Test Cricket 1970s and 1980s - Top Batsmen

 (27 November 1970 to 16 April 1990)

Sunil Gavaskar led the charge in the 1970s with a tremendous series in the West Indies, 774 runs in four Test matches, including a double century and century in the same Test. He never looked back, becoming the first to scale the Everest of 10,000 Test runs, earlier going past the inimitable Don Bradman’s 35-year-old record of 29 hundreds, setting a new benchmark for Sachin Tendulkar to surpass.

Greg Chappell made his Test debut just before Gavaskar, an upright, elegant player who overhauled Bradman’s Australian record aggregate of 6996 runs. The supercilious marauder Vivian Richards arrived a few years later, followed by the impish, street-smart Javed Mianded. The left-handed gritty fighter Allan Border followed suit, and went on to top Gavaskar’s aggregate, becoming the first to post 11,000 Test runs. Meanwhile, the copybook opener Geoff Boycott carried over his broad blade from the 1960s. All of them scored over 5000 Test runs and averaged above 50 in this golden age of the 1970s and 1980s.

Two other Australians, Ian Redpath and Dean Jones, averaged over 50, hitting up more than 2500 Test runs. Even in the evening of his brilliant career, the great Gary Sobers crashed 1256 runs in 17 Tests in the 1970s, at an average of 52.33 with a highest of 178 not out with 5 hundreds and 4 fifties. Two openers Charlie Davis of the West Indies, and Mark Taylor of Australia, averaged in the mid-60s while notching up over 1000 runs. Davis averaged 66.56 for his 1065 runs, and Taylor averaged 64.72 as he scored 1618 runs.

David Gower, Gordon Greenidge, Dilip Vengsarkar, Clive Lloyd, Gundappa Viswanath, Desmond Haynes, Ian Botham and Zaheer Abbas crafted over 5000 runs in this period. All of them averaged in the 40s, except allrounder Botham who scored 34.35 runs per innings. Several other batsmen scored over 2000 runs and averaged above 40.

Top Rungetters (minimum 5000 runs)

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

Ian Botham (England), Tests 97, Highest Score 208, Runs 5119, Average 34.35, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 50 and above)

Javed Miandad (Pakistan), Tests 104, Highest Score 280*, Runs 7891, Average 56.36, Hundreds 22, Fifties 38

Greg Chappell (Australia), Tests 87, Highest Score 247*, Runs 7110, Average 53.86, Hundreds 24, Fifties 31

Allan Border (Australia), Tests 115, Highest Score 205, Runs 8701, Average 53.38, Hundreds 23, Fifties 48

Dean Jones (Australia), Tests 34, Highest Score 216, Runs 2637, Average 51.70, Hundreds 9, Fifties 9

Vivian Richards (West Indies), Tests 111, Highest Score 291, Runs 7990, Average 51.21, Hundreds 24, Fifties 38

Sunil Gavaskar (India), Tests 125, Highest Score 236*, Runs 10122, Average 51.12, Hundreds 34, Fifties 45

Ian Redpath (Australia), Tests 29, Highest Score 171, Runs 2578, Average 50.54, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Geoff Boycott (England), Tests 67, Highest Score 191, Runs 5505, Average 50.50, Hundreds 16, Fifties 29

 

Best Averages (minimum 1000 runs but below 2000 runs, and average of 50 and above)

Charlie Davis (West Indies), Tests 11, Highest Score 183, Runs 1065, Average 66.56, Hundreds 3, Fifties 4

Mark Taylor (Australia), Tests 15, Highest Score 219, Runs 1618, Average 64.72, Hundreds 6, Fifties 8

Gary Sobers (West Indies), Tests 17, Highest Score 178*, Runs 1256, Average 52.33, Hundreds 5, Fifties 4

 

Best Averages (minimum 2000 runs and average of 40 and above, but below 50)

Dennis Amiss (England), Tests 45, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3487, Average 49.11, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Mohammad Azharuddin (India), Tests 37, Highest Score 199, Runs 2527, Average 48.59, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

Clive Lloyd (West Indies), Tests 92, Highest Score 242*, Runs 6356, Average 48.51, Hundreds 16, Fifties 34

Glenn Turner (New Zealand), Tests 32, Highest Score 259, Runs 2441, Average 47.86, Hundreds 6, Fifties 11

Ian Chappell (Australia), Tests 44, Highest Score 196, Runs 3578, Average 47.07, Hundreds 10, Fifties 18

