Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Frank Worrell XI vs Richie Benaud XI

 29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970

A dream contest between the great players of the post Second World War era and the 1950s and 1960s would be one between teams led by two of the most charismatic captains, Frank Worrell and Richie Benaud. The effort has been to include the West Indies players in Worrell’s side, and the Australians in Benaud’s lineup. Don Bradman has been kept out of this ambit as he was essentially a player of the late 1920s, 1930s and 1940s.

What is immediately noticeable is that there were not too many top-class opening batsmen in this period but a plethora of accomplished middle-order players who would vie for places in teams of this nature. Len Hutton is an automatic choice, and placed in Worrell’s team with Conrad Hunte as his partner. One is inclined to select Bobby Simpson in Benaud’s squad, with a toss-up between his left-handed compatriots Arthur Morris and Bill Lawry. The former gets the vote for his grace and charm.

In the middle-order would be the three Ws, Everton Weekes, Clyde Walcott and Worrell himself. Worrell could turn his left-arm over with his pace as well as spin. On the other side one would pick Ken Barrington, Neil Harvey and Graeme Pollock. The allrounders spots are obvious, Gary Sobers and Keith Miller respectively. There is a bonus pair of spinning allrounders, the left-armer Vinoo Mankad who batted right-handed, and leg-spinner Benaud. The two top wicketkeepers of the time were Godfrey Evans and Wally Grout.

There is then a stirring face-off between speed merchants Freddie Trueman and Brian Statham with Ray Lindwall, who could wield the willow as well, and Keith Miller, already chosen as allrounder. Alec Bedser would back up the Aussie pair. The off-spinner’s spots go to Lance Gibbs and Jim Laker.

What an exciting contest this would be!

Frank Worrell XI                             

Len Hutton                                        

Conrad Hunte                                    

Everton Weekes                                 

Clyde Walcott                                    

Frank Worrell                                     

Gary Sobers                                       

Vinoo Mankad                                   

Godfrey Evans                                   

Freddie Trueman                                

Brian Statham                                    

Lance Gibbs                                       

Richie Benaud XI

Arthur Morris

Bobby Simpson

Ken Barrington

Neil Harvey

Graeme Pollock

Keith Miller

Richie Benaud

Wally Grout

Ray Lindwall

Alec Bedser

Jim Laker

The figures of these players during this period are:

Batsmen

Ken Barrington (England), Tests 82, Highest Score 256, Runs 6808, Average 58.67, Hundreds 20, Fifties 35

Neil Harvey (Australia), Tests 79, Highest Score 205, Runs 6149, Average 48.41, Hundreds 21, Fifties 24

Len Hutton (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 206, Runs 5626, Average 54.62, Hundreds 14, Fifties 30

Everton Weekes (West Indies), Tests 48, Highest Score 207, Runs 4455, Average 58.61, Hundreds 15, Fifties 19

Bobby Simpson (Australia), Tests 52, Highest Score 311, Runs 4131, Average 48.60, Hundreds 8, Fifties 24

Frank Worrell (West Indies), Tests 51, Highest Score 261, Runs 3860, Average 49.48, Hundreds 9, Fifties 22
Clyde Walcott (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 220, Runs 3798, Average 56.68, Hundreds 15, Fifties 14

Arthur Morris (Australia), Tests 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12

Conrad Hunte (West Indies), Tests 44, Highest Score 260, Runs 3245, Average 45.06, Hundreds 8, Fifties 13

Graeme Pollock (South Africa), Tests 23, Highest Score 274, Runs 2256, Average 60.97, Hundreds 7, Fifties 11

Allrounders

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 76, Highest Score 365*, Runs 6776, Average 58.92, 100s 21, 50s 26, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 193, Average 34.59, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.70

Keith Miller (Australia), Right-hand bat, Right-arm fast, Tests 55, Highest Score 147, Runs 2958, Average 36.97, 100s 7, 50s 13, Best bowling 7/60, Wickets 170, Average 22.97, 5WI 7, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.60

