Overly complicated Cricket Quiz

[sussexpob]

Patsy Hendren, Eddie Paynter, Don Bradman.

Bradman debuted in 1928

[Arthur Crabtree]

I misread the date. I'm thinking of the thirties.

Frank Woolley, Vic Richardson, Percy Chapman.

[sussexpob]

This is a tough one. Jack Ryder was a legendary player for Australia in this period, but famously had an absolute mare in England in 1926 and I think he was dropped in the series. But his performances up to that point were historically strong, so I guess he makes the cut.

The only other batsman not mentioned that stands out from the period is Warren Bardsley. He broke the test batting record in the mid-1920s, agonisingly close to being the first double centurion but left stranded not out in the 190s. Was seen as the greatest left handed Aussie before the Don turned up a couple of years later.

[The Professor]

Still waiting on the right answers .....both South African

[sussexpob]

Still waiting on the right answers .....both South African

Really? No idea at all then.

I thought SA had the three lowest scores in test cricket all scored in the inter-war years, and were annihilated in the 1924 series in england, including being bowled out for 30..which they managed another couple of times around then too...

[Arthur Crabtree]

Earliest SA bat I've heard of is Dudley Nourse, and he was later. So can't help...

[sussexpob]

The only South African players in the early 20th century I can think of are Billy Zulch and Herbie Taylor.

Zulch I believe was a standout player pre-WWI, but I am not sure he played after the war. His experiences on the battlefield left him with a deep mental illness, and he was found a couple of years later in bed, having taken his own life by slashing his throat.

Herbie Taylor is the other, but he is one of those old age players whose career spanned 3 decades - As I said above, my memory is that SA bats did poorly in the years between WWI and Bradman-era huge hike in run scoring that came at the end of the 20s to WWII. But I guess if its a Saffer, Taylor is the obvious choice.

Other than these two, I haven't a clue.

[sussexpob]

Be interesting to know if these rankings are based on historical data using the modern formula, or a different ranking system of the time.

Fewer matches spaced out over more years would eliminate the element of current form that is prevalent in the modern day rankings, but also many players would never get past the minimum cut off for a full score (I cant remember how many tests it is, but for say 20 tests your score has a significant subtraction of points based on inexperience, to stop a new cap having one series and being proclaimed the best batsman).

So you might end up with the odd batter who played 30 tests and averaged say 32, being considered better than someone like Jack Ryder who averaged over 50 in nearly 20 tests - because the lower sample size is marked down

[The Professor]

The answers were Herbie Taylor and Bob Catterall.

[sussexpob]

The answers were Herbie Taylor and Bob Catterall.

Well I got one. Never heard of Catterall

[Gingerfinch]

The answers were Herbie Taylor and Bob Catterall.

Well I got one. Never heard of Catterall

Never heard of Catterall?

Me neither!

Looks like he averaged of 50 in 1928

[Gingerfinch]

And over 67 in 1924

[Arthur Crabtree]

One of the WIsden 5 in 1925. So this is his centenary...

Herbie Taylor was also selected..

[The Professor]

Let's try this again

June 1958 - Batting

1.
2.
3.
4. Garry Sobers
5. Peter Richardson

[Gingerfinch]

Random guess

Walcott
Barrington
Harvey