Dudley Rippon and Sydney Rippon, born April 29, 1892, were identical twins who often opened the batting for Somerset on either side of the First World War. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the lives and careers of the two men who enjoyed reasonably successful First-Class careers and served with distinction in the Great War.
Read MoreHugh Bromley-Davenport and the first First-Class hat-trick in West Indies
Hugh Bromley-Davenport, born August 18, 1870, was the first man to perform a hat-trick in First-Class cricket in the West Indies. Pradip Dhole sketches the life and career of the left-arm fast bowler who shares the longest surnames among Test cricketers with Laxman Sivaramakrishnan.
Read MoreTip Foster: Captain of England in both cricket and football
Reg ‘Tip’ Foster, born April 16, 1878, still holds the record for the highest score on Test debut. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the only man to have led England in both cricket and football.
Read MoreFred Root: Innovator and Radical
The Worcestershire champion Fred Root was born April 16, 1890. He was one of the earliest to gauge the ill-treatment (especially financial) dished out to the professional cricketer. A supreme strategist, Root was also one of the earliest exponents of leg-theory bowling. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at the career of a man whose honest efforts on the field and radical thoughts off it made him one of the most intriguing characters of between-wars cricket.
Read MoreAllan Knott: Sustained brilliance behind the stumps, constantly gutsy in front
Alan Knott, born April 9, 1946, was arguably the greatest wicket-keeper to have played for England, and perhaps the best-ever in the world. Arunabha Senguptaremembers the career of the man who was a permanent fixture behind the stumps for England in the late sixties and most of the seventies.
Read MoreAlec Stewart: Shining light in England's dark days
Born April 8, 1963, Alec Stewart was England’s captain, batsman and wicketkeeper. Abhishek Mukherjee recalls the career.
Read MoreArthur Wellard: Five sixes in an over ... twice
Arthur Wellard, born April 8, 1902, was a useful bowling all-rounder, whose big hitting ability has made him a legend in cricketing chronicles. He scored 12,485 runs in First-Class cricket at a rather modest average of 19.73. With the ball, he was distinctly more successful, 1,614 wickets at 24.35. What remains amazing is that the sixes he hit numbered over 500. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the man who scored more than a quarter of his runs with sixes.
Read MoreDennis Amiss: Fantastic opening batsman curiously underrated
Dennis Amiss, born April 7, 1943, was a limpet at the crease. Abhishek Mukherjeelooks back at the career of the indomitable England and Warwickshire opener
Read MoreDavid Gower: The cadence of poetry in the art of run-making
April 1, 1957. The birth of David Gower, a batsman of surreal beauty at the crease. Arunabha Sengupta relives the ups and downs, sublime joys and sudden dismays of his sparkling career.
Read MoreRockley Wilson: One of a kind
Rockley Wilson, born March 25, 1879, was a decent cricketer and a singular man.
Read MoreFuller Pilch - the greatest batsman of the pre-Grace era
Fuller Pilch, born March 17, 1804, was the best batsman of England in his days, and considered to have been the best of all time till the arrival of WG Grace. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was the pioneer of front-foot play.
Read MorePhil Edmonds: Maverick cricketer, multi-millionaire businessman
Phil Edmonds, the Middlesex and England left-arm spinner, was born March 8, 1951 — in Zambia. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at a competent bowler and a quirky character.
Read MoreFrank Mann: Captain of England and Middlesex mainstay
Middlesex giant Frank Mann was born March 3, 1888. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at a warrior, an English captain, a genial character, a Middlesex President, a footballer, a rugby player, and a father of a Test captain and MCC President.
Read MoreAlan Townsend
Mayukh Ghosh on Alan Townsend
Read MoreArthur Mold - one of the first bowlers to be called for throwing
Arthur Mold, born May 27 1863, was a destructive fast bowler with a very suspect action. Arunabha Sengupta narrates the story of the man who was one of the very first bowlers to be called for throwing in cricket.
Read MoreReg Simpson - the fearless opener
Reg Simpson, who passed away at the age of 93 on November 22, was a fearless player of fast bowling and an excellent stroke-maker. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who produced his best performances against the frightening bowling of Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller.
Read MoreTrevor Bailey - one of England's greatest all-rounders
Trevor Bailey, born December 3, 1923, is remembered as a dour, stonewalling batsman with the fitting nickname Barnacle. However, there was much more to his cricket — including an array of strokes seldom unveiled, incisive fast-medium bowling and superb close to the wicket catching .Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was one of the greatest all-rounders to play for England.
Read MoreEddie Hemmings - long serving England spinner
Eddie Hemmings, born February 20, 1949, was a long serving off-spinner for England who had a stop-start international career during the 1980s and early 1990s. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the Nottinghamshire bowler who was known for his rather chubby appearance and once captured all 10 wickets of an innings in a First-Class match.
Read MoreCecil Parkin - unlimited bag of tricks, briefest of Test careers
Cecil Parkin, born February 18, 1886, was a bowler with an unlimited bag of tricks who could send down every kind of delivery. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the conjurer whose career was tragically cut short due to some ill-advised column in the press.
Read MoreDerek Randall - brilliant in the field, sometimes also with the bat
Derek Randall, born February 24, 1951 was an attractive batsman when he got going and one of the best ever fieldsmen produced by England. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the man who doffed his cap at Dennis Lillee after just about avoiding a bouncer.
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