Richie Richardson (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 194, Runs 3515, Average 46.25, Hundreds 10, Fifties 13

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies), Tests 100, Highest Score 223, Runs 7134, Average 46.02, Hundreds 18, Fifties 34

Roy Fredericks (West Indies), Tests 49, Highest Score 169, Runs 3809, Average 45.89, Hundreds 8, Fifties 22

Martin Crowe (New Zealand), Tests 48, Highest Score 188, Runs 3288, Average 45.66, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan), Tests 77, Highest Score 274, Runs 5023, Average 45.25, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Alvin Kallicharran (West Indies), Tests 66, Highest Score 187, Runs 4399, Average 44.43, Hundreds 12, Fifties 21

Dilip Vengsarkar (India), Tests 107, Highest Score 166, Runs 6545, Average 44.22, Hundreds 17, Fifties 32

Lawrence Rowe (West Indies), Tests 30, Highest Score 302, Runs 2047, Average 43.55, Hundreds 7, Fifties 7

David Gower (England), Tests 106, Highest Score 215, Runs 7383, Average 43.42, Hundreds 15, Fifties 37

Mohinder Amarnath (India), Tests 68, Highest Score 138, Runs 4362, Average 42.76, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Doug Walters (Australia), Tests 49, Highest Score 250, Runs 3107, Average 42.56, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan), Tests 41, Highest Score 175, Runs 2703, Average 42.23, Hundreds 10, Fifties 7

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan), Tests 35, Highest Score 201, Runs 2449, Average 42.22, Hundreds 8, Fifties 12

Desmond Haynes (West Indies), Tests 89, Highest Score 184, Runs 5711, Average 41.99, Hundreds 14, Fifties 31

Salim Malik (Pakistan), Tests 57, Highest Score 119*, Runs 2718, Average 41.81, Hundreds 7, Fifties 15

Gundappa Viswanath (India), Tests 87, Highest Score 222, Runs 5746, Average 41.63, Hundreds 13, Fifties 33

Majid Khan (Pakistan), Tests 53, Highest Score 167, Runs 3584, Average 41.19, Hundreds 8, Fifties 17

Keith Fletcher (England), Tests 53, Highest Score 216, Runs 3045, Average 41.14, Hundreds 7, Fifties 18

Graham Yallop (Australia), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

John Edrich (England), Tests 37, Highest Score 175, Runs 2427, Average 41.13, Hundreds 4, Fifties 14

Tony Greig (England), Tests 58, Highest Score 148, Runs 3599, Average 40.43, Hundreds 8, Fifties 20

 

Full Career of those who also played in eras before or after

Allan Border (Australia, 1978-94), Tests 156, Highest Score 205, Runs 11174, Average 50.56, Hundreds 27, Fifties 63

Graham Gooch (England, 1975-95), Tests 118, Highest Score 333, Runs 8900, Average 42.58, Hundreds 20, Fifties 46

Javed Miandad (Pakistan, 1976-93), Tests 124, Highest Score 280*, Runs 8832, Average 52.57, Hundreds 23, Fifties 43

Vivian Richards (West Indies, 1975-91), Tests 121, Highest Score 291, Runs 8540, Average 50.23, Hundreds 24, Fifties 45

David Gower (England, 1978-92), Tests 117, Highest Score 215, Runs 8231, Average 44.25, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

Geoff Boycott (England, 1964-82), Tests 108, Highest Score 246*, Runs 8114, Average 47.72, Hundreds 22, Fifties 42

Gary Sobers (West Indies, 1954-74), Tests 93, Highest Score 365*, Runs 8032, Average 57.78, Hundreds 26, Fifties 30

Gordon Greenidge (West Indies, 1974-91), Tests 108, Highest Score 226, Runs 7558, Average 44.72, Hundreds 19, Fifties 34

Mark Taylor (Australia, 1989-99), Tests 104, Highest Score 186, Runs 7525, Average 43.49, Hundreds 19, Fifties 40

Clive Lloyd (West Indies, 1966-85), Tests 110, Highest Score 242*, Runs 7515, Average 46.67, Hundreds 19, Fifties 39

Desmond Haynes (West Indies, 1978-94), Tests 116, Highest Score 184, Runs 7487, Average 42.29, Hundreds 18, Fifties 39

David Boon (Australia, 1984-96), Tests 107, Highest Score 200, Runs 7422, Average 43.65, Hundreds 21, Fifties 32

