Top Bowlers in Test Cricket between the two World Wars

 

Clarrie Grimmett

Maurice Tate

Hedley Verity

Bill O'Reilly

Top Bowlers in Test Cricket between the two World Wars

The giants among bowlers between the two World Wars were the Australian leg-spin, googly duo of Clarrie Grimmett and Bill O’Reilly. Essentially a part of the dominant Bradman era. Between them they captured 352 wickets in this period. O’Reilly played one Test in 1946, bagging another 8 wickets. The English reposte came from the right-arm fast-medium Maurice Tate, who also bowled off-spin, and the slow left-arm orthodox Hedley Verity. They prised out 299 wickets during this period. These are the only four bowlers who bagged 100 wickets in the inter-war phase, and at fine averages ranging between 23.68 and 26.16.

The Aussie leg-break and googly specialist Arthur Mailey and the England’s left-arm fast-medium Bill Voce just missed out, snaring 99 and 97 wickets respectively. Voce took one more wicket after the war. The Australian slow left-armer Bert Ironmonger had the best average at 17.97 for his 74 wickets.

The best figures in an innings was 9 for 121 by Arthur Mailey against England at Melbourne in 1920-21. Hedley Verity had an analysis of 8 for 43 against Australia at Lord’s in 1934. The English slow left-arm orthodox Jack White took 8 for 126 against Australia at Adelaide in 1928-29.

The top haul in a Test was 15 for 104 by Verity against Australia at Lord’s in 1934, in what came to be known as ‘Verity’s Test’. This was followed by two superb analyses by Grimmett against South Africa four years apart. He captured 14 for 199 at Adelaide in 1931-32 and 13 for 173 at Durban in 1935-36. Mailey’s match figures against England at Melbourne in 1920-21 were 13 for 236. White, on his part, completed the Test versus Australia at Adelaide in 1928-29 with 13 for 256.

The first hat-trick came from the English right-arm medium-pacer Maurice Allom against New Zealand at Christchurch in 1929-30. England’s off-spinner Tom Goddard followed versus South Africa at Johannesburg in 1938-39.

The English fast bowling foursome Harold Larwood, Bill Voce, Gubby Allen and Bill Bowes captured 318 wickets between them in the inter-war period at fine averages in the 20s.

TOP WICKET-TAKERS (minimum 50 wickets)

Clarrie Grimmett (Australia, legbreak googly) 1925-36, Tests 37, Balls 14513, Wickets 216, Average 24.21, BBI 7/40, BBM 14/199, 5WI 21, 10WM 7

Maurice Tate (England, right-arm fast-medium, medium, offbreak) 1924-35, Tests 39, Balls 12523, Wickets 155, Average 26.16, BBI 6/42, BBM 11/228, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Hedley Verity (England, slow left-arm orthodox) 1931-39, Tests 40, Balls 11173, Wickets 144, Average 24.37, BBI 8/43, BBM 15/104, 5WI 5, 10WM 2

Bill O’Reilly (Australia, legbreak googly) 1932-38, Tests 26, Balls 9910, Wickets 136, Average 23.68, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 10, 10WM 3

Arthur Mailey (Australia, legbreak googly) 1920-26, Tests 21, Balls 6119, Wickets 99, Average 33.91, BBI 9/121, BBM 13/236, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

Bill Voce (England, left-arm fast-medium) 1930-37, Tests 24, Balls 5852, Wickets 97, Average 26.04, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Jack Gregory (Australia, right-arm fast) 1920-28, Tests 24, Balls 5582, Wickets 85, Average 31.15, BBI 7/69, BBM 8/101, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Cyril Vincent (South Africa, slow left-arm orthodox) 1927-35, Tests 25, Balls 5851, Wickets 84, Average 31.32, BBI 6/51, BBM 8/149, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Wally Hammond (England, right-arm medium-fast) 1927-39, Tests 77, Balls 7963, Wickets 83, Average 37.77, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM -

Harold Larwood (England, right-arm fast) 1926-33, Tests 21, Balls 4969, Wickets 78, Average 28.35, BBI 6/32, BBM 10/124, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Gubby Allen (England, right-arm fast) 1930-37, Tests 22, Balls 4116, Wickets 76, Average 28.60, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Bert Ironmonger (Australia, slow left-arm orthodox) 1928-33, Tests 14, Balls 4695, Wickets 74, Average 17.97, BBI 7/23, BBM 11/24, 5WI 4, 10WM 2

