Jimmy Sinclair, born October 16, 1876, was a massive hitter of the ball and the first great all-rounder of South Africa. Arunabha Sengupta traces the life and career of the man who scored the first three centuries of South Africa in Test cricket.
Read MoreArthur Mailey - Leg Spinner, Painter, Cartoonist, Writer
Arthur Mailey, born January 3, 1886, was a leg spinner of great flight and turn and a fascinatingly interesting character. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was variously a cricketer, labourer, cartoonist, painter and writer.
Read MoreBernard Bosanquet - the inventor of the googly
Bernard Bosanquet, born October 13, 1877, was the first man to bowl a ball with a leg-spinner’s action and make it break from the off. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career and life of the man who invented one of the most intriguing weapons of cricket — the googly.
Read MoreCharles Kelleway - a genuine allrounder
Charles Kelleway, born April 25, 1886, was a dour batsman and a more than useful medium pacer who played 26 Tests for Australia. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was once called ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ by Wisden.
Read MoreStan McCabe - the glorious contemporary of Bradman
Stan McCabe, born July 16, 1910, was one of the most exciting batsmen to watch, and immortalised for three supreme innings played during his career. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the batsman who was among the supreme stroke-players and also one of the best loved cricketers of his day.
Read MoreSydney Barnes - the best bowler ever?
Sydney Barnes born April 19, 1873, was perhaps the best ever bowler in cricket. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the man who took 189 wickets at 16.43 in 27 Tests
Read MorePasty Hendren - superb cricketer, beloved entertainer
Patsy Hendren, born February 5, 1889, was a brilliant batsman, extraordinary fielder and one of the most popular players to have played the game. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the long and colourful career of the Middlesex professional.
Read MoreViv Richards - the most devastating of batsmen
March 7, 1952.The birth of the most devastating and feared batsman of all time, one who took the meaning of swagger to a different level. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards.
Read MoreBart King - American cricketing great and one of the very best fast bowlers of all time
Bart King, born October 19, 1873, is without doubt the greatest cricketer to be produced by the United States of America. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was one of the first exponents of swing bowling.
Read MoreCB Fry - a life worth living
CB Fry, born April 25, 1872, was an England cricket captain, football international, the world record holder for long jump and a classical scholar. These were a few of his remarkable deeds in a life worth living. Arunabha Sengupta revisits the days of this greatest of all-rounders ever to walk on the planet.
Read MoreKS Ranjitsinhji - Prince of a Small State, King of a Great Game
KS Ranjitsinhji, born September 10, 1872, was a magical batsman, the first wristy wizard from the orient and the creator of the leg glance. Arunabha Sengupta looks at the life and career of the man better known as “The Prince of a small state, but the king of a great game”.
Read MoreAndrew Stoddart - The first captain to declare a Test innings
Andrew Stoddart, born March 11, 1863, was a rare double international who led England in both cricket and rugby. One of the best batsmen of his time, he was the first captain to declare an innings in a Test match. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man whose end was as sad as his deeds had been happy.
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Hugh Trumble - the first great off-spinner in Test history
Hugh Trumble, born May 12, 1867, was the first great off-spinner in the history of the game. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the Australian bowler who was the first man to achieve two hat-tricks in Test cricket.
Read MoreIvo Bligh - the cricketing hero of an immortal love story
Ivo Bligh, born March 13, 1859, was the captain of England who travelled to Australia in 1882-83, in the first quest for the Ashes, and returned with success on many fronts. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the eighth Earl of Darnley whose tale is one of adventure, passion and romance — the greatest love story in the history of the game.
Read MoreAlec Bannerman - one of the greatest stonewallers of all time
Alec Bannerman, born March 21, 1854, was an Australian opening batsman whom the crowd would often find ‘as wearisome to the flesh as fleas in a warm bed’. Arunabha Sengupta recalls one of the greatest stonewallers the game of cricket has ever seen.
Read MoreGeorge Hirst - great allrounder, pioneer of the 'swerve'
George Hirst, born September 7, 1871, was the greatest all-rounder of England of his day and one of the greatest ever. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the man who achieved the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets 14 times in his career and also pioneered the art of ‘swerve’ bowling.
Read MoreGeorge Lohmann - The man with the best bowling average and strike rate
George Lohmann, born June 2, 1865, was the greatest bowler of his day. With 112 wickets in 18 Tests, he boasts the best bowling average and strike rate among bowlers with more than 15 wickets. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life, career and premature death of the Surrey bowler.
Read MoreFred Spofforth - the first aggressive fast bowler and one of the very best
Fred Spofforth, born September 9, 1853, was one of the greatest bowlers to have played the game and nicknamed ‘The Demon’ for his many scary and diabolical spells. Arunabha Sengupta looks at the life and career of the first fast bowler with an aggressive attitude.
Read MoreClive Lloyd - the mastermind behind West Indian dominance of World Cricket
Clive Lloyd, born August 31, 1944, was one of the most destructive batsmen of all time and one of the most successful and respected captains of West Indies.Arunabha Sengupta remembers the “Supercat” who perfected the West Indian system of world domination through relentless pace bowling.
Read MoreClem Hill - one of Australia's best
Clem Hill, born March 18, 1877, was one of the greatest batsmen produced by Australia and one of the game’s most memorable characters. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who held the world record for the highest aggregate of runs in Test cricket for 22 years.
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