Dilip Vengsarkar (India, 1976-92), Tests 116, Highest Score 166, Runs 6868, Average 42.13, Hundreds 17, Fifties 35

Rohan Kanhai (West Indies, 1957-74), Tests 79, Highest Score 256, Runs 6227, Average 47.53, Hundreds 15, Fifties 28

Mohammad Azharuddin (India, 1984-2000), Tests 99, Highest Score 199, Runs 6215, Average 45.03, Hundreds 22 Fifties 21

Gundappa Viswanath (India, 1969-83), Tests 91, Highest Score 222, Runs 6080, Average 41.93, Hundreds 14, Fifties 35

Richie Richardson (West Indies, 1983-95), Tests 86, Highest Score 194, Runs 5949, Average 44.39, Hundreds 16, Fifties 27

Salim Malik (Pakistan, 1982-99), Tests 103, Highest Score 237, Runs 5768, Average 43.69, Hundreds 15, Fifties 29

Martin Crowe (New Zealand, 1982-95), Tests 77, Highest Score 299, Runs 5444, Average 45.36, Hundreds 17, Fifties 18

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

Ian Chappell (Australia, 1964-80), Tests 75, Highest Score 196, Runs 5345, Average 42.42, Hundreds 14, Fifties 26

Ian Botham (England, 1977-92), Tests 102, Highest Score 208, Runs 5200, Average 33.54, Hundreds 14, Fifties 22

John Edrich (England, 1963-76), Tests 77, Highest Score 310*, Runs 5138, Average 43.54, Hundreds 12, Fifties 24

Zaheer Abbas (Pakistan, 1969-85), Tests 78, Highest Score 274, Runs 5062, Average 44.79, Hundreds 12, Fifties 20

Ian Redpath (Australia, 1964-76), Tests 66, Highest Score 171, Runs 4737, Average 43.45, Hundreds 8, Fifties 31

Mohinder Amarnath (India, 1969-88), Tests 69, Highest Score 138, Runs 4378, Average 42.50, Hundreds 11, Fifties 24

Roy Fredericks (West Indies, 1968-77, Tests 59, Highest Score 169, Runs 4334, Average 42.49, Hundreds 8, Fifties 26

Majid Khan (Pakistan, 1964-83), Tests 63, Highest Score 167, Runs 3931, Average 38.92, Hundreds 8, Fifties 19

Mushtaq Mohammad (Pakistan, 1959-79), Tests 57, Highest Score 201, Runs 3643, Average 39.17, Hundreds 10, Fifties 19

Dean Jones (Australia, 1984-92), Tests 52, Highest Score 216, Runs 3631, Average 46.55, Hundreds 11, Fifties 14

Dennis Amiss (England, 1966-77), Tests 50, Highest Score 262*, Runs 3612, Average 46.30, Hundreds 11, Fifties 11

Asif Iqbal (Pakistan, 1964-80), Tests 58, Highest Score 175, Runs 3575, Average 38.85, Hundreds 11, Fifties 12

Keith Fletcher (England, 1968-82), Tests 59, Highest Score 216, Runs 3272, Average 39.90, Hundreds 7, Fifties 19

Glenn Turner (New Zealand, 1969-83), Tests 41, Highest Score 259, Runs 2991, Average 44.64, Hundreds 7, Fifties 14

Graham Yallop (Australia, 1976-84), Tests 39, Highest Score 268, Runs 2756, Average 41.13, Hundreds 8, Fifties 9

Top batsmen from inception of Test cricket in 1877 upto beginning of First World War and beyond

 

Jack Hobbs, the master, one of the greatest batsmen ever.

What stands out is that Jack Hobbs has been the greatest Test batsman in the pre-First World War period. He was just as great after the War till the end of his career in 1930. In fact the War divided Hobbs’ Test career into almost two equal halves, with no decline whatsoever in performance in the latter part. In 28 Tests from 1908 to 1914, the English right-handed master opening batsman scored 2465 runs at an average of 57.32 with 5 hundreds and 16 fifties, and a highest score of 187. Then in 33 Tests from 1919 to 1930, Hobbs scored 2945 runs at an average of 56.63 with 10 hundreds and 12 fifties, and a highest score of 211. The first batsman to average 50 in Tests, he carried his supreme form forward till his retirement from Tests almost at the age of 48. His final figures in 61 Tests were 5410 runs at an average of 56.94 with 15 hundreds and 28 fifties. He was consistency personified, adept on turf as well as matting wickets, on bouncy, turning and wet tracks, against pace and spin alike. It is well-known that Hobbs scored 100 First-class hundreds after 40 years of age. He played First-class cricket till he was nearly 52 years old, and finished with a record 199 centuries, a true master.

