by Mayukh Ghosh

Rex Sellers’ father was a bridge inspector for BB&CI Railways when he was born in August 1940.

When in 1947 India became independent, the Sellers family had two options in front of them: either going back to England or going to Australia. Rex’s mother left for Australia, with her sons. Rex’s father remained in India to earn more money.

In India they had eleven servants. In Australia, they were forced to struggle. Moreover, Rex and his brother Basil encountered racism at their Adelaide school.

Amidst all these turmoils, cricket appeared as Rex’s saviour.
He was a good leg-spinner but when dropped after one season, he decided to quit the game.
His coach resurrected the career by bringing more discipline to his cricket and then the moment came in 1963-64.

David Sincock had been playing in the Lancashire League but missed the ship back to Australia. Rex took his place in the South Australian team and picked up 48 wickets at 28.

Good enough to get selected in the squad for the 1964 Ashes series.
Shortly before joining the team on the ship, he received an official envelope from Prime Minister Robert Menzies’ office.

The news it carried was heartening- Sellers was given Australian citizenship.

He didn’t get a chance to play in any of the Ashes Tests that year but made his debut later that year against India at Eden Gardens.

A couple of months earlier than Sincock could make his Test debut!