Robin Marlar

In his playing days in the '50s Robin Marlar, MCC's president for 2005-06, was an innovative offspinner who took a total of 970 wickets. He was close to Test selection once or twice, but had to contend with the great Jim Laker, and others such as Fred Titmus and David Allen who were better batsmen. Marlar's own batting - he averaged less than 10, and was once stumped second ball for 6 after going in as a nightwatchman - counted against him. So did his outspokenness, which later served him well as an opinionated cricket correspondent of the Sunday Times. He was a Cambridge Blue from 1951 to 1953, and captained Sussex from 1955 to 1959 (a skipper "shrewd and skilful", according to Wisden). He took 9 for 46 - 15 for 119 in the match - with his high-tossed offbreaks against Lancashire at Hove in 1955, a season in which he finished with 139 victims at 21.55.
Steven Lynch