Test Cricket: The Bradman Era 1928-48

 Test Cricket: The Bradman Era

30 November 1928 to 18 August 1948

Don Bradman's 'Invincibles' of 1948.

Team Performances

Australia - 1928 to 1948, Tests Played 60, Won 35, Lost 14, Drawn 11, Success % 67.50

England - 1928 to 1948, Tests Played 105, Won 33, Lost 24, Drawn 48, Success % 54.28

West Indies - 1930 to 1948, Tests Played 23, Won 6, Lost 9, Drawn 8, Success % 43.47

South Africa - 1929 to 1947, Tests Played 37, Won 4, Lost 15, Drawn 18, Success % 35.13

New Zealand - 1930 to 1947, Tests Played 16, Won 0, Lost 6, Drawn 10, Success % 31.25

India - 1932 to 1948, Tests Played 15, Won 0, Lost 10, Drawn 5, Success % 16.66

(Success % = Won 2 points, Drawn 1 point)

Australia’s graph continued to rise during the Bradman years. Pre-World War I, they trailed England. Between the two World Wars, they overtook England by a substantial margin, as the Bradman effect took shape. By the time the Bradman era was over in 1948, Australia had stamped their superiority in no uncertain terms. Their success percentage was 67.50, whereas England lagged behind at 54.28. West Indies were beginning to make their presence felt, and leapfrogged to third place at 43.47. There was little change in the fortunes of South Africa, New Zealand and India, the latter two still unable to win a Test.

In the 11 Test series that Bradman played, Australia lost just two, his first in 1928-29 and the Bodyline series in 1932-33. The Ashes series in 1938 was drawn. Australia won the other eight series, five of them against England. In addition, let us remember that Bradman could not tour South Africa in 1935-36 due to illness, in which Australia won 4-0, with one Test drawn. 

 

Top Batsmen

During the Bradman era, his great rival Wally Hammond scored 6817 runs in 77 Tests and 128 innings at an average of 60.32 with 22 hundreds and 20 fifties.

Don Bradman hit up 6996 runs in 52 Tests and 80 innings at an average of 99.94 with 29 hundreds and 13 fifties.

That was the difference between the greatest and the other greats of Test match batting. No one else aggregated 3000 runs during this period.

The highest averages among those who scored 1000 runs and above during this period were:

Don Bradman (Australia), 1928-48, Tests 52, Innings 80, Not Out 10, Highest Score 334, Runs 6996, Average 99.94, 100s 29, 50s 13.

Arthur Morris (Australia), 1946-48, Tests 14, Innings 22, Not Out 3, Highest Score 196, Runs 1408, Average 74.10, 100s 7, 50s 4.

George Headley (West Indies) 1930-48, Tests 20, Innings 37, Not Out 4, Highest Score 270*, Runs 2171, Average 65.78, 100s 10, 50s 5.

Dennis Compton (England) 1937-48, Tests 27, Innings 45, Not Out 7, Highest Score 208, Runs 2426, Average 63.84, 100s 10, 50s 10.

Sidney Barnes (Australia), 1938-48, Tests 13, Innings 19, Not Out 2, Highest Score 234, Runs 1072, Average 63.05, 100s 3, 50s 5.

Wally Hammond (England) 1928-47, Tests 77, Innings 128, Not Out 15, Highest Score 336*, Runs 6817, Average 60.32, 100s 22, 50s 20.

Eddie Paynter (England) 1931-39, Tests 20, Innings 31, Not Out 5, Highest Score 243, Runs 1540, Average 59.23, 100s 4, 50s 7.

Herbert Sutcliffe (England) 1928-35, Tests 31, Innings 50, Not Out 6, Highest Score 194, Runs 2463, Average 55.97, 100s 9, 50s 12.

Dudley Nourse (South Africa) 1935-47, Tests 19, Innings 35, Not Out 4, Highest Score 231, Runs 1718, Average 55.41, 100s 5, 50s 9.

Len Hutton (England) 1937-48, Tests 32, Innings 57, Not Out 5, Highest Score 364, Runs 2742, Average 52.73, 100s 7, 50s 13.

