England vs India
1996-06-22
On June 22, 1996, Sourav Ganguly (131) became only the third batter to score a Test hundred on debut at Lord's, while Rahul Dravid fell five short of a debut century with 95. The pair added 94 for the fifth wicket — the first chapter in a partnership that would underpin Indian cricket for the next 15 years.
Sussex v Northamptonshire
1929-05-15
On 15 May 1929 the 24-year-old K.S. Duleepsinhji — Ranji's nephew and the second member of the family to play county cricket for Sussex — made 333 against Northamptonshire at Hove, then a Sussex record and the highest score made on the south coast in county cricket.
BCCI and Indian provincial cricket associations
1929-08-15
In the first year after its foundation the Board of Control for Cricket in India began discussions on a national first-class competition modelled on the County Championship and Sheffield Shield. The Ranji Trophy was eventually launched in 1934-35, but its founding deliberations began in mid-1929 with the BCCI's first executive meeting.
BCCI / Indian cricket administration
1928-12-04
On 4 December 1928 representatives of regional cricket associations met in Delhi and constituted the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Within 18 months the BCCI had been admitted to the Imperial Cricket Conference, secured Test status for India, and laid the foundation for what would become the wealthiest cricket administration in the world.
Hindus v MCC
1926-12-01
On a December afternoon in 1926, the 31-year-old C.K. Nayudu hit eleven sixes in an innings of 153 against the touring MCC at the Bombay Gymkhana. Watched by Arthur Gilligan and an emotional crowd of 50,000, the innings is regarded as the single performance that secured India's case for Test status — granted three years later.
MCC and Indian XI
1926-11-15
Arthur Gilligan's MCC side toured India in the winter of 1926-27 — the formal trial of Indian cricket for Test status. Across 31 first-class and other matches the tourists played the major Indian XIs, watched the leading players, and on Gilligan's return the recommendation that India be granted Test status went to Lord's.
Hindus, Parsis, Muslims, Europeans
1925-12-01
Through the 1920s the Bombay Quadrangular — between teams chosen on the religious and ethnic lines of the city's communities (Hindus, Parsis, Muslims, Europeans) — was the most important annual cricket competition in India and the principal showcase for the country's emerging Test players.
Sussex, England
1907-03-07
Through the early 1900s K.S. Ranjitsinhji captained Sussex (1899-1903), played 15 Tests for England, and continued to redefine batting through the leg glance. In March 1907 he succeeded as Jam Sahib of Nawanagar and effectively withdrew from full-time first-class cricket. He returned briefly in 1908 and 1912 but his Sussex career was over by the time he became a ruler.
England v Australia
1896-07-18
On 18 July 1896 K.S. Ranjitsinhji, 23, a Cambridge graduate from Nawanagar, walked out at Old Trafford for his Test debut and made 62 in the first innings and an unbeaten 154 in the second — including 113 between the start of the third morning and lunch, becoming the first batsman to score a century before lunch in Test cricket. The MCC selectors had refused him for the First Test on grounds that were widely understood to be racial; Lancashire's local committee picked him for Manchester. Australia won the Test, but the leg-glanced 154* changed cricket's conversation about who could play it.