, won.

Shep says: "I always believed it was one eye, one arm, one testicle, because they reckoned Nelson was one short down below as well. But I always say one eye, one arm and one lump of sugar in his tea."

Why is it considered unlucky? One theory says batsmen are allergic to 111 because it resembles a set of stumps without bails. The number, so the argument runs, then became more widely associated with bad luck.

Shep says: "Nelson's always been an unlucky number. Whether it's 111 because of the three stumps, I don't know. It's just a tradition in English cricket."

Is it used only in cricket? No. In pre-decimalisation days, bankers seem to have called a sum of one pound, one shilling and one penny `Nelson'. It is also listed as slang for 111 in a darts book of 1938.

Why did it become associated with jumping up and down? Supposedly this started in the Gloucestershire dressing room when Shep was a player. Some believed that having no part of your body touching the floor brought better luck.

Shep says: "Whenever I was in the field as a player and the score was 111, I would do a little jump but no one really knew I was doing it except one or two friends. When I did my second Test as an umpire at Edgbaston, in 1985, someone had written in to dear old Brian Johnston and said `Watch this idiot when the score gets on 111.'

"It did, I did my little jump and there was a titter in the crowd. I thought there must be a streaker on the field but it was Brian telling the world - and the spectators were listening on their radios. I've been lumbered with it ever since."

Answer 5

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RE:
Why is 111 in cricket called a Nelson?????????

Answer 6

Its a naval expression. As are many in common usage today.

A nelson = After Lord Nelson, One Eye, One Arm, One Ambition.

Answer 7

The score 111 is exactly like the three stumps with the bails removed - or a batsman 'out' - which is why it is a 'scary' score to land on. Nelson 'on the bridge' stood - he only had 3 limbs - 2 legs and one arm.

Answer 8

Think it's to do with Lord Admiral Horatio Nelson

one eye
one arm
one ball

Answer 9

It has nothing to do with Nelson Mandela, I believe.

Answer 10

One eye, one arm, and probably only one of something else???