Bill Ponsford (Australia), 1928-34, Tests 22, Innings 35, Not Out 4, Highest Score 266, Runs 1617, Average 52.16, 100s 5, 50s 5.

Patsy Hendren (England) 1928-35, Tests 28, Innings 49, Not Out 4, Highest Score 205*, Runs 2277, Average 50.60, 100s 4, 50s 13.

Obviously, no one comes even remotely close to Don Bradman’s average of 99.94. The Australian left-handed opener Arthur Morris is second at 74.10. No wonder The Don close him in his all-time team. But the sample size is small at 14 Tests and 1408 runs. In his entire career upto 1955, Morris played 46 Tests, and scored 3533 runs at an average of 46.48. There is not much difference in the career averages of the other players, though Denis Compton dropped from an average of 63.84 in the Bradman years to 50.06 in his entire career of 78 Tests for 5807 runs till 1957.

It would be fair to say that in comparison with Bradman’s average of nearly 100, the next best averaged around 60.

Less than 1000 runs but above 500 runs with average of 50 and more:

KS Duleepsinhji (England) 1929-31, Tests 12, Innings 19, Not Out 2, Highest Score 173, Runs 995, Average 58.52, 100s 3, 50s 5.

Alan Melville (South Africa), 1938-47, Tests 10, Innings 17, Not Out 2, Highest Score 189, Runs 855, Average 57.00, 100s 4, 50s 3.

Cyril Walters (England) 1933-34, Tests 11, Innings 18, Not Out 3, Highest Score 102, Runs 784, Average 52.26, 100 1, 50s 7.

CS ‘Stewie’ Dempster (New Zealand) 1930-33, Tests 10, Innings 15, Not Out 4, Highest Score 136, Runs 723, Average 65.72, 100s 2, 50s 5.

Andy Sandham (England) 1930, Tests 4, Innings 8, Not Out -, Highest Score 325, Runs 592, Average 74.00, 100s 2, 50s 2.

Highest Scores:

Len Hutton, 364, England v Australia, The Oval, London, 1938

Wally Hammond, 336*, England v New Zealand, Auckland, 1932-33

Don Bradman, 334, Australia v England, Leeds, 1930

Andy Sandham, 325, England v West Indies, Kingston, 1929-30

Don Bradman, 304, Australia v England, Leeds, 1934

Don Bradman, 299*, Australia v South Africa, Adelaide, 1931-32

George Headley, 270*, West Indies v England, Kingston, 1934-35

Don Bradman, 270, Australia v England, Melbourne, 1936-37

Bill Ponsford, 266, Australia v England, The Oval, London, 1934 

Don Bradman, 254, Australia v England, Lord’s, London, 1930

Wally Hammond, 251, England v Australia, Sydney, 1928-29

England’s Andy Sandham scored the first triple-century in Test cricket in April 1930, 325 against the West Indies at Kingston. Three months later, Don Bradman took the record away, becoming the only batsman to hit up a Test triple-century in a day, eventually finishing on 334 at Leeds. After the Bodyline series in 1932-33, England travelled to New Zealand, Wally Hammond scoring 336 not out at Auckland. Five years later, Len Hutton logged up 364 at The Oval. The record stood for well-nigh two decades until Gary Sobers broke it.

In the Bradman era, of the 11 scores of 250 and above, The Don knocked up five, including two triple centuries and an unbeaten 299. A total of 35 double and triple centuries were scored during this time, of which Bradman had 12 to his name. Hammond was next with 7, and George Headley and Eddie Paynter 2 each. Twelve others had one score of 200 or more.

The full Test career records of the top batsmen of this era, according to their averages, are:

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

Sidney Barnes, span 1938-48, Tests 13, Highest Score 234, Runs 1072, Average 63.05, Hundreds 3, Fifties 5

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

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

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

Dudley Nourse, 1935-51, Tests 34, Highest Score 231, Runs 2960, Average 53.81, Hundreds 9, Fifties 14

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

Bruce Mitchell, 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, 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

Arthur Morris, span 1946-55, Tests 46, Highest Score 206, Runs 3533, Average 46.48, Hundreds 12, Fifties 12

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

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

There is no doubt that the period 1928 to 1948, interrupted by the Second World War, was the Bradman era

