1912 Triangular Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1912 Triangular Tournament was a Test cricket
competition played between Australia, England and South Africa, the only Test-playing nations at the time.
The ultimate winners of the tournament were England, with four wins in their six matches, but the tournament was deemed a failure, with disappointing crowds and uncompetitive cricket, caused in part by a weakened Australia team.
The tournament is one of only three tournaments in Test history to have been played between more than two nations, the others being the Asian Test Championship
s of 1998–99 and 2001–02.
For a variety of reasons, the tournament was not a success. The summer was one of the wettest since records began in 1766: rainfall in the three months of June, July and August was more than twice the annual average, and August, 1912, was the coldest, dullest and wettest August of the 20th century. At that time, pitches were not covered to protect them against rain, so the batsmen were at a distinct disadvantage on the proverb
ial sticky wicket
. These problems were exacerbated since Tests in England were in those days played over three days rather than the five days that is now usual. Two of the matches between England and Australia were drawn due to the weather, with the final match being played on a pitch said to be "better suited to water polo
". http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/207248.html
In addition, disputes between the players and management in Australia meant that six leading Australian players refused to tour (including the captain, Clem Hill
, and Victor Trumper
, neither of whom played for Australia again), weakening a side that had otherwise been level with England in recent Ashes
series. The leg spin
and googly
bowlers
in the South African side were very effective on the matting pitches
then in use in South Africa, but were less threatening on English grass pitches. As a result, England dominated, winning four of their six matches and drawing the other two.
Finally, the British public showed little interest: in the words of The Daily Telegraph
: "Nine Tests provide a surfeit of cricket, and contests between Australia and South Africa are not a great attraction to the British public." http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/207248.html
The tournament was so unsuccessful that it has never been repeated. The idea of a tournament of international cricket matches between more than two countries was not repeated until the invention of One Day International cricket and the first Cricket World Cup
in 1975. The only other Test cricket tournaments in history were the Asian Test Championships of 1998/99 and 2001/02, which were also not great successes.
Australia
South Africa
taking two hat-trick
s in the same Test match, one in each innings of the opening match against South Africa, this is the only time that a bowler has taken two hat-tricks in the same match in Test history.
First match: Australia v South Africa at Old Trafford
Second match: England v South Africa at Lord's
Third match: England v Australia at Lord's
Fourth match: England v South Africa at Headingley
Fifth match: Australia v South Africa at Lord's
Sixth match: England v Australia at Old Trafford
Seventh match: England v South Africa at The Oval
Eighth match: Australia v South Africa at Trent Bridge
Ninth match: England v Australia at The Oval
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
competition played between Australia, England and South Africa, the only Test-playing nations at the time.
The ultimate winners of the tournament were England, with four wins in their six matches, but the tournament was deemed a failure, with disappointing crowds and uncompetitive cricket, caused in part by a weakened Australia team.
The tournament is one of only three tournaments in Test history to have been played between more than two nations, the others being the Asian Test Championship
Asian Test Championship
The ACC Asian Test Championship is a professional Test cricket tournament contested between the Test playing nations of Asia: India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. It is not a regular event in the cricketing calendar and has so far been held only twice; in 1998-99 when Pakistan won and in...
s of 1998–99 and 2001–02.
Background
The idea of a competition involving all three of the nations then playing Test cricket (Australia, England and South Africa) was proposed at the first meeting of the Imperial Cricket Council in July, 1909. The original proposal was for a tournament to be held every four years, with the first hosted by England in 1912.For a variety of reasons, the tournament was not a success. The summer was one of the wettest since records began in 1766: rainfall in the three months of June, July and August was more than twice the annual average, and August, 1912, was the coldest, dullest and wettest August of the 20th century. At that time, pitches were not covered to protect them against rain, so the batsmen were at a distinct disadvantage on the proverb
Proverb
A proverb is a simple and concrete saying popularly known and repeated, which expresses a truth, based on common sense or the practical experience of humanity. They are often metaphorical. A proverb that describes a basic rule of conduct may also be known as a maxim...
ial sticky wicket
Sticky wicket
Sticky wicket is a metaphor used to describe a difficult circumstance; it originates from difficult circumstances in the sport of cricket.-Origins:...
. These problems were exacerbated since Tests in England were in those days played over three days rather than the five days that is now usual. Two of the matches between England and Australia were drawn due to the weather, with the final match being played on a pitch said to be "better suited to water polo
Water polo
Water polo is a team water sport. The playing team consists of six field players and one goalkeeper. The winner of the game is the team that scores more goals. Game play involves swimming, treading water , players passing the ball while being defended by opponents, and scoring by throwing into a...
