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The first ever Boxing Day Test was played in 1913, at Durban.
Syd Barnes, recognised by some as the greatest bowler of all time, wreaked havoc in the Test match.
Barnes' 189 Test wickets (from 27 Tests, so 7 wickets per match) came at 16.43 apiece.
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Syd Barnes, recognised by some as the greatest bowler of all time, wreaked havoc in the Test match.
Barnes' 189 Test wickets (from 27 Tests, so 7 wickets per match) came at 16.43 apiece.
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So it was not an exaggeration despite the era.
Barnes could move the ball both ways, both in air and off the pitch, changing pace at will.
The movement off the pitch was mostly spin. He was also accurate and aggressive, and had multiple variations.
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Barnes could move the ball both ways, both in air and off the pitch, changing pace at will.
The movement off the pitch was mostly spin. He was also accurate and aggressive, and had multiple variations.
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He was a curious man. For example, he did not play much in the County Championship. He played League cricket instead.
As for the Test match, the scoreline is self-explanatory:
South Africa 160 (Barnes 8/56) and 231 (Barnes 9/103) lost to England 403 by an innings and 12 runs.
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As for the Test match, the scoreline is self-explanatory:
South Africa 160 (Barnes 8/56) and 231 (Barnes 9/103) lost to England 403 by an innings and 12 runs.
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In fact, this was an astonishing series even by his standards. The numbers make ridiculous reading:
5/57 and 5/48 at Durban
8/56 and 9/103 at Johannesburg
3/26 and 5/102 at Johannesburg
7/56 and 7/88 at Durban
In all, 49 wickets (still a world record) at 10.93 from 4 Tests.
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5/57 and 5/48 at Durban
8/56 and 9/103 at Johannesburg
3/26 and 5/102 at Johannesburg
7/56 and 7/88 at Durban
In all, 49 wickets (still a world record) at 10.93 from 4 Tests.
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There are only eight instances of a bowler taking 40 or more wickets in a Test series (Terry Alderman has done it twice).
Three of them played five Tests in the respective series. The other four, six. Barnes did it in four.
Barnes missed the fifth Test match of the series.
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Three of them played five Tests in the respective series. The other four, six. Barnes did it in four.
Barnes missed the fifth Test match of the series.
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No, there was no injury. He had requested the authorities to pay for his wife's accommodation. They refused. Barnes refused to play.
Barnes never played Test cricket after the series, for the Great War set in.
He could have become the first to 200 Test wickets.
Barnes never played Test cricket after the series, for the Great War set in.
He could have become the first to 200 Test wickets.
Or the only one to take 50 in the series. Till date.