Two classic books by Indra Vikram Singh available on Amazon at attractive prices

 

A Maharaja's Turf

Collector’s edition on the triumph of Maharaja Shri Vijaysinhji

of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby of England in 1934

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6

Fully Illustrated

Hardcover with jacket 8.75 x 11.5 x 0.6 inches (landscape)

Weight 500 grams

140 Pages

Available at an attractive price on Amazon  https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166832

This is the story of the exhilarating victory of Maharaja Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby of England in 1934, the only Indian owner to win the blue riband of the turf in its history dating back to 1780. The dapper Indian prince’s horse Windsor Lad, ridden by Charlie Smirke, left the hitherto undefeated favourite Colombo trailing in third place in the presence of royalty led by King George V and Queen Mary, and a multitude of an estimated quarter to half a million people on that damp afternoon of 6th June. The triumph earned the Maharaja a unique hat-trick of Derby victories as he had already clinched the first Indian Derby at Calcutta in 1919 with his horse Tipster, and the Irish Derby at Curragh in 1926 with Embargo.

Trained by Marcus Marsh, Windsor Lad went on to be rated as one of the finest horses of the 20^th century. Marcus Marsh’s father, Richard, had trained Derby-winning horses for the then reigning King George V and the late King Edward VII.  

The enthralling tale recounted by the Maharaja’s grandson Indra Vikram Singh offers an insider's insight, and is embellished with rare media photographs of the race and from the Rajpipla royal family collection over many generations. It has been extensively researched from about 80 newspapers and magazines of 1934, five books and websites, and carries articles by the Maharaja himself. There are news reports, cartoons and caricatures which open out a whole new world. Featured are the British royal family, the Aga Khan, Maharaja Man Singh II of Jaipur and the leading racehorses, owners, trainers and jockeys of the day, among other eminent personalities.

The book captures the era between the two World Wars, of imperial times and a royal lifestyle, also going back centuries into history, connecting the past and the present and depicting the march of time, even as the thrilling race remains the central theme. It unfolds the tale of the uncanny prophesy of Gipsy Lee, the several coincidences around the number 13, the defeat of a 'super-horse', and the unrelenting quest of a prince to realise his dream that is bound to keep the reader transfixed.

Don’s Century 

Biography of Don Bradman

and a panaroma of batting from the 1860s to the present times

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

Weight 480 grams

188 pages  

Available at an attractive price on Amazon  https://www.amazon.in/dp/8190166859 

The questions still asked are: how great was Don Bradman actually, was he just a run-getting machine and a statistical marvel, or was he truly the best there has ever been, have there been other batsmen as good or better than Bradman. Don’s Century analyses Bradman’s batting technique, brings forth his amazing achievements at the crease, and assesses the merits of other great batsmen from the 1860s to the present times. Written in the centenary year of the peerless Don Bradman, the book is a celebration of the life and magic of the willow of The Don, and also of the art of batting and indeed the game of cricket. 

The 11-chapter book by Indra Vikram Singh, the only Indian biographer of Bradman, interspersed with stories and comments from legendary writers and cricketers alike, and extensively researched from scores of old publications, has three sections.

The main segment showcases Bradman's days at the crease from Bowral to Sydney, on to Lord's and Leeds, back to Adelaide, and finishing at The Oval in 1948. The legend begins with young Don’s rise to the top, his first fifty and hundred in the backwaters of Bowral, the maiden double century against Wingello and triple ton versus Moss Vale, hundred on first-class debut and on to Test cricket. Bradman’s legendary feats in the Test arena are recalled in all their magnificence, the hundreds in his first Test series, the unprecedented and still-unparalleled triumphs of the Ashes tour of 1930, and annihilation of the West Indies and South African teams.

The saga undergoes a dramatic twist with the vicious Bodyline attack that was devised solely to decimate the genius of Bradman. This chapter carries extracts from letters received by the author from England’s Bob Wyatt who was vice captain to Douglas Jardine during that infamous series.

