Doug Wright - The Unluckiest Bowler in the Cricket History

Many cricketers grew up on tales of Doug Wright born on August 21st, 1914, and his brilliance as a legspinner for Kent and England. Great Sir Don Bradman rated him the most dangerous he ever faced. Wright took 108 wickets in 34 Tests at 39.11 and 2056 first-class wickets at 23.98. Bradman also said he was the one of best leg spinner to tour Australia since Sydney Barnes. 

On his day almost unplayable, he could also bowl long hops and full tosses, and could struggle on unhelpful wickets. His action was also memorable. "His approach looked like a cross between a barn dance and a delivery stride," wrote Ray Robinson. Love the way the umpire crouched over the stumps. Today a good yard from the stumps and totally upright. Don Bradman said something similar about Bill O'Reilly. And he had one of the strange bowling run-ups in cricket history.

His full name was Douglas Vivian Parson Wright, better known as Dough Wright. The Kent leg spinner played for England from 1932 to 1957. He played 19 seasons for Kent and took record seven hat tricks in first-class cricket. Douglas Wright died on 13 November 1998 at the age of 84. He also led Kent side from 1953 to 1956. 

Moreover, great Australian allrounder Keith Miller believed Doug Wright was the best leg-spinner he had ever seen apart from Bill O'Reilly. The magician toured Australia in the 1946–47 tour and come back again in 1950–51. He was dogged by ill-luck and was considered to be the "unluckiest bowler in the world". 

Doug Wright was England trump card when he arrived in Australia, but unluckily he had great trouble with his no-balls due to strange run-up. Doug Wright usually waves his arms widely, and rocks on his legs like a small ship pitching and tossing in a fairly heavy sea. 

Overall, he played 34 Tests for England and took 108 Wickets at an average of 39.11 with the career-best of 7 for 105, including 6 times five wickets haul and one time 10 wickets in a match. He manages to score just 289 runs at 11.11 with the top score of 45. 

Moreover, in 497 first-class matches, he scored 5,903 runs at 12.34 with the best of 84 Not Out. During his long first-class career, he bowled 92,918 balls and took 2056 wickets at an average of 23.98 with the career-best of 9 for 47 including 150 times five wickets in an innings and 42 times 10 wickets in a match. These stats clearly showing the class of Doug Wright. The World War II cut down his international career, otherwise, he would have been in the category of Bill O'Reilly.

Test Cricket Returned to Pakistan after 11 Years.

Test cricket returned to Pakistan after a gap of almost 11 years. Can you name the Pakistan XI which played in that historic match?

Chetan Chauhan - The Indian Stalwart

 In an age of modest achievements for Indian cricket, Chetan Chauhan was a stalwart partner to the team's only star. Chetan Pratap Singh Chauhan you needed to be alive to Indian cricket when the achievements of an entire era were measured, like the life of Prufrock, with coffee spoons. 

Charles Ollivierre

In 1902 Charles Ollivierre scored 167 against Warwickshire at Derby. Ollivierre scored 3 centuries for

Derbyshire CCC - 167, 229 and 157, and on each occasion the innings total exceeded 500.

Learie Constantine leads out his side to meet the West Indians at The Oval in a charity game

These days touring teams head home within hours of the final international game. It wasn't always the case. Here in September 1967, three weeks after the final Test, Learie Constantine leads out his side to meet the West Indians at The Oval in a charity game.

WG Grace (58*) and Gilbert Jessop (14*) resume for The Rest after lunch on the first day

Another picture from the game between AE Stoddart's XI and The Rest at Hastings on September 5th, 1898.  WG Grace (58*) and Gilbert Jessop (14*) resume for The Rest after lunch on the first day. Grace was caught at second slip second ball of the afternoon.

WG Grace coming back from the nets

WG Grace coming back from the nets before the start of the match between AE Stoddart's XI v The Rest at Hastings on September 5th, 1898. It was the summer Grace turned 50 but he still managed 1513 runs at 42.02 even though his powers were beginning to wane. The ground last hosted a first-class match in 1989 and is now a very unlovely and unloved shopping center

A great Hampshire side from 1992

Back row L to R: Tony Middleton, Cardigan Connor, Shaun Udal, Jon Ayling, Adi Aymes, Kevan James, Raj Maru. Front Row L to R: David Gower, Paul Terry, Mark Nicholas, Malcolm Marshall, Robin Smith.

Lord's came very close to being bombed this day, 1944, during one of the many wartime matches.

Lord's came very close to being bombed in 1944, during one of the many wartime matches. Here is what happened. This was a one-innings match between the Army and the RAF. There were about 3,100 people, a decent turnaround at a time when lockdowns were common. The Army boasted of Gubby Allen, Godfrey Evans, Maurice Leyland, Dick Pollard, Jack Robertson, Charlie Palmer. The RAF featured Wally Hammond, Reg Simpson, Bob Wyatt, David Townsend, Les Ames, Charlie Barnett, and Bill Edrich. 

The Army reached 57/1. Flight Officer Wyatt, who led England 16 times in The 1930s, was bowling to Lieutenant Robertson, who would play 11 Tests after the War and average 46. Robertson might have played more had he broken through in that Hutton-Washbrook-Compton-Edrich era.

Now, at this point, everyone heard a familiar noise. The cricketers, all soldiers, obviously recognized the German aircraft, approaching Lord's. It was designed to crash and explode. The cricketers followed the drill and threw themselves on the ground. The crowd took cover.

There are multiple versions of where it landed. Andrew Ward mentioned that it fell 200 meters short, on Albert Road. Regent's Park, reported Wisden. You can see the smoke here. Then the most remarkable thing happened. Instead of calling the match off, the cricketers decided to continue.

However, the situation was obviously tense. Wyatt bowled the first ball, then another, this time a bouncer. And Robertson hooked it for six. And the spell broke. What greater mood-lifter can there be, than a six, during the gloom of a World War? What greater mood-lifter can there be, than cricket, during a pandemic?

West Indies players warm up with some stretching exercises at Lord’s in May 1984