Vinoo Mankad (India), Tests 44, Highest Score 231, Runs 2109, Average 31.47, 100s 5, 50s 6, Best bowling 8/52, Wickets 162, Average 32.32, 5WI 8, 10WM 2, Quotient 0.97

Ray Lindwall (Australia), Tests 61, Highest Score 118, Runs 1502, Average 21.15, 100s 2, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/38, Wickets 228, Average 23.03, 5WI 12, 10WM –, Quotient 0.91

Richie Benaud (Australia), Tests 63, Highest Score 122, Runs 2201, Average 24.45, 100s 3, 50s 9, Best bowling 7/72, Wickets 248, Average 27.03, 5WI 16, 10WM 1, Quotient 0.90

Wicketkeepers

Godfrey Evans (England), Tests 91, Dismissals 219, Catches 173, Stumpings 46, Highest Score 104, Runs 2439, Average 20.49, 100s 2, 50s 8

Wally Grout (Australia) Tests 51, Dismissals 187, Catches 163, Stumpings 24, Highest Score 74, Runs 890, Average 15.08, 50s 3

Bowlers

Fred Trueman (England), Tests 67, Balls 15178, Wickets 307, Average 21.57, BBI 8/31, BBM 12/119, 5WI 17, 10WM 3

Brian Statham (England), Tests 70, Balls 16056, Wickets 252, Average 24.84, BBI 7/39, BBM 11/97, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Alec Bedser (England), Tests 51, Balls 15918, Wickets 236, Average 24.89, BBI 7/44, BBM 14/99, 5WI 15, 10WM 5

Lance Gibbs (West Indies), Tests 50, Balls 17229, Wickets 209, Average 27.54, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 13, 10WM 2

Jim Laker (England), Tests 46, Balls 12027, Wickets 193, Average 21.24, BBI 10/53, BBM 19/90, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Full Test Career

Len Hutton (England 1937-55), Tests 79, Highest Score 364, Runs 6971, Average 56.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 33

Bobby Simpson (Australia 1957-78), Tests 62, Highest Score 311, Runs 4869, Average 46.81, Hundreds 10, Fifties 27

Gary Sobers (West Indies 1954-74), Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, 100s 26, 50s 30, Best bowling 6/73, Wickets 235, Average 34.03, 5WI 6, 10WM –, Quotient 1.69

Lance Gibbs (West Indies 1958-76), Tests 79, Balls 27115, Wickets 309, Average 29.09, BBI 8/38, BBM 11/157, 5WI 18, 10WM 2

And look at the list of world-class players who could not make it to these teams:

Batsmen                                                                                

Colin Cowdrey (England), Tests 104, Highest Score 182, Runs 7228, Average 46.33, Hundreds 22, Fifties 37

Denis Compton (England), Tests 70, Highest Score 278, Runs 5339, Average 49.89, Hundreds 15, Fifties 26

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies), Tests 61, Highest Score 256, Runs 5056, Average 48.15, Hundreds 12, Fifties 22

Bill Lawry (Australia), Tests 62, Highest Score 210, Runs 4910, Average 47.66, Hundreds 13, Fifties 24

Tom Graveney (England), Tests 79, Highest Score 258, Runs 4882, Average 44.38, Hundreds 11, Fifties 20

Peter May (England), Tests 66, Highest Score 285*, Runs 4537, Average 46.77, Hundreds 13, Fifties 22

Ted Dexter (England), Tests 62, Highest Score 205, Runs 4502, Average 47.89, 100s 9, 50s 27

Lindsay Hassett (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 198*, Runs 2874, Average 49.55, Hundreds 10, Fifties 10

Seymour Nurse (West Indies) Tests 29, Highest Score 258, Runs 2523, Average 47.60, Hundreds 6, Fifties 10

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 25, Highest Score 242, Runs 2250, Average 59.21, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Vijay Hazare (India), Tests 30, Highest Score 164*, Runs 2192, Average 47.65, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9

Bob Cowper (Australia), Tests 27, Highest Score 307, Runs 2061, Average 46.84, Hundreds 5, Fifties 10