". http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/207248.html
In addition, disputes between the players and management in Australia meant that six leading Australian players refused to tour (including the captain, Clem Hill
Clem Hill
Clement "Clem" Hill was an Australian cricketer who played 49 Test matches as a specialist batsman between 1896 and 1912. He captained the Australian team in ten Tests, winning five and losing five...
, and Victor Trumper
Victor Trumper
Victor Thomas Trumper was an Australian cricketer known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby...
, neither of whom played for Australia again), weakening a side that had otherwise been level with England in recent Ashes
The Ashes
The Ashes is a Test cricket series played between England and Australia. It is one of the most celebrated rivalries in international cricket and dates back to 1882. It is currently played biennially, alternately in the United Kingdom and Australia. Cricket being a summer sport, and the venues...
series. The leg spin
Leg spin
Leg spin is a type of spin bowling in the sport of cricket. A leg spinner bowls right-arm with a wrist spin action, causing the ball to spin from right to left in the cricket pitch, at the point of delivery. When the ball bounces, the spin causes the ball to deviate sharply from right to left, that...
and googly
Googly
In cricket, a googly is a type of delivery bowled by a right-arm leg spin bowler. It is occasionally referred to as a Bosie , an eponym in honour of its inventor Bernard Bosanquet.- Explanation :...
bowlers
Bowling (cricket)
In the sport of cricket, bowling is the action of propelling the ball toward the wicket defended by a batsman. A player skilled at bowling is called a bowler; a bowler who is also a competent batsman is known as an all-rounder...
in the South African side were very effective on the matting pitches
Cricket pitch
In the game of cricket, the cricket pitch consists of the central strip of the cricket field between the wickets - 1 chain or 22 yards long and 10 feet wide. The surface is very flat and normally covered with extremely short grass though this grass is soon removed by wear at the ends of the...
then in use in South Africa, but were less threatening on English grass pitches. As a result, England dominated, winning four of their six matches and drawing the other two.
Finally, the British public showed little interest: in the words of The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...
: "Nine Tests provide a surfeit of cricket, and contests between Australia and South Africa are not a great attraction to the British public." http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/columns/content/story/207248.html
The tournament was so unsuccessful that it has never been repeated. The idea of a tournament of international cricket matches between more than two countries was not repeated until the invention of One Day International cricket and the first Cricket World Cup
Cricket World Cup
The ICC Cricket World Cup is the premier international championship of men's One Day International cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council , with preliminary qualification rounds leading up to a finals tournament which is held every four years...
in 1975. The only other Test cricket tournaments in history were the Asian Test Championships of 1998/99 and 2001/02, which were also not great successes.
Teams
England- C. B. Fry (captain)
- Jack HobbsJack HobbsSir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
- Wilfred RhodesWilfred RhodesWilfred Rhodes was an English professional cricketer who played 58 Test matches for England between 1899 and 1930. In Tests, Rhodes took 127 wickets in and scored 2,325 runs, becoming the first Englishman to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in Test matches...
- Reginald Spooner
- Frank WoolleyFrank WoolleyFrank Edward Woolley was an English cricketer, one of the finest all-rounders the game has seen. In a career lasting more than thirty years, he scored more first-class runs than anyone but Sir Jack Hobbs, and took over 2,000 wickets at an average of under 20...
- Johnny DouglasJohnny DouglasJohn "Johnny" William Henry Tyler Douglas was a cricketer who was captain of the England team and an Olympic boxer.-Early life:...
- Jack HearneJack Hearne (John William Hearne)John William Hearne was a Middlesex leg-spinning all-rounder cricketer who played from 1909 to 1936, and represented England in 24 Test matches between 1911 and 1926.A skilful right-handed batsman, Hearne was...
- Pelham Warner
- Frank Foster
- Schofield HaighSchofield HaighSchofield Haigh was a Yorkshire and England cricketer. He played for eighteen seasons for Yorkshire County Cricket Club, for England from the 1898/99 tour to 1912, and was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1901....
- Tiger SmithTiger SmithErnest James "Tiger" Smith was an English wicket-keeper who played in 11 Tests from 1911/1912 to 1914. In county cricket, he had a much longer career as the successor to Dick Lilley: he played for Warwickshire on a regular basis until 1930...
- Sydney BarnesSydney BarnesSydney Francis Barnes was an English professional cricketer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest bowlers in the sport's history...
- Gilbert JessopGilbert JessopGilbert Laird Jessop was an English cricket player, often reckoned to have been the fastest run-scorer cricket has ever known, he was Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 1898.Relations...