The aftermath of Bodyline, Bradman’s exhilarating fightbacks on and off the field, how his stirring deeds brought solace to the suffering millions during the Great Depression, and his resilience as captain of Australia are presented lucidly, leading to the sabbatical brought about by the Second World War. The final lap of The Don’s career after the war, the firm hold on the Ashes, his exploits against the first Indian team after the nation’s independence, and finally the 1948 tour of England by his ‘Invincibles’ are described vividly and objectively. The text is supplemented by twenty scorecards detailing Bradman’s finest achievements in the first-class and Test arenas.

A large chapter in the middle is a panorama of batting portraying thirty-four of the best players down the ages, for no story of Sir Donald Bradman can be complete without an appraisal of other giants of the crease.

Commencing with the colossus of the Victorian era Dr. W.G. Grace, the captivating genius Prince Ranjitsinhji, the endearing and enthralling Victor Trumper from Australia, the complete master Sir Jack Hobbs, continuing with the likes of Frank Woolley, Charles 'Governor General' Macartney, Bill Ponsford, Walter Hammond, Stan McCabe, the forbear to West Indies giants George Headley, the brilliant South Africans Bruce Mitchell and Dudley Nourse, India’s Vijay Merchant, Sir Leonard Hutton, Dennis Compton, Neil Harvey, Arthur Morris, the inimitable Ws Sir Frank Worrell, Sir Everton Weekes and Sir Clyde Walcott, the original little master Pakistan’s Hanif Mohammad, the incomparable Sir Garfield Sobers, Graeme Pollock, Barry Richards, Greg Chappell, Sunil Gavaskar, Sir Vivian Richards, arguably New Zealand’s finest Martin Crowe, Steve Waugh, the exhilarating Sri Lankan Aravinda de Silva, and concluding with the champions of the modern era Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, and many more referred to down history, how good they were, and how they compared with each other and Bradman.

They include some of Bradman's favourite players. This is not just a factual or statistical segment, but importantly talks about the epochs and conditions they played in, and also has interesting little tales. It traces the evolution and development of the game from W.G. Grace’s days in the 1860s till the present day.

The third and concluding part explores the vicissitudes of Bradman’s life, trials and tribulations, his persona, way of life and quest for excellence, the detractors, friends and family, post-retirement days and role as cricket administrator, and the final stretch of one of the most amazing stories ever, of a sporting hero and icon beyond compare. A handwritten letter from The Don received by the author Indra Vikram Singh in 1999, and an article based on it that he wrote at Bradman’s demise in 2001, are all featured in this tribute to the unquestioned king of kings of the crease.

There are nearly 100 classic photographs of Bradman and other greats in sepia brown from the top agencies of the world. A comprehensive statistics section highlighting Bradman’s accomplishments and records sums up the inspirational tale. A detailed index makes the book extremely user-friendly.

Indra Vikram Singh's books available on Amazon:  https://www.amazon.in/s?k=Indra+Vikram+Singh&i=stripbooks&rh=p_6%3AA3HSV0N9AV7NOK&dc&qid=1602408830&rnid=1318474031&ref=sr_nr_p_6_1

Diminutive and scintillating Everton Weekes, scourge of Indian spinners. Excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

The diminutive Everton Weekes was a scintillating strokeplayer, quick on his feet and particularly strong on the off-side.

He scored hundreds in five consecutive Test innings, beginning with the fourth and final match of his first series, as he hit up 141 against England at Kingston in 1947-48. Then during the tour to India in 1948-49, Weekes scored 128 at Delhi, 194 at Bombay, and a century in each innings - 162 and 101 - at Calcutta. In his next outing at Madras, he was run out for 90, the West Indies winning the only Test that produced a result in the series.

For good measure, Weekes scored 56 and 48 in the final Test, back at the Brabourne Stadium. He set the pattern as the West Indies won the toss in all five matches and batted first on easy-paced wickets. The bulk of the bowling was done by the spin twins, left-armer Vinoo Mankad and off-spin exponent Ghulam Ahmed, with one medium-pacer of some quality being Dattu Phadkar. It was, nevertheless, a triumph of concentration, patience and brilliant strokeplay, as Weekes logged up 779 runs in the series at an average of 111.28.       

