his problematic eyesight made the Test selectors unwilling to choose him, Abel's accumulation of runs continued to increase: he was the only player to reach 2000 runs in 1897 and 1898, he scored 2685 runs in 1899, 2592 in 1900, and 3309 – the highest aggregate at the time – in 1901, before again scoring 2000 in 1902. Abel's batting on "sticky wickets" in 1902 resulted in a recall from the national selectors for the Sheffield and Old Trafford Test matches, but he managed only four ordinary scores. Injury in 1903 caused the Surrey selection committee to drop him in early July. Even though he was fit again in 1904, Abel reached 50 only six times in 20 matches, and retired – to be replaced by Jack Hobbs. Later life and death In later life, Abel became completely blind. He died at the age of 79 in Stockwell, London, and is buried in Nunhead Cemetery, along with his wife Sarah (née Reffell). They had 11 children. Two sons also played cricket for Surrey: Tom and William. Legacy A blue plaque commemorating Abel was unveiled on the art gallery in Southwark Park in 2005. References External links 1857 births 1936 deaths English cricketers England Test cricketers Surrey cricketers Wisden Cricketers of the Year North v South cricketers Players cricketers Married v Single cricketers Players of the South cricketers Home Counties cricketers C. I. Thornton's XI cricketers Lord Londesborough's XI cricketers English blind people Burials at Nunhead Cemetery