Allrounders

Trevor Goddard (South Africa), Tests 41, Highest Score 112, Runs 2516, Average 34.46, 100s 1, 50s 18, Best bowling 6/53, Wickets 123, Average 26.22, 5WI 5, 10WM –, Quotient 1.31

Alan Davidson (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score 80, Runs 1328, Average 24.59, 100s -, 50s 5, Best bowling 7/93, Wickets 186, Average 20.53, 5WI 14, 10WM 2, Quotient 1.19

Trevor Bailey (England), Tests 61, Highest Score 134*, Runs 2290, Average 29.74, 100s 1, 50s 10, Best bowling 7/34, Wickets 132, Average 29.21, 5WI 5, 10WM 1, Quotient 1.01

Wicketkeepers

Johnny Waite (South Africa), Tests 50, Dismissals 141, Catches 124, Stumpings 17, Highest Score 134, Runs 2405, Average 30.44, 100s 4, 50s 16

Jim Parks (England), Tests 46, Dismissals 112, Catches 101 (2 more catches as fielder), Stumpings 11, Highest Score 108 not out, Runs 1962, Average 32.16, 100s 2, 50s 9

Bowlers

Graham McKenzie (Australia) 1961-70, Tests 57, Balls 16797, Wickets 239, Average 29.19, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Wesley Hall (West Indies) 1958-69, Tests 48, Balls 10421, Wickets 192, Average 26.38, BBI 7/69, BBM 11/126, 5WI 9, 10WM 1

Tony Lock (England) 1952-68, Tests 49, Balls 13147, Wickets 174, Average 25.58, BBI 7/35, BBM 11/48, 5WI 9, 10WM 3

Hugh Tayfield (South Africa) 1949-60, Tests 37, Balls 13568, Wickets 170, Average 25.91, BBI 9/113, BBM 13/165, 5WI 14, 10WM 2

Bill Johnston (Australia) 1947-55, Tests 40, Balls 11048, Wickets 160, Average 23.91, BBI 6/44, BBM 9/183, 5WI 7, 10WM –

Sonny Ramadhin (West Indies) 1950-61, Tests 43, Balls 13939, Wickets 158, Average 28.98, BBI 7/49, BBM 11/152, 5WI 10, 10WM 1

Subhash Gupte (India) 1951-61, Tests 36, Balls 11284, Wickets 149, Average 29.55, BBI 9/102, BBM 10/223, 5WI 12, 10WM 1

Full Test Career

Colin Cowdrey, span 1954-75, Tests 114, Highest Score 182, Runs 7624, Average 44.06, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Rohan Kanhai, span 1957-74, Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Denis Compton, span 1937-57, Tests 78, Highest Score 278, Runs 5807, Average 50.06, Hundreds 17, Fifties 28

Doug Walters, span 1965-81, Tests 74, Highest Score 250, Runs 5357, Average 48.26, Hundreds 15, Fifties 33

Bill Lawry, span 1961-71, Tests 67, Highest Score 210, Runs 5234, Average 47.15, Hundreds 13, Fifties 27

Lindsay Hassett, span 1938-53, Tests 43, Highest Score 198*, Runs 3073, Average 46.56, Hundreds 10, Fifties 11

Graham McKenzie, span 1961-71, Tests 60, Balls 17681, Wickets 246, Average 29.78, BBI 8/71, BBM 10/91, 5WI 16, 10WM 3

Men’s One-day Cricket World Cup 1975-2023: three volume set of collector’s edition books launched

Three volume set of collector’s edition books

on all the 13 Men’s One-day Cricket World Cup tournaments 1975-2023

 (Commemorating the golden jubilee of the cricket World Cup 1975-2025)

by Indra Vikram Singh

A three volume set of collector’s edition books on all the 13 Men’s One-day Cricket World Cup tournaments has been launched. Written, designed and produced by Indra Vikram Singh, the books provide a panorama of the premier event in One-day cricket.