When it was the turn of the Indians to make a return tour of the Caribbean islands four years later, Weekes was just as severe on their hapless bowlers. By now leg-spinner Subhash Gupte had joined Mankad. Again the West Indies triumphed 1-0, with the lone win coming at Bridgetown. Weekes scored 207 at Port of Spain, 47 and 15 in the relatively low-scoring game at Bridgetown, 161 and 55 not out again at Port of Spain, 86 at Georgetown, and 109 and 36 at Kingston. That was a total of 716 runs at 102.28 per innings.

Weekes scored three centuries in the 1955-56 series in New Zealand. But, like Neil Harvey, he did not replicate such successes when confronted by the stronger attack of England, as also Australia, never scoring more than one century in any series against them.

On his first tour of England in 1950, though, in first-class matches Weekes scored a triple century and four double centuries. Only Bradman had six scores of 200 or more on an English tour two decades earlier.

In 48 Tests Weekes scored 4455 runs at an average of 58.61, notching up 15 hundreds.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com).

Don’s Century

Published in India by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0

Fully illustrated

Paperback French Fold 11 x 8.5 x 0.4 inches

188 pages

As Sir Garfield Sobers turned 80 in July, an excerpt from Indra Vikram Singh’s book ‘Don’s Century’

Just as the memorable careers of the three Ws were drawing to a close, there appeared on the stage a cricketer blessed by nature like no other. Inarguably the most versatile and complete player, with class stamped all over, the left-handed genius Garfield Sobers was the only one apart from Bradman who would walk into everybody’s all-time dream team. To state the obvious, Sobers was a powerful strokeplayer, predecessor to Brian Lara in myriad ways, not the least in hitting up the record score and highest aggregate in Test cricket; bowler of greater variety than anyone in history - genuine speed, medium-pace swing, left-arm orthodox as well as chinaman; and a superb fielder, particularly close to the wicket in the slips or at backward short-leg.  Like Bradman, the game is not likely to see another with his amazing skills.

The doyen himself, Sir Neville Cardus, described Sobers’ batting thus: “He makes a stroke with moments to spare. The sure sign of mastery, of genius of any order, is absence of strain, natural freedom of rhythm.” How aptly can this be applied to sportspersons of any discipline. Brian Johnston, legend in the commentary box, observed Sobers for years. He wrote in his book It’s Been a Piece of Cake: “…..like all the greats - he had a sound defensive technique, but in attack with a high backlift and perfect timing the power of his strokes had to be seen to be believed. His sizzling drives and crashing hooks were hammered to the boundary, leaving the fielders helpless to stop them.”

Sobers never wore a thigh pad, and except for early in his career had no use for a cap, batting or fielding. His rasping cuts were facilitated by a light bat weighing around 2 lb 4 oz. There was no less power in his shots than seen today by those wielding the chunky modern day bludgeons. That is one of the reasons why there are not many players today who can play genuine horizontal bat shots like the cut, pull and hook with authority. Sobers rarely went down the wicket to the spinners, either using his long reach to drive or playing right back.

For someone who was pitchforked into the Test arena as a 17-year-old left-arm spinner in 1953-54 after just two first-class appearances, it is quite amazing that Sobers went on to become one of the greatest batsmen in history. Four years after his debut, he recorded his first Test hundred against Pakistan at Kingston, an unbeaten 365, the top score at the highest level, surpassing Len Hutton’s mark of two decades earlier. He added 446 for the second wicket in the company of Conrad Hunte, just five runs short of the then all-time high for any wicket put up by Ponsford and Bradman in 1934. Sobers celebrated his achievement by hammering a century in each innings - 125 and 108 not out - in the Georgetown Test. He finished the series with 824 runs at an average of 137.33. The legend of Sobers had been launched.