Bill Bowes (England, right-arm fast-medium, medium) 1932-39, Tests 14, Balls 3481, Wickets 67, Average 21.58, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman (England, legbreak googly) 1924-29, Tests 12, Balls 3732, Wickets 66, Average 25.86, BBI 7/71, BBM 12/171, 5WI 5, 10WM 3

Walter Robins (England, legbreak) 1929-37, Tests 19, Balls 3318, Wickets 64, Average 27.46, BBI 6/32, BBM 7/68, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Ken Farnes (England, right-arm fast) 1934-39, Tests 15, Balls 3932, Wickets 60, Average 28.65, BBI 6/96, BBM 10/179, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Learie Constantine (West Indies, right-arm fast, medium) 1928-39, Tests 18, Balls 3583, Wickets 58, Average 30.10, BBI 5/75, BBM 9/122, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Tim Wall (Australia, right-arm fast) 1929-34, Tests 18, Balls 4812, Wickets 56, Average 35.89, BBI 5/14, BBM 8/189, 5WI 3, 10WM –

EP ‘Buster’ Nupen (South Africa, right-arm fast-medium) 1921-36, Tests 17, Balls 4159, Wickets 50, Average 35.76, BBI 6

FULL CAREER

Bill O’Reilly (Australia) 1932-46, Tests 27, Balls 10024, Wickets 144, Average 22.59, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 11, 10WM 3

Bill Voce (England) 1930-47, Tests 27, Balls 6360, Wickets 98, Average 27.88, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Wally Hammond (England) 1927-47, Tests 85, Balls 7969, Wickets 83, Average 37.80, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Gubby Allen (England) 1930-48, Tests 25, Balls 4386, Wickets 81, Average 29.37, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Bill Bowes (England) 1932-46, Tests 15, Balls 3655, Wickets 68, Average 22.33, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

BEST AVERAGES (minimum 50 wickets)

Bert Ironmonger (Australia) 1928-33, Tests 14, Balls 4695, Wickets 74, Average 17.97, BBI 7/23, BBM 11/24, 5WI 4, 10WM 2

Bill Bowes (England) 1932-39, Tests 14, Balls 3481, Wickets 67, Average 21.58, BBI 6/33, BBM 9/219, 5WI 6, 10WM –

Bill O’Reilly (Australia) 1932-38, Tests 26, Balls 9910, Wickets 136, Average 23.68, BBI 7/54, BBM 11/129, 5WI 10, 10WM 3

Clarrie Grimmett (Australia) 1925-36, Tests 37, Balls 14513, Wickets 216, Average 24.21, BBI 7/40, BBM 14/199, 5WI 21, 10WM 7

Hedley Verity (England) 1931-39, Tests 40, Balls 11173, Wickets 144, Average 24.37, BBI 8/43, BBM 15/104, 5WI 5, 10WM 2

AP ‘Tich’ Freeman (England) 1924-29, Tests 12, Balls 3732, Wickets 66, Average 25.86, BBI 7/71, BBM 12/171, 5WI 5, 10WM 3

Bill Voce (England) 1930-37, Tests 24, Balls 5852, Wickets 97, Average 26.04, BBI 7/70, BBM 11/149, 5WI 3, 10WM 2

Maurice Tate (England) 1924-35, Tests 39, Balls 12523, Wickets 155, Average 26.16, BBI 6/42, BBM 11/228, 5WI 7, 10WM 1

Walter Robins (England) 1929-37, Tests 19, Balls 3318, Wickets 64, Average 27.46, BBI 6/32, BBM 7/68, 5WI 1, 10WM –

Harold Larwood (England) 1926-33, Tests 21, Balls 4969, Wickets 78, Average 28.35, BBI 6/32, BBM 10/124, 5WI 4, 10WM 1

Gubby Allen (England) 1930-37, Tests 22, Balls 4116, Wickets 76, Average 28.60, BBI 7/80, BBM 10/78, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Ken Farnes (England) 1934-39, Tests 15, Balls 3932, Wickets 60, Average 28.65, BBI 6/96, BBM 10/179, 5WI 3, 10WM 1