- Harry Dean
- Ernie HayesErnie HayesErnest George Hayes MBE was a cricketer who played for Surrey, Leicestershire and England....
- Bill HitchBill HitchJohn William "Bill" Hitch, born Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, on 7 May 1886, and died at Cardiff on 7 July 1965, was a cricketer who played for Surrey and England....
- Walter BrearleyWalter BrearleyWalter Brearley, born March 11, 1876, at Bolton, Lancashire; died January 30, 1937, at the Middlesex Hospital, Marylebone, London was a cricketer who played for Lancashire and England....
Australia
- Syd GregorySyd GregorySydney Edward Gregory , sometimes known as Edward Sydney Gregory, was a cricketer who played for New South Wales and Australia. At the time of his retirement, he had played a world-record 58 Test matches during a career spanning 1890 to 1912...
(captain) - Warren BardsleyWarren BardsleyWarren "Curly" Bardsley was an Australian Test cricketer. An opening batsman, Bardsley played 41 Tests between 1909 and 1926 and over 200 first-class games for New South Wales...
- Barlow CarkeekBarlow CarkeekWilliam "Barlow" Carkeek was an Australian sportsman who notably played Test cricket for Australia and first-class cricket for Victoria, as well as playing Australian rules football in the VFL for Essendon.-"Barlow":Carkeek, generally known otherwise as "Bill", earned the nickname "Barlow"...
- Sid EmerySid EmerySidney Hand Emery was an Australian cricketer who played in 4 Tests in 1912.-References:*...
- Gerry HazlittGerry HazlittGervys Rignold Hazlitt, commonly known as Gerry, was an Australian cricketer who played in 9 Tests from 1907 to 1912....
- Claude JenningsClaude JenningsClaude Barrows Jennings, born 5 June 1884, in St Kilda, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, and died 20 June 1950 in Adelaide, South Australia, was a cricketer who played for South Australia, Queensland and Australia....
- Charles KellewayCharles KellewayCharles Kelleway was an Australian cricketer who played in 26 Tests between 1910 and 1928....
- John McLarenJohn McLaren (cricketer)John William McLaren was an Australian cricketer who played in 1 Test in 1912....
- Charlie Macartney
- Jimmy MatthewsJimmy MatthewsThomas James Matthews was an Australian Test cricketer. He bowled leg breaks...
- Edgar MayneEdgar MayneEdgar Richard Mayne was an Australian cricketer who played as a right-handed batsman and bowler....
- Roy MinnettRoy MinnettRoy Baldwin Minnett was an Australian cricketer who played in 9 Tests from 1911 to 1912.His two older brothers, Leslie and Rupert, both played for New South Wales....
- David Smith
- Harold Webster
- Bill WhittyBill WhittyWilliam James "Bill" Whitty was an Australian Test cricketer who played 14 Tests from 1909 to 1912.-Early career:...
South Africa
- Frank MitchellFrank MitchellFrank Mitchell was a cricketer and rugby union player.-School, University and Yorkshire:...
(captain) - Louis TancredLouis TancredLouis Joseph Tancred was a South African cricketer who played in 14 Tests from 1902 to 1913, including three as captain....
(captain) - Rolland BeaumontRolland BeaumontRolland Beaumont was a South African cricketer from the early years of the 20th Century. He was born at Newcastle, Natal, on 4 February 1884, and died in Berea, Durban on 25 May 1958, aged 74...
- Tom Campbell
- Claude CarterClaude Carter (cricketer)Claude Pagdett Carter was a South African cricketer who played in 10 Tests from 1912 to 1924....
- Joe Cox
- Aubrey FaulknerAubrey FaulknerGeorge Aubrey Faulkner was a leading cricketer for South Africa for two decades.-Early life:...
- Gerald HartiganGerald HartiganGerald Patrick Desmond Hartigan was a South African cricketer who played in five Tests from 1912 to 1914. A right-arm fast medium and right-hand bat, Hartigan made his first class career with Border, taking 92 wickets and scoring three centuries...
- Charles LlewellynCharles LlewellynCharles Bennett Llewellyn was the first non-white South African Test cricketer.Born out of wedlock in Pietermaritzburg to an English father and a black Saint Helenan mother, the dark-eyed and dark-skinned Llewellyn had an underprivileged upbringing in Natal being considered of mixed blood...
- Dave NourseDave NourseArthur William "Dave" Nourse, born at Croydon, England on 26 January 1878 and died at Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 8 July 1948, was a cricketer who played for Natal, Transvaal, Western Province and South Africa....