In 1959-60 against England, Sobers hit up 709 runs at an average of 101.28, crashing 226 at Bridgetown, 147 at Kingston and 146 at Georgetown. He put on 399 for the fourth wicket with Worrell in the Georgetown Test. Though a natural successor to Worrell, Sobers was not as diligent a captain as Bradman. From 1966 to 1967-68, Sobers had a golden run with the bat, averaging over 100 in two successive series, and 90 in the third. During the 1966 tour of England, he scored 722 runs at an average of 103.14 in five Tests, took 20 wickets at 27.25 apiece and held 10 catches. England were again given a 3-1 hammering, and Sobers once more hit up three centuries - 161 at Old Trafford, 163 not out at Lord’s and 174 at Headingley. He then went to India in 1966-67, scoring half-centuries in all his five innings with a highest of 95, aggregating 342 runs and averaging 114. By now the West Indies were the best side in the world. In 1967-68 against England at home, Sobers knocked up 545 runs in five Tests at 90.83 per innings but his over-confident declaration in the fourth Test at Kingston - 215 to win in 165 minutes - handed the series to England, who won that game with three minutes to spare, and the crown slipped.

The irrepressible Sobers became the first batsman in first-class cricket to hit 6 sixes in an over for Nottinghamshire against Glamorgan, smashing a bewildered Malcolm Nash at St Helen’s Ground, Swansea in 1968. It was in the evening of his career that Sobers played what Sir Donald Bradman described as the best innings he had seen in Australia, comparing it to Stan McCabe’s superb 232 at Trent Bridge in 1938. He slammed 254 for the Rest of the World against Australia at Melbourne in 1971-72 against a young and lightning fast Dennis Lillee. It was an amazing display of pyrotechnics, and when it reached its crescendo, rousing applause came from the spectators and fielders alike. 

When a damaged knee ended his 20-year Test career, Sobers had become the highest rungetter in his 93 appearances with 8032 runs at an average of 57.78, having blazed 26 hundreds, second behind Bradman’s 29. He had captured 235 wickets at 34.03 each, and snapped up 109 catches. It would be fair to say that had he batted higher than the no. 6 that he often did as captain, and if the West Indies did not have bowlers of the calibre of Wesley Hall, Charlie Griffith and Lance Gibbs, Sobers would have had many more runs and wickets to his credit. Gary Sobers was a cricketer beyond compare. It was just a matter of time before knighthood was bestowed on him.

(Author Indra Vikram Singh can be contacted on email singh_iv@hotmail.com

Follow Indra Vikram Singh on Twitter @IVRajpipla).

Don’s Century

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0, Fully Illustrated

French Fold 21.5 cm x 28 cm, 188 Pages

Price Rupees 995

Indra Vikram Singh’s latest books published by Sporting Links:   

A Maharaja’s Turf  ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6   

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket  ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3   

Don’s Century  ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0   

Crowning Glory  ISBN 978-81-901668-6-7

Distributed in India by:  Variety Book Depot, AVG Bhawan, M-3, Middle Circle, Connaught Circus, New Delhi-110 001, India. Tel. + 91 11 23417175, 23412567, Email varietybookdepot@gmail.com.

Perhaps inarguably the first three great batsmen in history

WG Grace (England) ….. Tests span: 1880-1899, Matches 22, Highest Score 170, Runs 1,098, Average 32.29, 2 Hundreds, 5 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1865-1908, Matches 870, Highest Score 344, Runs 54,211, Average 39.45, 124 Hundreds, 251 Fifties.

KS Ranjitsinhji (England) …..  Tests span: 1896-1902, Matches 15, Highest Score 175, Runs 989, Average 44.95, 2 Hundreds, 6 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1893-1920, Matches 307, Highest Score 285*, Runs 24,692, Average 56.37, 72 Hundreds, 109 Fifties.

Victor Trumper (Australia) ….. Tests span: 1899-1912, Matches 48, Highest Score 214*, Runs 3,163, Average 39.04, 8 Hundreds, 13 Fifties; ….. First-class span: 1894-1914, Matches 255, Highest Score 300*, Runs 16,939, Average 44.57, 42 Hundreds, 87 Fifties.