Learie Constantine (West Indies) 1928-39, Tests 18, Balls 3583, Wickets 58, Average 30.10, BBI 5/75, BBM 9/122, 5WI 2, 10WM –

Jack Gregory (Australia) 1920-28, Tests 24, Balls 5582, Wickets 85, Average 31.15, BBI 7/69, BBM 8/101, 5WI 4, 10WM –

Cyril Vincent (South Africa) 1927-35, Tests 25, Balls 5851, Wickets 84, Average 31.32, BBI 6/51, BBM 8/149, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Arthur Mailey (Australia) 1920-26, Tests 21, Balls 6119, Wickets 99, Average 33.91, BBI 9/121, BBM 13/236, 5WI 6, 10WM 2

EP ‘Buster’ Nupen (South Africa) 1921-36, Tests 17, Balls 4159, Wickets 50, Average 35.76, BBI 6/46, BBM 11/150, 5WI 5, 10WM 1

Tim Wall (Australia) 1929-34, Tests 18, Balls 4812, Wickets 56, Average 35.89, BBI 5/14, BBM 8/189, 5WI 3, 10WM –

Wally Hammond (England) 1927-39, Tests 77, Balls 7963, Wickets 83, Average 37.77, BBI 5/36, BBM 7/87, 5WI 2, 10WM -

Jack White just missed the 50-wickets mark, ending up with 49 wickets at 32.26 in his decade-long 15-Test career from 1921 to 1931.

Among those who took between 25 and 49 wickets, the best averages were achieved by South Africa’s right-arm fast bowler George Bissett who played four Tests in only one series against England in 1927-28. He bagged 25 wickets at 18.76 apiece. England’s right-arm medium-pacer Alex Kennedy too played 5 Tests in just the series against South Africa in 1922-23. His tally was 31 wickets at 19.32.

The West Indies fast bowler Manny Martindale was next in the averages in this category with 37 wickets at 21.72 in 10 Tests between 1933 and 1939. He formed a fearsome fast bowling pair with Learie Constantine who took 58 wickets at an average of 30.10 in 18 Tests from 1928 to 1939.

The Indian duo of Mohammad Nissar and Amar Singh, both right-arm fast-medium, played in series against England between 1932 and 1936. Nissar captured 25 wickets at 28.28 in 6 Tests, while Amar Singh bagged 28 wickets at 30.64 In 7 Tests.

21-Gun Salute Vintage and Classic Cars Concours 2025

 

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1922 Windovers - Best car of the show.

It was a surreal drive back in time at the 21-Gun Salute Vintage and Classic Cars Concours, held in the enchanting environs of the Ambience Island golf course, Gurgaon from 21st to 23rd February 2025.

There was a splendid array of vintage and classic cars. It was particularly delightful to see the exquisite collection of Rolls-Royce, Bentley and MG cars, and some rare ones like Cord and Tatra. There was also a range of motorcycles and scooters. They were all beautifully restored, but there were a few cars in pristine, unrestored condition, still running beautifully. This photo feature will evoke nostalgia among connoisseurs of heritage cars.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1922 Windovers - Best car of the show.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1922 Windovers - Best car of the show.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1926 of Shrivardhan Kanoria.

Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1926 of Shrivardhan Kanoria.

Rolls-Royce Phantom II 1930.

Rolls-Royce.

Bentley.

Rolls-Royce Silver Shadow 1970.

Indra Vikram Singh with Dhananjay Badamikar and his Fiat.

Fiat 1100 Elegant 1956

Veteran Ford.

Cord 1930.

MGs.

Tatra 603 from Czechoslavia.

The car of the show, the magnificent ex-Mayurbhanj State Rolls-Royce Silver Ghost 1922 reminded me of the Silver Ghost 1921 #32UG Hooper Phaeton of my grandfather Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla. A link to my article on this car is given below:

https://singhiv.wordpress.com/2021/01/01/hundred-years-of-rolls-royce-silver-ghost-1921-32ug-of-maharaja-vijaysinhji-of-rajpipla/

There were judges and comperes from around the world who did a thoroughly professional job.