The next in terms of Test averages was The Honourable F.S. Jackson or Stanley Jackson, the English right-handed batsman. In 20 Tests from 1893 to 1905, Jackson scored 1415 runs at an average of 48.79, with 5 hundreds and 6 fifties, and a highest score of 144 not out. He was a fine fast-medium bowler too, capturing 24 Tests wickets at an average of 33.29.

There were two other batsmen who averaged in the 40s before the First World War, the Australian left-hander Warren Bardsley and the great South African allrounder Aubrey Faulkner.

In 20 Tests from 1909 to 1912, Bardsley scored 1490 runs at an average of 45.15, with 5 hundreds and 7 fifties, and a highest score of 164. The War divided his Test career too into two almost equal halves. He was already in his late thirties when the war ended, and was not able to fully replicate his performances till he retired in 1926. In 41 Tests, Bardsley finished with 2469 runs at an average of 40.47, with 6 hundreds and 14 fifties, and a highest score of 193 not out at almost 44 years of age.

Aubrey Faulkner has been one of the top Test allrounders ever. For all practical purposes, he played all his Test cricket before the War, appearing in just one Test in 1924. In 24 Tests from 1906 to 1912, the right-handed Faulkner scored 1717 runs at an average of 41.87 with 4 hundreds and 8 fifties, and a highest score of 204. With his leg-break and googly, Faulkner bagged 82 Test wickets at an average of 25.52 before the outbreak of the War. He finally finished with 1754 runs at an average of 40.79, and 82 wickets at an average of 26.58 in 25 Tests when he was well over 42 years old.

There were three batsmen who scored between 500 runs and 1000 runs, and averaged in the 40s, K.S. Ranjitsinhji, George Gunn and Reginald Foster.

In 15 Tests for England from 1896 to 1902, the Indian right-handed wizard K.S. Ranjitsinhji scored 989 runs at an average of 44.95 with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties, and a highest score of 175.

In 11 Tests from 1907 to 1912, the English right-hander George Gunn scored 844 runs at an average of 42.20 with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties, and a highest score of 122 not out. Gunn played Tests after the War upto 1930, completing 1000 runs and still averaging exactly 40. He finished with 1120 runs in 15 Tests, adding a fifty.

In 8 Tests from 1903 to 1907, the English right-hander Reginald ‘Tip’ Foster scored 602 runs at an average of 46.30 with 1 hundred and 1 fifty, and a highest score of 287, the record hitherto. That top-score accounted for almost half his runs.

The highest run-getters before the First World War were the top-class Australian opening pair of the left-handed Clem Hill, and the exquisite stroke-maker and highly proficient on wet wickets Victor Trumper.

In 49 Tests from 1896 to 1912, Hill scored 3412 runs, the highest hitherto, at an average of 39.21 with 7 hundreds and 19 fifties, and a highest score of 191.

Trumper was just behind. In 48 Tests from 1899 to 1912, Trumper scored 3163 runs at an average of 39.04 with 8 hundreds and 13 fifties, and a highest score of 214 not out.

They were followed in terms of Test averages by three of their compatriots Vernon Ransford, Warwick Armstrong and Reggie Duff.

In 20 Tests from 1907 to 1912, the left-handed Vernon Ransford scored 1211 runs at an average of 37.84 with 1 hundred and 7 fifties, and a highest score of 143 not out.

The Test career of the imposing Warwick ‘Big Ship’ Armstrong straddled the First World War. In 40 Tests from 1902 to 1912, the right-handed allrounder Warwick Armstrong scored 2247 runs at an average of 35.66 with 3 hundreds and 7 fifties, and a highest score of 159 not out. With his fast-medium and leg-break bowling, Armstrong captured 70 wickets at an average of 35.81. He was already in his forties when Test cricket resumed after the First World War. Not only did his performances improve further, but Armstrong was at the helm of a top-class Australian side that handed out a 5-0 and 3-0 drubbing to England in 1920-21 and 1921, winning the first eight of those Tests in a row. When he hung up his boots in 1921, in 50 Tests Armstrong had scored 2893 runs at an average of 38.68 with 6 hundreds and 8 fifties, the highest score being the same at 159 not out. He finished with 87 wickets at an average of 33.59.    