Collector’s edition sports books available for corporate gifting

Price of the entire set of four books : Rs. 7,190

Available at special discount of over 30% : Rs. 5,000

Individual books available at 15% discount

The Big Book of World Cup Cricket

by Indra Vikram Singh

A definitive, fully illustrated collector's edition showcasing all the cricket World Cup tournaments from 1975 to 2007, and previewing the ICC World Cup 2011

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3, Fully Illustrated

Hardback 22.5 cm x 28 cm, 544 Pages
Price Rupees 4,000

This collector’s edition tells the tale of every cricket World Cup played from 1975 to 2007, and carries a preview of the 2011 tournament. Featured are classic matches, brilliant individual performances, the commercial facet, highlights and sidelights, drama and controversy, and the stars of the biggest event in One-day cricket, encompassed by photographs from the leading lensmen and agencies in the world. The statistics sections comprise a wide range of records, detailed scorecards of every match played, and averages of all the players who appeared in the first nine editions of the World Cup. A handwritten letter from the immortal Sir Donald Bradman received by the author in 1999 completes a treasure that should find a place on the bookshelf of every modern cricket-lover. A special 44-page colour supplement Crowning Glory published at the conclusion of the ICC World Cup 2011 is available complimentary with The Big Book of World Cup Cricket.

Crowning Glory

by Indra Vikram Singh

Special supplement on India's victory in the ICC World Cup 2011

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-6-7, Fully Illustrated

Paperback 21.5 cm x 28 cm, 44 Pages
Price Rupees 200

The tenth edition of One-day cricket’s biggest show returned to the sub-continent for the third time. Never had the hosts won on home soil, but in 2011 the favourites India, despite a few stutters, jubilantly lifted the glittering ICC World Cup at Mumbai on 2nd April. This was not only the crowning glory for an Indian team that had striven hard to reach the no. 1 spot in Test cricket the previous year, but also the missing jewel in the amazing career of Sachin Tendulkar. It was a fairy-tale come true, the real significance of which will be understood in the years and decades to follow. Crowning Glory replays the highlights of the ICC World Cup 2011 and its stars, complete with colour photographs and records. This special supplement is also available complimentary with The Big Book of World Cup Cricket (ISBN 978-81-901668-4-3).

Don’s Century

by Indra Vikram Singh

Celebrating the life and cricket career of Sir Donald Bradman on his birth centenary, and a panorama of batting greats from the 1860s to present times

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-5-0, Fully Illustrated

French Fold 21.5 cm x 28 cm, 188 Pages
Price Rupees 995

Written in the centenary year of the peerless Don Bradman, the book takes a relook at his cricket career, relives the trial and tribulations of his personal life, and assesses the merits of other great batsmen from the 1860s to the present times. The questions still asked are: how great was Bradman actually, was he just a run-getting machine or was he truly the best there has ever been, have there been other batsmen as good or better than Bradman. Don’s Century analyses Bradman’s batting technique, brings forth his amazing achievements with the willow, aided by comments from the finest writers and players down the ages, supported by comprehensive statistics, and illustrated by classic photographs in sepia brown from the top agencies of the world. The panorama of batting presents many other legends from Grace, Ranji, Trumper and Hobbs to Richards, Tendulkar, Lara and Ponting, and so many more, focussing on their contribution, and in fact tracking the evolution of the game over the last century-and-a-half. The vicissitudes of Bradman’s own life, his persona and quest for excellence, the detractors, friends and family are all featured in this tribute to the unquestioned king of kings of the crease.

A Maharaja’s Turf

by Indra Vikram Singh

The triumph of Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby 1934, the only Indian owner ever to win the blue riband of the turf in its history dating back to 1780.

Published by Sporting Links

ISBN 978-81-901668-3-6, Fully Illustrated 

Hardback 28 cm x 22.5 cm, 140 Pages
Price Rupees 1,995

This classic edition captures the story of the exhilarating triumph of Maharaja Sir Vijaysinhji of Rajpipla in the Epsom Derby of England in 1934, the only Indian owner ever to win the blue riband of the turf in its history dating back to 1780. The dapper Indian prince’s horse Windsor Lad left the hitherto undefeated favourite Colombo trailing in third place in the presence of royalty led by King George V and Queen Mary, and a multitude of an estimated quarter to half a million people on that damp afternoon of 6th June. The Maharaja thus completed a hat-trick of Derbys, having earlier won the first-ever Indian Derby in 1919 and the Irish Derby in 1926. This extensively researched book written by the Maharaja’s grandson, embellished with rare photographs, captures the era between the two World Wars, of imperial times and a royal lifestyle, also going back centuries into history, connecting the past and the present and depicting the march of time, even as the thrilling race remains the central theme. 

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