Those interested in vintage and classic cars rallies and concours may like to know that my grandfather Maharana Chhatrasinhji of Rajpipla participated in what was perhaps the first car rally in India, the Bombay to Mahabaleshwar rally in 1906 in his Clement-Bayard 16 hp car. Another link to my article on  this rally is given below:

https://singhiv.wordpress.com/2025/02/21/participation-of-maharana-chhatrasinhji-of-rajpipla-in-bombay-to-mahabaleshwar-car-rally-in-1906/

As the golden sunshine made way for late winter evening chill, the grand finale was the prize distribution ceremony. The winning cars and two-wheelers and their owners and restorers drove jubilantly up the ramp to applause all round. It was indeed a great ride down memory lane for car aficionados.

Top Batsmen in Test Cricket between the two World Wars

 

That Don Bradman dominated the batting landscape like a colossus between the two World Wars is stating the obvious. The Australian icon was the second-highest run-getter during this period, with 5093 runs in 37 Tests with 21 hundreds and 8 fifties. The English off-side powerhouse Wally Hammond amassed 6883 runs in 77 Tests, playing 70 more innings than Bradman, hitting up 22 hundreds and 22 fifties. 

Needless to say, Bradman averaged far higher than anyone else between the two wars, and indeed any other period in Test history. His average was 97.94, customary by his standards.

The next in terms of averages during this period, were names that would surprise no one:

Charlie ‘Governor-General’ Macartney, audacious Australian stroke-player, at 69.55 for his 1252 runs in 14 Tests.

Len Hutton, record-breaking English opener at 67.25 for his 1345 runs in 13 Tests.

George Headley, pioneer among West Indies greats, at 66.71 for his 2135 runs in 19 Tests.

Hammond at 61.45.

Herbert Sutcliffe, the resolute English opener at 60.73 for his 4555 runs in 54 Tests.

Eddie Paynter, England’s left-hander, at 59.23 for his 1540 runs in 20 Tests.

Jack Hobbs, the original master at 56.63 for his 2945 runs in 33 Tests.

Jack Ryder of Australia at 51.62 for his 1394 runs in 32 Tests.  

Among batsmen who just missed scoring 1000 runs were three who represented England:

K.S. Duleepsinhji at 58.52 for his 995 runs in 12 Tests.

CAG ‘Jack’ Russell at 56.87 for his 910 runs in 10 Tests.

George Ernest Tyldesley at 55.00 for his 990 runs in 14 Tests. 

The top-rungetters between the wars with at least 2000 runs were:

Wally Hammond (England), Tests 77, Highest Score 336*, Runs 6883, Average 61.45, Hundreds 22, Fifties 22

Don Bradman (Australia), Tests 37, Highest Score 334, Runs 5093, Average 97.94, Hundreds 21, Fifties 8

Herbert Sutcliffe (England), Tests 54, Highest Score 194, Runs 4555, Average 60.73, Hundreds 16, Fifties 23

Patsy Hendren (England), Tests 51, Highest Score 205*, Runs 3525, Average 47.63, Hundreds 7, Fifties 21

Jack Hobbs (England), Tests 33, Highest Score 211, Runs 2945, Average 56.63, Hundreds 10, Fifties 12

Maurice Leyland (England), Tests 41, Highest Score 187, Runs 2764, Average 46.06, Hundreds 9, Fifties 10

Stan McCabe (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 232, Runs 2748, Average 48.21, Hundreds 6, Fifties 13

Leslie Ames (England), Tests 47, Highest Score 149, Runs 2434, Average 40.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 7

Bruce Mitchell (South Africa), Tests 32, Highest Score 164*, Runs 2399, Average 45.26, Hundreds 5, Fifties 15

Frank Woolley (England), Tests 42, Highest Score 154, Runs 2346, Average 37.83, Hundreds 4, Fifties 15

Bill Woodfull (Australia), Tests 35, Highest Score 161, Runs 2300, Average 46.00, Hundreds 7, Fifties 13

Herbie Taylor (South Africa), Tests 31, Highest Score 176, Runs 2234, Average 42.96, Hundreds 6, Fifties 13

George Headley (West Indies), Tests 19, Highest Score 270*, Runs 2135, Average 66.71, Hundreds 10, Fifties 5

Bill Ponsford (Australia), Tests 29, Highest Score 266, Runs 2122, Average 48.22, Hundreds 7, Fifties 6

What emerges from these figures is that there was no decline in the performances of the inimitable Don Bradman even after the seven-year break due to the Second World War. The same is true for the opening batsman par excellence Jack Hobbs who was brilliant either side of the First World War.

