The strange case of a captain picked by mistake
Nigel Harvie Bennett, who died on July 26, 2008, aged 95, was an unwitting entrant into cricket folklore
Judhajit
25-Feb-2013
Nigel Harvie Bennett, who died on July 26, 2008, aged 95, was an unwitting entrant into cricket folklore. He was appointed as Surrey's captain by mistake, after being confused with his namesake, and led the county to little success in 1946. The Times reveals more.
While the search was on for Major Leo, Major Nigel Bennett popped in to renew his membership. Alf Gover, in his autobiography, wrote that the pavilion clerk took the papers in to the secretary, who happened to have the chairman with him: they offered the captaincy to this Major Bennett, who accepted.