Published in the year 2025, this set commemorates the golden jubilee of the World Cup. It narrates a definitive history of the tournament, from its inception in 1975 till the previous edition in 2023. It has been written for the connoisseur as well as the novice, for the collector and the aficionado, for the journalist and the statistician, for the diehard and one with a passing interest in the game. It has something for everyone, and everything about World Cup cricket. It is easy to refer to and provides authentic information about every player, every match and every team, and carries photographs from some of the best professionals in the world. It provides highlights as well as sidelights, and brings to the fore the stars, the nail-biting finishes, the drama and controversy, even the momentary flashes of brilliance.

Featured are classic matches, 86 of the most exciting contests; and memorable performances, 102 brilliant individual feats by different players in various matches. The Hall of Fame sections showcase the exploits of 170 top players in the World Cup. These are all with breath-taking photographs, more than 400 of them, from the best professionals around the globe.

Those interested in numbers will find detailed statistics and records of all the 20 teams, and batting, bowling, allround, wicketkeeping, fielding and miscellaneous records. There are complete scorecards of all the 493 matches played, each tournament in a different colour combination. The batting and bowling averages, and fielding numbers, of all the 1222 players who appeared in the World Cup are incorporated, again each team in a different colour.

The Tailenders provide interesting snippets, the sidelights, lighter moments and trivia. And what is bound to delight the fan is a handwritten letter of Sir Donald Bradman received by the author in 1999. It is a collector’s item for the ages, something to be cherished for years, decades and generations.

The author and publisher express deep gratitude to Maharaja Kanak Vardhan Singh Deo for facilitating the sponsorship, to Mr. Anup Patnaik for co-ordinating with the sponsors; and to Mr. Pankaj Mohanty, Chairman, MGM Minerals Limited, and Mr. Prabodh Mohanty, Managing Director, SNM Group of Companies for so generously sponsoring these volumes. And finally a big round of applause and thanks to Mr. Brijmohan Singh for his exquisite typesetting and system designing, and M/s Pearl Printers for their fine printing job.

Volume 1: Cricket World Cup Odyssey 1975-2007

(edition 2 of ‘The Big Book of World Cup Cricket’ with some modifications)

Contents

Section 1 - Cricket World Cup: A Great Spectacle. This is a snapshot of each of the first nine tournaments played all round the globe, including review, the commercial aspect, sponsorship, logos, mascots and prize money.

Section 2 - Classic Matches. 49 of the most exciting contests.

Section 3 - Memorable Performances. 51 brilliant individual feats by different players in various matches.

Section 4 - Hall of Fame. Match-by match World Cup performances of 75 top players who appeared in these nine tournaments, from Clive Lloyd to Sourav Ganguly, and also comprising interviews with Cup-winning captains Kapil Dev, Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting. 

Section 5 - Scorecards of all the 303 matches in World Cup 1975 to 2007.

Section 6 - Tailenders: sidelights, lighter moments and trivia.

Handwritten letter of Sir Donald Bradman received by the author in 1999.

Around 225 photographs from the world’s best photographers and agencies.

428 pages.                                        

Size 8.5 inches x 11 inches, on art paper with hard cover and jacket.

ISBN 978-81-967423-9-3  

Volume 2: Cricket World Cup Hat-trick of Home Wins

India 2011   #   Australia 2015   #   England 2019

Contents

Section 1 - Cricket World Cup: A Great Spectacle. This is a snapshot the 2011, 2015 and 2019 tournaments, all won by the host nations India, Australia and England respectively, including review, the commercial aspect, sponsorship, logos, mascots and prize money.

Section 2 - Classic Matches. 28 of the most exciting contests.

Section 3 - Memorable Performances. 36 brilliant individual feats by different players in various matches.

Section 4 - Hall of Fame. Match-by match World Cup performances of 53 top players who appeared in these three and earlier tournaments, from Sachin Tendulkar to Jofra Archer. 

Section 5 - Scorecards of all the 142 matches in World Cup 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Section 6 - Tailenders: sidelights, lighter moments and trivia.

Around 130 photographs from the world’s best photographers and agencies.

328 pages.

Size 8.5 inches x 11 inches, on art paper with hard cover and jacket.

