Ellis ‘Puss’ Achong, born February 16, 1904, was a left arm slow bowler from Trinidad who mixed up his orthodox finger propelled breaks with occasional wrist spin. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man of Chinese extraction who may have been responsible for the term ‘chinaman’ entering the cricketing lexicon.
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 MoreNorman O'Neill - brilliant but in the shadow of Bradmanesque expectations
Norman O’Neill, born February 19, 1937, was a scintillating stroke-player whose career was unfairly burdened through comparison with Don Bradman.Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of one of the most attractive batsmen since the Second World War.
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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Bill Johnston - often deadly with both medium paced and spin
Bill Johnston, born February 26, 1922, was one of the greatest left arm medium-pacers produced by Australia who could also revert to spin on a sticky wicket. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the bowler who often upstaged celebrated teammates Keith Miller and Ray Lindwall.
Read MoreSammy Carter - the first wicketkeeper to squat on his haunches
Hanson ‘Sammy’ Carter, born March 15, 1878, was a long-serving wicketkeeper of Australia who is credited with being the first stumper to sit on his haunches.Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who often arrived at the cricket grounds riding a hearse.
Read MoreJackie McGlew - pillar of South Africa in the 1950s
Jackie McGlew, born March 11, 1929, was a dour, adhesive opening batsman who formed a pillar of the strong South African side of the 1950s and led the country in 14 Tests. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who has the dubious record of the second slowest century ever scored in Test cricket.
Read MoreBill Lockwood - temperamental genius
Bill Lockwood, born March 25, 1868, was one of the greatest fast bowlers of England during the turn of the last century, who formed a lethal combination for Surrey and his country with Tom Richardson.Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was plagued with personal problems of the most tragic kind through his playing days and yet managed to emerge as a sterling cricketer.
Read MoreSam Loxton - the Invincible with a great heart
Sam Loxton, born on March 29, 1921, was a belligerent batsman and a big-hearted bowler who served as an important member of Don Bradman’s Invincibles of 1948. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who once snapped back at the Prime Minister for criticising his way of getting out.
Read MoreChuck Fleetwood-Smith - the chinaman bowler who died as a vagrant
Chuck Fleetwood-Smith, born March 30, 1908, was the first left-arm wrist spinner of Australia who made it to the Test side. A maverick genius if there ever was one, he did not do justice to even a fraction of his talent. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the career and the troubled life of this Test star who later became a vagrant.
Read MoreFrancis Alexander Mackinnon - a hat-trick victim in his only Test
Francis Alexander Mackinnon, born April 9, 1848, was the 35th chieftain of the Mackinnon Clan and a Test cricketer for England. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the life and career of the man who was the second batsman to be dismissed during Test cricket’s first hat-trick.
Read MoreBert Ironmonger - the finger spinner without half a finger
Bert Ironmonger, born April 7, 1882, as gone down as the best left-arm spinner produced by Australia. Strangely, he had lost half of his spinning finger in a childhood accident. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the modest, frugal, hardworking man who made his Test debut at the age of 46, and was perhaps the worst batsman of his day.
Read MoreDavid Holford - the cousin of Garry Sobers
David Holford, born April 16, 1940, was a useful late middle-order batsman and a tidy leg-spin bowler who played 24 Tests for West Indies with limited success. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the career of the man who partnered his cousin Garry Sobers in one of the most memorable recovery acts in Test cricket.
Read MoreDoug Insole - not just an administrator
Doug Insole, born April 18, 1926, gained repute and honours as a cricket administrator and became the president of MCC. However, before that he was an all-round sportsman — one of the pillars of Essex in the 1950s who played nine Tests for England, and also a skilled footballer. Arunabha Sengupta recalls the career of the man who scored hundreds against every county side except the one he represented.
Read MoreJohn Small - the first man to use a straight bat
John Small, born April 19, 1737, was the first man to employ a straight bat and the greatest batsman during the early days of cricket. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was one of the greatest innovators seen in the game.
Read MoreJack Fingleton - gutsy player and decent writer with an unhealthy obsession for Don Bradman
Jack Fingleton, born April 28, 1908, was an opening batsman who played 18 Tests for Australia. He was also a journalist of repute and a prolific writer about the game, whose often splendid commentaries were blackened by his extreme antagonism for Don Bradman. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of man who was at home while reporting about Len Hutton and John F Kennedy.
Read MoreJack Hearne - a medium-pacer of rare class
Jack Hearne, born May 3, 1867, was a medium pacer with a beautiful action who played 12 Tests for England and turned out in First-Class cricket for almost 35 years. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of man who became the first English bowler to claim a hat-trick in Test cricket, scalping perhaps the most celebrated trio of batsmen to have featured in such a feat.
Read MoreJack Blackham - Australia's wicketkeeping prince
Jack Blackham, born May 11, 1854, was the first ever Test wicketkeeper of Australia and one of the best the great cricketing country has ever produced. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was a permanent fixture behind the wickets for the first 17 years of Test cricket and led the country in eight matches.
Read MoreBob Woolmer tactical genius, revolutionary thinker - victim of conspiracy?
Bob Woolmer, born on May 14, 1948, is unfortunately remembered for his mysterious death. However, there are several reasons to cherish the life he led. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who was an elegant batsman, a brilliant coach and a compulsive rebel.
Read MoreDavid Allen - a quality off-spinner
David Allen, who passed away on May 25, 2014, was a Gloucestershire off-spinner who played 39 Tests for England, and would have played far more had his career not overlapped with Fred Titmus and Ray Illingworth. Arunabha Sengupta pays tribute to the man who is remembered for facing the last two Wes Hall deliveries at Lord’s as Colin Cowdrey stood at the non-striker’s end with his left arm in plaster.
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