On 2 December 1932 the Nawab of Pataudi Sr scored 102 on his Ashes debut at Sydney, the first Indian-born cricketer to make a hundred on Ashes debut. He played one more Test of the series and never another for England, his innings now a footnote inside the larger story of Bodyline.
Pataudi had been an Oxford and Worcestershire star and was one of two Indian-born players selected by MCC for the tour. His selection was as much for English county form as for Indian links.
Iftikhar Ali Khan Pataudi, an Oxford Blue and Worcestershire batsman, was selected for the MCC tour after a strong county summer. He came in at 102 for 3 against the Australian attack of Wall, Nash, Ironmonger and O'Reilly.
Batting upright, with rare power off the back foot through cover, he reached his hundred in 247 minutes and was eventually out for 102. England made 524 and won the Test by ten wickets — Larwood and Voce dismissing Australia twice on a true SCG pitch.
Pataudi played the second Test at Melbourne, made 15 and 5, was reportedly uncomfortable with Jardine's leg-theory tactics — accounts have him refusing to field at leg-slip — and was dropped. He played no further part in the series and only one more Test for England (1934).
Walks in at 102-3 against Wall and O'Reilly.
Reaches hundred in 247 minutes.
Out 102; England build 524.
England win Sydney Test by 10 wickets.
Reported to refuse leg-slip during Bodyline.
Dropped after Melbourne Test.
2 Dec 1932
Pataudi 102 on Ashes debut, Sydney.
Dec 1932
Plays Melbourne Test; said to refuse leg-slip.
Jan 1933
Dropped for rest of series.
1934
One more Test for England.
1946
Captains India in England.
1952
Dies on a polo field, aged 41.
“His batting was a relic of an older grace.”
An Indian-born hundred on Ashes debut, made invisible by the larger Bodyline drama and a captain-player friction that ended his Test career within two years.
The Sydney hundred is a rare cross-cultural footnote of the inter-war game — a Sussex- and Oxford-trained Indian prince making his only Ashes century on debut and being eased out within two Tests over a tactical disagreement.
Yorkshire v Essex
1932-06-16
On 15-16 June 1932 Herbert Sutcliffe (313) and Percy Holmes (224*) put on 555 for the first wicket against Essex at Leyton, breaking the world first-class record for any wicket and adding a layer of folklore — including a scoreboard that read 554 for several minutes and a hastily reversed declaration — that has clung to the partnership ever since.
Australia v England
1933-02-14
With the fate of the Bodyline series in the balance and England 216 for 6 chasing 340, Eddie Paynter checked himself out of a Brisbane hospital where he was being treated for acute tonsillitis, taxied to the Gabba in pyjamas and a dressing gown, and batted for nearly four hours to score 83. England drew level on first innings, won the Test by six wickets and the series 4-1.
Australia
1934-09-25
Days after the 1934 Oval Test, Bradman fell seriously ill with appendicitis that progressed to peritonitis. With antibiotics not yet available, he was given little chance of survival; his wife Jessie left Adelaide on a sea voyage to England prepared for the worst. He recovered after weeks of intensive nursing in a London nursing home and returned to first-class cricket the following Australian summer.