With the first ICC Test Championship Final just around the corner, let us look at some of the less remembered greats of the game.
George Headley
For a common cricket follower of today’s time – Lara, Richards, Chanderpaul and Gary Sobers – are the poster boys of the legendary West Indian batsmanship. To the fan of the game before World War II, it’ll always be George Headley. The record holder for the highest individual test score by a West Indies batsman was born at Panama on May 30, 1909. With none to coach him during his early days, he trained himself in the aspects of batsmanship. Known for his impeccable timing, he made a name for himself with some fine performances during the Australian tour of 1930/31. The experts of the day were astonished at his timing and placement. In addition to his mastery of batsmanship, he was also a part timer and a great fielder. He finished his test career with an average of 60.8. It won’t be further from truth to say that he was the beginning of what was to come in the history of West Indies cricket.
Wally Hammond
The great legend of English cricket was born at Dover in the year 1903. He began playing cricket at the age of eight. As was not uncommon in those days, he was yet another example of an autodidact. After witnessing some of his knocks for his county team, the watchers were left with no doubt about his skill and went back home with their mind filled with expectations. His career did justify these great expectations. Loved for his aggressive and stylish batting, he contributed significantly to his team’s performance. His numbers at the end of his career are impressive – 50, 511 first class runs at 56.10 with 167 centuries. However, he was largely overshadowed by the greatness of Sir Don Bradman during his career.
Douglas Jardine
The former captain of England Test Cricket Team is remembered by history for reasons other than his batsmanship. Douglas Jardine was born at Bombay in the year 1900 and was coached by his father, also a cricketer, in his early days. Though he impressed with his fine batting performances in the Australian tour of 1928/29, it is for his role as a captain in the series four year later he is remembered by the Australia crowd. Armed with the pace of H Larwood and Voce, he countered the threat of the intimidating Australian batting by targetting their body with bouncers. This series is known as the bodyline series for this reason. This tactic was not well received by the Australian crowd and the cricket board. He was called as “The Iron Duke” for his rock like character.
Victor Trumper
Regarded as a great batsman by his contemporaries and now forgotten by many in world cricket, Victor Trumper was the first of many great batsmen from Australia. The early period of cricket history is notorious for its bad pitches. It was on these tracks Trumper astonished many with his batting. He was the first to score a hundred before lunch. His mates, who marvelled at his batting on sticky wickets, opined that he was worth 3 wickets on these tracks. He was known for his big hitting. Also an outstanding fielder to boot, he was an indispensable part of the team. He dies at a young age of 37.
Palwankar Baloo
Palwankar Baloo, the first Indian Dalit cricketer, was also a great slow bowler. He is regarded as the first great Indian cricketer. He rose through the ranks from doing ground duties and bowling in the nets at a club to the leader of the attack of whichever team he represented. On his first tour of England, he picked over 200 wickets at an incredible average of 13 apiece. His struggles were more off the field than on the field. Hailing from a lower caste family, he was a victim of caste discrimination and untouchability. He conquered these inequalities through his skill in the game. He later on became a politician to fight for the rights of the depressed. Another interesting fact about him is that he also contested against Dr. B. R. Ambedkar in an electon and lost it by over 2000 votes. He was a role model for the depressed classed. His contributions as a cricketer and a politician will be remembered by history for a long time.
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