Calls from the wild
RP Singh, who hadn't played international cricket for two years, was called up to India's Test side in England last week. We look at some other unlikely tour reinforcements over the years
Steven Lynch
22-Aug-2011
Mike Whitney was called up after the Botham assault on Australia at Headingley in 1981 • Getty Images
Colin Cowdrey
Probably the most famous case of a player being called out of the English winter to face the music - chin music, in the case of 1974-75, as performed by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. Cowdrey, not far short of his 42nd birthday and out of Test cricket for almost four years, was summoned for the second Test in Perth and, a couple of days after arriving, duly waddled out to bat swathed in protective padding. He stopped on the way to the crease to introduce himself to a rather bemused Thommo… and proceeded to get in line behind the lethal missiles heading his way at warp speed. Cowdrey - the unanimous choice of the injury-hit touring party, according to embattled skipper Mike Denness - survived for two hours for 22 in the first innings and scored his age in the second, and stayed on to complete his sixth Ashes tour 20 years after his first.
Probably the most famous case of a player being called out of the English winter to face the music - chin music, in the case of 1974-75, as performed by Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson. Cowdrey, not far short of his 42nd birthday and out of Test cricket for almost four years, was summoned for the second Test in Perth and, a couple of days after arriving, duly waddled out to bat swathed in protective padding. He stopped on the way to the crease to introduce himself to a rather bemused Thommo… and proceeded to get in line behind the lethal missiles heading his way at warp speed. Cowdrey - the unanimous choice of the injury-hit touring party, according to embattled skipper Mike Denness - survived for two hours for 22 in the first innings and scored his age in the second, and stayed on to complete his sixth Ashes tour 20 years after his first.
Younis Ahmed
Imran Khan generally got his own way when he wanted a certain player for his Pakistan sides, but his choice as a reinforcement for the 1986-87 tour of India raised even more eyebrows than usual. It was 39-year-old Ahmed, who had played the second of his two Test matches 17 years previously: in between, he had been banned (for life, originally) for playing in South Africa, and was occasionally mentioned as an England prospect during a lengthy county career. He doubled his tally of Test caps in India, producing two gritty innings to ensure a draw in the fourth match, in Ahmedabad, after which he complained of a bad back. Imran was sympathetic - until he discovered that Younis' preferred cure involved a visit to the local disco. Younis missed the final Test (which Pakistan won to take the series), and his brief international comeback was over.
Imran Khan generally got his own way when he wanted a certain player for his Pakistan sides, but his choice as a reinforcement for the 1986-87 tour of India raised even more eyebrows than usual. It was 39-year-old Ahmed, who had played the second of his two Test matches 17 years previously: in between, he had been banned (for life, originally) for playing in South Africa, and was occasionally mentioned as an England prospect during a lengthy county career. He doubled his tally of Test caps in India, producing two gritty innings to ensure a draw in the fourth match, in Ahmedabad, after which he complained of a bad back. Imran was sympathetic - until he discovered that Younis' preferred cure involved a visit to the local disco. Younis missed the final Test (which Pakistan won to take the series), and his brief international comeback was over.
Mike Whitney
Possibly affected by shell shock after Ian Botham's tour de force at Headingley in 1981, Australia's bowlers were in need of reinforcement for the fifth Test, at Old Trafford. The surprise choice was the wild-haired Whitney, a left-arm fast bowler who had played only six first-class matches, two of them that summer for Gloucestershire. He originally thought the phone call summoning him was a joke, one that turned slightly sour when Botham did it again with another century, helped when Whitney misjudged a difficult catch running back at mid-off when Botham had 32. Whitney (who went on to play 11 further Tests) did have the consolation of two wickets in each innings, though. Quite what Graeme Beard, the NSW medium-pacer who had been with the team from the start, made of the decision to ignore him and send for Whitney is not known - but he retired shortly afterwards.
Possibly affected by shell shock after Ian Botham's tour de force at Headingley in 1981, Australia's bowlers were in need of reinforcement for the fifth Test, at Old Trafford. The surprise choice was the wild-haired Whitney, a left-arm fast bowler who had played only six first-class matches, two of them that summer for Gloucestershire. He originally thought the phone call summoning him was a joke, one that turned slightly sour when Botham did it again with another century, helped when Whitney misjudged a difficult catch running back at mid-off when Botham had 32. Whitney (who went on to play 11 further Tests) did have the consolation of two wickets in each innings, though. Quite what Graeme Beard, the NSW medium-pacer who had been with the team from the start, made of the decision to ignore him and send for Whitney is not known - but he retired shortly afterwards.