ISBN 978-81-967423-5-5

Volume 3: Cricket World Cup 2023 A Final Twist

Contents

Section 1 - Cricket World Cup: A Great Spectacle. This is a snapshot of the 2023 tournament, including review, the commercial aspect, sponsorship, logos, mascots and prize money.

Section 2 - Classic Matches. 9 of the most exciting contests.

Section 3 - Memorable Performances. 15 brilliant individual feats by different players in various matches.

Section 4 - Hall of Fame. Match-by match World Cup performances of 42 top players who appeared in these three and earlier tournaments, from Virat Kohli to Rachin Ravindra. 

Section 5 - Statistics and Records of all the 13 World Cup tournaments from 1975 to 2023.

Section 6 - Scorecards of all the 48 matches in World Cup 2023.

Section 7 - Batting and Bowling Averages, and Fielding Records, of all the 1222 players who appeared in the World Cup from 1975 to 2023.

Section 8 - Tailenders: sidelights, lighter moments and trivia.

Around 75 photographs from the world’s best photographers and agencies.

372 pages.

Size 8.5 inches x 11 inches, on art paper with hard cover and jacket.

ISBN 978-81-967423-3-1

Published by Sporting Links, 2025

Distributed in India by Variety Book Depot, AVG Bhawan 1^st floor, M-3 Connaught Place (Middle Circle), New Delhi-110001, Phones +91 11 23417175, +91 11 23412567, +91 11 42707723, Email varietybookdepot@gmail.com 

Test Cricket after World War II, 1950s and 1960s - Top Wicketkeepers

 (29 March 1946 to 10 March 1970)

Godfrey Evans.

Wally Grout.

England’s Godfrey Evans became the first wicketkeeper to claim 200 victims, with 173 catches and 46 stumpings in his 91 Tests from 1946 to 1959, the highest tally in this period after World War II till March 1970. He was handy with the bat too, scoring 2439 runs at an average of 20.49, with a highest score of 104, and 2 hundreds and 8 fifties.  

The Australian Wally Grout was considered the best of his time. He effected 187 dismissals, pouching 163 catches and causing 24 stumpings, in his 51 Tests between 1957 and 1966. He could hold the willow competently, aggregating 890 runs at an average of 15.08 with a top score of 74, and 3 half-centuries.

Johnny Waite from South Africa held his own, literally, having a hand in 141 dismissals, comprising 124 catches and 17 stumpings in 50 Tests from 1951 to 1965. A reliable batsman, he hit up 2405 runs, averaging 30.44, with a best of 134 and 4 centuries and 16 fifties to his credit.

The English stumper Jim Parks was another with 100 victims to his name. He sent back batsmen 112 times with his 101 catches behind the stumps and 11 stumpings in 46 Tests between 1954 and 1968. In addition, he held two catches as a fielder. He was a fine batsman, totalling 1962 runs at 32.16 per innings, 108 not out being his best, and hit up 2 hundreds and 9 half-centuries.

Three wicketkeepers fell short of 100 dismissals. Australia’s Gilbert Langley had 98 dismissals to his name, made up of 83 catches and 15 stumpings from 1951 to 1956. He could be a useful batsmen when required, scoring 374 runs at an average of 14.96, with a highest of 53, his only half-century.

Imtiaz Ahmed of Pakistan dismissed 90 batsmen, 74 caught and 16 stumped, snapping up another 3 catches in the field. He added immense value with the willow, hitting up 2079 runs while averaging 29.28, a top score of 209, having struck 3 centuries and 11 fifties.

Gerry Alexander, representing the West Indies, also effected 90 dismissals, with 85 caught and 5 stumped. Aggressive with the willow, he totalled 961 runs at 30.03 per innings, with a highest of 108, his lone hundred and 7 half-centuries.

All these seven wicketkeepers with 90 dismissals and above played all their Test cricket in this era between 1946 and 1970.

No other wicketkeeper had more than 60 victims during this time, some of whom played in the following era. Of these, Alan Knott, Wasim Bari, Deryck Murray, Ken Wadsworth and Farokh Engineer went on to scale immense heights with the gloves and with the bat.