One of the strongest teams ever to leave Australia arrived in England in 1921 to defend the Ashes, which they had ruthlessly won by an unprecedented 5-0 margin at home just a few months back. Led by Warwick Armstrong, the team boasted the likes of Warren Bardsley, Charlie Macartney and Jack Gregory. Not that […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Archie MacLaren’s parting shotGlenn Turner was easily one of New Zealand’s best batsmen. He represented the Kiwis in 41 Tests and an equal number of ODI’s with distinction, averaging 44.64 and 47 respectively. In first class cricket, he has recorded an amazing 103 centuries – with a best of 311*. But undoubtedly the most eye-popping of these […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Glenn Turner’s one-man showThe 1936 tour of England was India’s second Test tour of the mother country – having first played their inaugural series there in 1932. England won the 3-Test series comfortably, naturally being the stronger team. However it was not just England’s strength that condemned India to the defeat. India’s captain for the series, the Maharajkumar of […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Vizzy the villainThis Championship match of 1947 was played between home side Derbyshire and visiting Essex at Chesterfield. Derbyshire won the toss and elected to bat in this three-day affair. Almost immediately, Raymond Smith drew first blood, as he bowled Charles Elliott for only 2 to make it 8/1, upon which Trevor Bailey, later to […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Not just an ordinary rearguard effortLet us look back to a strange incident that took place on the final day of the East Zone match between hosts Orissa and Tripura, played from December 17-20, 1997 at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack in the Ranji Trophy’s 64th edition. Few expected anything out of the ordinary when Orissa, definitely the stronger team, declared […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Hemulal Yadav’s bizarre dismissalThe sort of comeback engineered by Hampshire against Warwickshire at Edgbaston in the 1922 County Championship is unlikely to be seen again. This intriguing match took place between 14th and 16th June, 1922. Hampshire captain, the Hon. Lionel Tennyson, decided to put the home team in after winning the toss. The wicket was […]
Read More Who Would Have Thought It – Hampshire’s stunning comebackGetting ten wickets in an innings is a feat every bowler dreams of – very few get to achieve that in their career. Getting ten in an innings, and top scoring with the bat in both innings – that is the stuff of fantasy. Vallance Jupp of Northamptonshire achieved this remarkable feat for his county in the 1932 Championship. […]
Read More WHO WOULD HAVE THOUGHT IT – Vallance Jupp’s bitter-sweet record
The Cricket Cauldron 