George Gunn
The Nottinghamshire opener Gunn had a famously strange ending to his Test career - called up after 17 years at the age of 50, he opened in the West Indies in 1929-30 - but the start was rather unusual too. Sent to Australia for health reasons in 1907-08, he was asked to help the England team out when the captain, AO Jones, fell ill. Gunn - obviously invigorated by the southern sun - made 119 and 74 in his first Test, and another century in the final match, which was also in Sydney, finishing as the leading scorer on either side, with 462 runs in the series.
The Nottinghamshire opener Gunn had a famously strange ending to his Test career - called up after 17 years at the age of 50, he opened in the West Indies in 1929-30 - but the start was rather unusual too. Sent to Australia for health reasons in 1907-08, he was asked to help the England team out when the captain, AO Jones, fell ill. Gunn - obviously invigorated by the southern sun - made 119 and 74 in his first Test, and another century in the final match, which was also in Sydney, finishing as the leading scorer on either side, with 462 runs in the series.
Ehteshamuddin
There were shades of RP Singh in the call-up of Ehteshamuddin to reinforce Pakistan's side in England in 1982. He had been among the wickets for Daisy Hill in the Bolton League - but on reporting for duty at Headingley it was evident that he had been among the pies as well: even Wisden was moved to describe him as "portly". Bowling at a stately pace, Ehtesham managed to dismiss Graeme Fowler, but then limped off with a pulled muscle. He was unable to contribute as England successfully chased 219 in their second innings, and he never played another Test.
There were shades of RP Singh in the call-up of Ehteshamuddin to reinforce Pakistan's side in England in 1982. He had been among the wickets for Daisy Hill in the Bolton League - but on reporting for duty at Headingley it was evident that he had been among the pies as well: even Wisden was moved to describe him as "portly". Bowling at a stately pace, Ehtesham managed to dismiss Graeme Fowler, but then limped off with a pulled muscle. He was unable to contribute as England successfully chased 219 in their second innings, and he never played another Test.
Ron Headley
Father of Dean and son of the incomparable George, Ron Headley was a stylish opener who plied his trade for Worcestershire, passing 1000 runs every season bar one from 1960 to 1971. He probably deserved a Test cap, but by 1973 he was 34, and hadn't played for his native Jamaica for seven years. He still got the call to help out the Test team when Lawrence Rowe was ruled out by, among other misfortunes, an allergy to grass. Headley scored 42 in his first Test, at The Oval, but only 20 runs in his other three innings: he never played another Test, despite an optimistic return to Jamaica that winter. It's hard to escape the view that Gordon Greenidge - just 22 and in the middle of a season that eventually brought him 1656 runs for Hampshire, and who eventually did play more than 100 Tests - might just have been a better choice.
Father of Dean and son of the incomparable George, Ron Headley was a stylish opener who plied his trade for Worcestershire, passing 1000 runs every season bar one from 1960 to 1971. He probably deserved a Test cap, but by 1973 he was 34, and hadn't played for his native Jamaica for seven years. He still got the call to help out the Test team when Lawrence Rowe was ruled out by, among other misfortunes, an allergy to grass. Headley scored 42 in his first Test, at The Oval, but only 20 runs in his other three innings: he never played another Test, despite an optimistic return to Jamaica that winter. It's hard to escape the view that Gordon Greenidge - just 22 and in the middle of a season that eventually brought him 1656 runs for Hampshire, and who eventually did play more than 100 Tests - might just have been a better choice.
Keith Miller
When the Australian team to tour South Africa in 1949-50 was announced, there was widespread amazement that it did not include Miller, who had established himself with the "Invincibles" in England in 1948 as just about the world's premier allrounder. His absence was never properly explained, but was generally blamed on a chilly relationship with Don Bradman. When injuries depleted the side early on the tour, the South African board was among those calling for Miller to reinforce the team, which he did - performing with distinction in all five Tests as Australia won the series 4-0.
When the Australian team to tour South Africa in 1949-50 was announced, there was widespread amazement that it did not include Miller, who had established himself with the "Invincibles" in England in 1948 as just about the world's premier allrounder. His absence was never properly explained, but was generally blamed on a chilly relationship with Don Bradman. When injuries depleted the side early on the tour, the South African board was among those calling for Miller to reinforce the team, which he did - performing with distinction in all five Tests as Australia won the series 4-0.
Madan Lal
Madan Lal, a sort of 1970s prototype of Praveen Kumar, was a persistent new-ball bowler, whose part in India's 1983 World Cup win - he took 3 for 31, and had Viv Richards caught by Kapil Dev, accelerating West Indies' fatal collapse - seemed to have signalled a fine end to a worthy career. After a few more appearances he was ignored for India's tour of England in 1986, but when injuries struck he received an emergency call-up from the Central Lancashire League for the second Test at Headingley - and promptly took 3 for 18 as England were swept away for 102, setting up an eventual Indian victory by 279 runs, which gave them the series 2-0.