- Sid PeglerSid PeglerSidney James Pegler was a South African cricketer. He emerged following the decline of their googly bowlers Vogler and Schwarz in the early 1910s....
- Reggie SchwarzReggie SchwarzMajor Reginald Oscar Schwarz MC, known as Reggie was a South African cricketer and international rugby union footballer.-Early life:...
- Sibley Snooke
- Louis StrickerLouis StrickerLouis Anthony Stricker was a South African cricketer who played in 13 Tests from 1910 to 1912....
- Herby Taylor
- Tommy WardTommy WardThomas "Tommy" Alfred Ward was a South African cricketer who played in 23 Tests from 1912 to 1924....
- Gordon WhiteGordon WhiteGordon Charles White was a South African cricketer who played in 17 Tests from 1906 to 1912.White was born in Port St Johns, Cape Province. He died in 1918 in Gaza, Palestine.-References:*...
Notable incidents
Perhaps the most notable incident of the series was Australian cricketer Jimmy MatthewsJimmy Matthews
Thomas James Matthews was an Australian Test cricketer. He bowled leg breaks...
taking two hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
s in the same Test match, one in each innings of the opening match against South Africa, this is the only time that a bowler has taken two hat-tricks in the same match in Test history.
First match: Australia v South Africa at Old TraffordOld Trafford (cricket)Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
, 27-28 May 1912
- Australia won by an innings and 88 runs. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/AUS_RSA_T1_27-28MAY1912.html
- Australia batted first, completing their first innings score of 448 on the first day, with centuries for Charles KellewayCharles KellewayCharles Kelleway was an Australian cricketer who played in 26 Tests between 1910 and 1928....
and Warren BardsleyWarren BardsleyWarren "Curly" Bardsley was an Australian Test cricketer. An opening batsman, Bardsley played 41 Tests between 1909 and 1926 and over 200 first-class games for New South Wales...
. Sid PeglerSid PeglerSidney James Pegler was a South African cricketer. He emerged following the decline of their googly bowlers Vogler and Schwarz in the early 1910s....
took 6 wicketWicketIn the sport of cricket the word wicket has several distinct meanings:-Definitions of wicket:Most of the time, the wicket is one of the two sets of three stumps and two bails at either end of the pitch...
s for 105 runs. South Africa were 16 for 1 at the close. South Africa were bowled out for 265 on the second day (with a century for Aubrey FaulknerAubrey FaulknerGeorge Aubrey Faulkner was a leading cricketer for South Africa for two decades.-Early life:...
and Bill WhittyBill WhittyWilliam James "Bill" Whitty was an Australian Test cricketer who played 14 Tests from 1909 to 1912.-Early career:...
taking 5 wickets for 55 runs), followed on, and were bowled out again on the same day for 95 (Kelleway taking 5 for 33). - Australian bowler Jimmy MatthewsJimmy MatthewsThomas James Matthews was an Australian Test cricketer. He bowled leg breaks...
took a double hat-trickHat-trickA hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
, one in each of South Africa's innings, both hat-tricks being taken on the same day, 28 May 1912. Matthews took no other wickets in the match. - South Africa's debutant wicket-keeperWicket-keeperThe wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
Tommy WardTommy WardThomas "Tommy" Alfred Ward was a South African cricketer who played in 23 Tests from 1912 to 1924....
was Matthews' 3rd victim in both innings. Ward's is the only known instance of a king pair on debut in Test cricket.
Second match: England v South Africa at Lord'sLord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, 10-12 Jun 1912
- England won by an innings and 62 runs. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/RSA_ENG_T1_10-12JUN1912.html
Third match: England v Australia at Lord'sLord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, 24-26 Jun 1912
- Match drawn. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/ENG_AUS_T1_24-26JUN1912.html
- In a rain-affected match, England made 310/7 (HobbsJack HobbsSir John Berry "Jack" Hobbs was an English professional cricketer who played for Surrey from 1905 to 1934 and for England in 61 Test matches from 1908 to 1930....
107) before declaring their innings closed. In reply, Australia made 282/7 before rain ended play. Charlie Macartney was the top-scorer in the match. He scored 99 runs before being caught out, becoming only the third player in Test cricket to be dismissed one run short of a century. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/STATS/TESTS/BATTING/TESTS_BAT_99_INNS.html
Fourth match: England v South Africa at HeadingleyHeadingley StadiumHeadingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
, 8-10 Jul 1912
- England won by 174 runs. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/ENG_RSA_T2_08-10JUL1912.html
Fifth match: Australia v South Africa at Lord'sLord's Cricket GroundLord's Cricket Ground is a cricket venue in St John's Wood, London. Named after its founder, Thomas Lord, it is owned by Marylebone Cricket Club and is the home of Middlesex County Cricket Club, the England and Wales Cricket Board , the European Cricket Council and, until August 2005, the...