In 22 Tests from 1902 to 1905, the right-handed Reginald Duff scored 1317 runs at an average of 35.59 with 2 hundreds and 6 fifties, and a highest score of 146.

The first batsman to score 1000 Test runs was the right-handed Englishman Arthur Shrewsbury. Playing only in the 19^th century, In 23 Tests from 1881 to 1893, Shrewsbury scored 1227 runs at an average of 35.47 with 3 hundreds and 4 fifties, and a highest score of 164.

There were three other batsmen who scored 1000 Test runs while playing only in the 19^th century, WG Grace, George Giffen and AC Bannerman. Wickets in the 1870s and 1880s were very rough and uneven. They improved in the 1890s but were still far inferior to those later. The batting performances of these players is, therefore, very commendable.

In 22 Tests from 1880 to 1899, the inimitable right-handed English opening batsman WG Grace scored 1098 runs at an average of 32.29 with 2 hundreds and 5 fifties, and a highest score of 170.  

The Australian allrounder George Giffen was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler. In 31 Tests from 1881 to 1896, Giffen scored 1238 runs at an average of 23.35 with 1 hundred and 6 fifties, and a highest score of 161. He took 103 wickets at an average of 27.03.

In 28 Tests from 1879 to 1893, the right-handed Australian batsman Alec Bannerman scored 1108 runs at an average of 23.08 with 8 fifties, and a highest score of 94.

Apart from the batsmen mentioned above, there were six others who scored 1000 Test runs before the First World War, and averaged above 30. Of these, two were great allrounders, Wilfred Rhodes and Monty Noble.

In 47 Tests from 1899 to 1914, the right-handed English batsman Wilfred Rhodes scored 1965 runs at an average of 32.21 with 2 hundreds and 10 fifties, and a highest score of 179. He took 127 wickets at an average of 26.96 with his slow left-arm bowling upto the War. Rhodes went on to play after the War as well upto 1930. In 58 Tests he scored 2325 runs at an average of 30.19, scoring one more fifty, the highest score being the same.

In 42 Tests from 1898 to 1909, the right-handed Australian batsman Monty Noble scored 1997 runs at an average of 30.25 with 1 hundred and 16 fifties, and a highest score of 133. He took 121 wickets at an average of 25 with his right-arm medium-pace and off-breaks.

In 35 Tests from 1896 to 1909, the right-handed English batsman Tom Hayward scored 1999 runs at an average of 34.46 with 3 hundreds and 12 fifties, and a highest score of 137.

In 35 Tests from 1894 to 1909, the right-handed English batsman Archie MacLaren scored 1931 runs at an average of 33.87 with 5 hundreds and 8 fifties, and a highest score of 140.

In 26 Tests from 1896 to 1912, the right-handed English batsman Charles (C.B.) Fry scored 1223 runs at an average of 32.18 with 2 hundreds and 7 fifties, and a highest score of 144.

In 31 Tests from 1899 to 1909, the right-handed English batsman Johnny Tyldesley scored 1661 runs at an average of 30.75 with 4 hundreds and 9 fifties, and a highest score of 138.

There remain three other batsmen who scored above 1000 before the First World War, Joe Darling, Dave Nourse and Syd Gregory.

In 34 Tests from 1894 to 1905, the left-handed Australian batsman Joe Darling scored 1657 runs at an average of 28.56 with 3 hundreds and 8 fifties, and a highest score of 178.

In 32 Tests from 1902 to 1914, the left-handed South African batsman Dave (A.W.) Nourse scored 1512 runs at an average of 28.52 with 11 fifties, and a highest score of 93 not out. Known as the Grand Old Man of South African Cricket, Nourse went on to play after the War as well until 1924. Ultimately in 45 Tests, Nourse scored 2234 runs at an average of 29.78 with 1 century and 15 fifties, and a highest score of 111. He also bowled left-arm medium-pace, finishing with 41 Test wickets at an average of 37.87.

In 58 Tests from 1890 to 1912, the right-handed Australian batsman Syd Gregory scored 2282 runs at an average of 24.53 with 4 hundred and 8 fifties, and a highest score of 201.

These, in brief, are the finest wielders of the willow before the First World War, some of whom went on to play after the war as well.

Two Classic Books by Indra Vikram Singh

 

A Maharaja's Turf

Collector’s edition on the triumph of Maharaja Sir 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 Sir 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.