Madan Lal, a sort of 1970s prototype of Praveen Kumar, was a persistent new-ball bowler, whose part in India's 1983 World Cup win - he took 3 for 31, and had Viv Richards caught by Kapil Dev, accelerating West Indies' fatal collapse - seemed to have signalled a fine end to a worthy career. After a few more appearances he was ignored for India's tour of England in 1986, but when injuries struck he received an emergency call-up from the Central Lancashire League for the second Test at Headingley - and promptly took 3 for 18 as England were swept away for 102, setting up an eventual Indian victory by 279 runs, which gave them the series 2-0.
George Parker
Perhaps the most left-field reinforcement for any touring side was managed by the South Africans in England in 1924. Finding their bowling attack, which was used to matting wickets at home, relatively unsuited to English conditions, they whipped Cape Town-born Parker out of the Bradford League. Nothing too unusual there, you might think … except that Parker never had played a first-class match in South Africa, and never would. His first-class career was confined to three matches in England on that tour in 1924 - a warm-up against Oxford University (in which he took 4 for 34), and two Tests, in the first of which he took 6 for 152, despite walking off for a sit-down at one point (his skipper, Herbie Taylor, asked why he'd gone off, and was told "I'm just tired, that's all. I've had enough.")
Perhaps the most left-field reinforcement for any touring side was managed by the South Africans in England in 1924. Finding their bowling attack, which was used to matting wickets at home, relatively unsuited to English conditions, they whipped Cape Town-born Parker out of the Bradford League. Nothing too unusual there, you might think … except that Parker never had played a first-class match in South Africa, and never would. His first-class career was confined to three matches in England on that tour in 1924 - a warm-up against Oxford University (in which he took 4 for 34), and two Tests, in the first of which he took 6 for 152, despite walking off for a sit-down at one point (his skipper, Herbie Taylor, asked why he'd gone off, and was told "I'm just tired, that's all. I've had enough.")
Ted Dexter
"Lord Ted" Dexter went on to enjoy a fine international career, playing 62 Tests in all as a superbly watchable batsman. But his start was unpromising: not long down from Cambridge, he went to Australia as a late reinforcement in 1958-59, where seasoned professionals like Fred Trueman were unimpressed occasionally to find the newcomer practising his golf swing in the outfield. It probably didn't help that England were in the throes of being hammered 4-0. It didn't do Ted too much harm, though: by the next tour Down Under, in 1962-63, he was England's captain.
"Lord Ted" Dexter went on to enjoy a fine international career, playing 62 Tests in all as a superbly watchable batsman. But his start was unpromising: not long down from Cambridge, he went to Australia as a late reinforcement in 1958-59, where seasoned professionals like Fred Trueman were unimpressed occasionally to find the newcomer practising his golf swing in the outfield. It probably didn't help that England were in the throes of being hammered 4-0. It didn't do Ted too much harm, though: by the next tour Down Under, in 1962-63, he was England's captain.
Tony Pigott
Beatle-haired Sussex fast bowler Tony Pigott had rarely been spoken of as a Test prospect - until he happened to be playing and coaching in New Zealand in 1983-84, and the visiting England team ran into an injury crisis. Pigott thus played in the second Test, in Christchurch, and took a couple of wickets before England sank to ignominious defeat, managing totals of just 82 and 93 (Richard Hadlee, who'd earlier outscored them himself with 99, took 8 for 44 in the match). One of the things Pigott put off in order to play in the Test was his wedding. As it turned out, he needn't have bothered - the wedding was scheduled for the fourth day, and England had lost before the end of the third. His future wife didn't have to worry anymore: Pigott never played for England again.
Beatle-haired Sussex fast bowler Tony Pigott had rarely been spoken of as a Test prospect - until he happened to be playing and coaching in New Zealand in 1983-84, and the visiting England team ran into an injury crisis. Pigott thus played in the second Test, in Christchurch, and took a couple of wickets before England sank to ignominious defeat, managing totals of just 82 and 93 (Richard Hadlee, who'd earlier outscored them himself with 99, took 8 for 44 in the match). One of the things Pigott put off in order to play in the Test was his wedding. As it turned out, he needn't have bothered - the wedding was scheduled for the fourth day, and England had lost before the end of the third. His future wife didn't have to worry anymore: Pigott never played for England again.
Steven Lynch is the editor of the Wisden Guide to International Cricket 2011.