, 15-17 Jul 1912
- Australia won by 10 wickets. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/RSA_AUS_T2_15-17JUL1912.html
Sixth match: England v Australia at Old TraffordOld Trafford (cricket)Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
, 29-31 Jul 1912
Seventh match: England v South Africa at The OvalThe OvalThe Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
, 12-13 Aug 1912
- England won by 10 wickets. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/RSA_ENG_T3_12-13AUG1912.html
Eighth match: Australia v South Africa at Trent BridgeTrent BridgeTrent Bridge is a Test, One-day international and County cricket ground located in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, England and is also the headquarters of Nottinghamshire County Cricket Club. As well as International cricket and Nottinghamshire's home games, the ground has hosted the Finals Day of...
, 5-7 Aug 1912
Ninth match: England v Australia at The OvalThe OvalThe Kia Oval, still commonly referred to by its original name of The Oval, is an international cricket ground in Kennington, in the London Borough of Lambeth. In the past it was also sometimes called the Kennington Oval...
, 19-22 Aug 1912
- England won by 244 runs. http://aus.cricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1910S/1912/TRI-TEST/ENG_AUS_T3_19-22AUG1912.html
- The tournament rules did not anticipate that two teams could complete their matches with the same number of wins and therefore contained no tie-breaking conditions. Therefore, to ensure an overall winner, the match was played as a timeless TestTimeless TestA timeless Test is a match of Test cricket played under no limitation of time, which means the match is played until one side wins or the match is tied, with theoretically no possibility of a draw. The format means that it is not possible to play defensively for a draw when the allotted time runs...
, with the 3-day time limit removed. Regardless, the match finished during the fourth day.
Results table
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| England | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Australia | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| South Africa | 6 | 0 | 5 | 1 |
External sources
- CricketArchive re Australian tour
- Cricket Archive re South African tour
- The original damp squib (from CricinfoCricinfoESPNcricinfo is believed to be the largest cricket-related website on the World Wide Web. Content includes news,articles, live scorecards,live text commentary and a comprehensive and searchable database called 'StatsGuru', of historical matches and players from the 18th century to the present...
) - Report of the tournament from 334notout.com
Further reading
- H S AlthamHarry AlthamHarry Surtees Altham, CBE, DSO, MC was an English cricketer who became an important figure in the game as an administrator, historian and coach. His Wisden obituary described him as "among the best known personalities in the world of cricket"...
, A History of Cricket, Volume 1 (to 1914), George Allen & Unwin, 1962 - Derek BirleyDerek BirleySir Derek Birley was an English educator and writer who had a strong interest in sport, especially cricket.He was educated at grammar school in Hemsworth, West Yorkshire, and at Queens' College, Cambridge University....
, A Social History of English Cricket, Aurum, 1999 - Rowland BowenRowland BowenMajor Rowland Francis Bowen was a cricket researcher, historian and writer....
, Cricket: A History of its Growth and Development, Eyre & Spottiswoode, 1970 - Bill FrindallBill FrindallWilliam Howard Frindall, MBE was an English cricket scorer and statistician. He was familiar to cricket followers from his appearances on the BBC Radio 4 programme Test Match Special, nicknamed the Bearded Wonder by Brian Johnston for his ability to research the most obscure cricketing facts in...
, The Wisden Book of Test Cricket 1877-1978, Wisden, 1979 - David FrithDavid FrithDavid Edward John Frith is a leading cricket writer and historian. Cricinfo describes him as "an author, historian, and founding editor of Wisden Cricket Monthly".-Life and career:...
, The Golden Age of Cricket 1890-1914, Lutterworth, 1978 - Chris Harte, A History of Australian Cricket, Andre Deutsch, 1993
- various writers, A Century of South Africa in Test & International Cricket 1889-1989, Ball, 1989
- Roy WebberRoy WebberRoy Webber was a British cricket scorer and statistician. After World War II, in which he served with the Royal Air Force, he decided to turn what had been his hobby into his profession. He had the necessary proficiency with figures, having previously been an accountant. He was the scorer for BBC...
, The Playfair Book of Cricket Records, Playfair Books, 1951 - Wisden Cricketers Almanack 1913
- Patrick Ferriday Before the Lights Went Out - The 1912 Triangular Tournament Von Krumm Publishing 2011