At the other end of the spectrum, Charlie Macartney began as a slow left-arm bowler before the First World War, but was an explosive batsman after the war with an average next only to Bradman between the two wars. George Headley was dubbed ‘the Black Bradman’ for his feats between the wars. He played two Tests in 1948 and one in 1954, which brought down his average, but still finished above 60.

Leslie Ames is the only wicketkeeper who figures in this line-up of top batsmen between the wars. He was without doubt the best wicketkeeper-batsman of this period. For all his elegant left-handed batting, Frank Woolley was an allrounder with 83 Test wickets at an average of 33.91.

Finally Duleepsinhji, like his uncle K.S. Ranjitsinhji, fell just short of 1000 Test runs. Ranji aggregated 989 runs in 15 Tests, Duleep scored 995 runs in 12 Tests. The uncle’s highest Test score was 175, the nephew’s was 173. Both had 8 scores of fifty and above.

The full Test career records of these great batsmen are:

Don Bradman, span 1928-48, Tests 52, Highest Score 334, Runs 6996, Average 99.94, Hundreds 29, Fifties 13

George Headley, span 1930-54, Tests 22, Highest Score 270*, Runs 2190, Average 60.83, Hundreds 10, Fifties 5

Herbert Sutcliffe, span 1924-1935, Tests 54, Highest Score 194, Runs 4555, Average 60.73, Hundreds 16, Fifties 23

Eddie Paynter, span 1931-39, Tests 20, Highest Score 243, Runs 1540, Average 59.23, Hundreds 4, Fifties 7

K.S. Duleepsinhji, span 1929-1931, Tests 12, Highest Score 173, Runs 995, Average 58.52, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

Wally Hammond, span 1927-47, Tests 85, Highest Score 336*, Runs 7249, Average 58.45, Hundreds 22, Fifties 24

Jack Hobbs, span 1908-30, Tests 61, Highest Score 211, Runs 5410, Average 56.94, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

CAG ‘Jack’ Russell, span 1920-1923, Tests 10, Highest Score 140, Runs 910, Average 56.87, Hundreds 5, Fifties 2

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

George Ernest Tyldesley, span 1921-1929, Tests 14, Highest Score 122, Runs 990, Average 55.00, Hundreds 3, Fifties 6

Jack Ryder, span 1920-29, Tests 32, Highest Score 201*, Runs 1394, Average 51.62, Hundreds 3, Fifties 9

Bruce Mitchell, span 1929-49, Tests 42, Highest Score 189*, Runs 3471, Average 48.88, Hundreds 8, Fifties 21

Bill Ponsford, span 1924-34, Tests 29, Highest Score 266, Runs 2122, Average 48.22, Hundreds 7, Fifties 6

Stan McCabe, span 1930-38, Tests 39, Highest Score 232, Runs 2748, Average 48.21, Hundreds 6, Fifties 13

Patsy Hendren, span 1920-35, Tests 51, Highest Score 205*, Runs 3525, Average 47.63, Hundreds 7, Fifties 21

Maurice Leyland, span 1928-38, Tests 41, Highest Score 187, Runs 2764, Average 46.06, Hundreds 9, Fifties 10

Bill Woodfull, span 1926-34, Tests 35, Highest Score 161, Runs 2300, Average 46.00, Hundreds 7, Fifties 13

Charlie Macartney, span 1907-26, Tests 35, Highest Score 170, Runs 2131, Average 41.78, Hundreds 7, Fifties 9

Herbie Taylor, span 1912-1932, Tests 42, Highest Score 176, Runs 2936, Average 40.77, Hundreds 7, Fifties 17

Leslie Ames, span 1929-39, Tests 47, Highest Score 149, Runs 2434, Average 40.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 7

Frank Woolley, span 1909-1934, Tests 64, Highest Score 154, Runs 3283, Average 36.07, Hundreds 5, Fifties 23