Ernie Toshack was born December 8, 1914. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at the meteoric Invincible whose truncated Test career lasted only two years.
Read MoreBrian Close: Sheer courage
Brian Close did not bruise easily. His forte was sheer courage and unflinching attitude towards any possible physical injury. Kalyanbrata Bhattacharyya pays homage to this brave and indomitable soul.
Read MoreBasil Butcher - A potent force often lost among greats
His career coincided with Garry Sobers, Rohan Kanhai and Conrad Hunte, to name a few, and intersected with several other greats of West Indian batting. Yet, Basil Butcher did manage to carve his own niche, writes Kalyanbrata Bhattacharyya
Read MoreBert Sutcliffe: New Zealand great and author of one of the bravest knocks of all time
Bert Sutcliffe, born November 17, 1923, was one of the greatest batsmen produced by New Zealand, for long the bulwark of a weak line up.Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who scripted one of the bravest innings of all time.
Read MoreStewie Dempster: The first great New Zealand batsman
Stewie Dempster, born November 15, 1903, played 10 Tests for New Zealand and ended with a batting average of 65.72 — next to only Don Bradman’s 99.94 with a 10-innings cut-off. Arunabha Sengupta remembers the life and career of one of the greatest Kiwi batsmen of all time.
Read MoreSeymour Nurse: Should have played longer than he did
The belligerent Seymour Nurse was born on November 10, 1933. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at one of many West Indies batsmen who never got the run he deserved because of the stiff competition he faced in from contemporaries.
Read MoreRod Marsh: Spirit of hard as nails Australian cricket
Rod Marsh, born November 4, 1947, was in many ways the spirit of Australian cricket, who ended with 355 dismissals, 95 of them off the bowling of Dennis Lillee.Arunabha Sengupta pays tribute to the legendary Australian wicket-keeper.
Read MoreWalter Humphreys: The last of the professional lobsters
Walter Humphreys, born October 28, 1849, was the champion lobster who heralded the quarter century of golden swansong of lob bowling. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the life and career of the man who bloomed late but did so wonderfully.
Read MoreHarry Lee : A curious Test cricketer who could not keep his cap
Harry Lee played a Test match, but could not keep his cap
Read MoreKen Mackay: The obstinate 'Slasher'
The Queensland all-rounder Ken Mackay was born on October 24, 1925. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at the obstinate workhorse in a team of glamorous champions.
Read MoreMike Hendrick: Unheralded hero of England and Derbyshire
The unheralded Mike Hendrick was born October 22, 1948. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at one of England’s most consistent performers who could strangle any batsman into submission at his peak.
Read MoreVanburn Holder: Medium paced supporting act to a horde of great pacemen
The Barbadian Vanburn Holder was born October 10, 1945. Abhishek Mukherjee looks at the career of a West Indian fast-medium bowler that got lost amidst a horde of genuine quicks.
Read MoreLance Cairns: Hardworking swing bowler and one of the hardest hitters
Lance Cairns, born October 10, 1949, was a hardworking swing bowler and one of the hardest strikers of the cricket ball in the history of the game. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the career of the man who used a bat of special shape to essay some of the biggest hits ever, and played 43 Tests and 78 ODIs with considerable success while battling a major disability.
Read MoreNeil Harvey: One of the greatest left-handed batsmen of all time
On October 8, 1928, one of the greatest left-handed batsmen of all time was born. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the career of Neil Harvey, the youngest of Don Bradman’s Invincibles and also the youngest Australian to score a Test hundred.
Read MoreTony Greig: Underrated and controversial, he changed the face of cricket
Tony Greig, born October 6, 1946, was one of the most talented and colourful cricketers in the history of the game. Abhishek Mukherjee looks back at the career of the cricketer who helped shape professional cricket the way it is today.
Read MoreRichie Benaud: Legendary leg-spinner, useful batsman, great captain and voice of cricket
Born October 6, 1930, Richie Benaud was a great leg-spinner, a trend setting all-rounder and one of the most successful captains, who later became the voice of cricket. Arunabha Sengupta pays tribute to the most influential cricket personality since the Second World War on the great man’s birthday.
Read MoreMadhav Apte: An average of 49.27, yet only 7 Tests
Madhav Apte, born October 5, 1932, boasts perhaps the most bizarre Test career for India. In a span of five months, he played seven Tests, and averaged 49.27 as an opener, with a hundred and 3 fifties — all scored in the West Indies. After that, he was dropped for some unknown reason and never played another Test. Arunabha Sengupta looks back at the man who played his first Ranji Trophy match as a replacement for Vijay Merchant and some three-and–a-half decades later faced a 14-year-old Sachin Tendulkar on the field.
Read MoreRay Lindwall: Poetry in motion
Born October 3, 1921, Ray Lindwall was sheer poetry in motion as he ran in to bowl, yet was one of the most dreaded fast bowlers ever to play cricket. Arunabha Sengupta pays homage to the first genuine paceman to take 200 Test wickets on the occasion of his birthday.
Read MoreMaharaja of Porbandar: Poor cricketer with a noble deed
Poor cricketer but noble in at least one cricketing act, Maharaja of Porbandar died on Octobber 4,1979. Abhishek Mukherjee writes about this royal personage to grace the game.
Read MoreBudhi Kunderan: Ahead of his times
Budhi Kunderan, born October 2, 1939, was one of the trendsetting wicketkeepers who also blazed away with the bat, often at the top of the order. Arunabha Sengupta look back at the man who unfortunately played far fewer Tests than his abilities merited.
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