FAMOUS CRICKETER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21457, 3 April 1933, Page 9

FAMOUS CRICKETER

DEATH OF RANJITSINHH GREAT FIGURE IN GAME FEATURES OF HIS CAREER ~ By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright, (Received April 2, 11.35 p.m.) -.<4 CALCUTTA, . April ' 2 The death is reported of Prince' Ranjitsinhji, the famous Indian cricketer. The cause was heart failure. Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, Maharaja Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, was born at Sarodar, Kathiawar, India, in September, 1872. He was the second son of Jiwansinhji and the adopted son of his uncle, Sir Vibhaj-i, Jam of Nawanagar. He was a nephew of Sir Pertab Singh. After attending Rajkumar College, JRa jkote, where he began to play cricket, he went to England in March, 1888, and studied at Trinity College, Cambridge, where, in addition to doing well in his examinations, he worked hard at cricket under professional coaches, though at he was not regarded as likely to make a good batsman. In 1890 he defeated E. Renshaw, then almost at the top of his form as a tennis player. In 1893 he won his cricket "blue" and played for the Gentlemen against the Players. In the following year several counties competed for his services. He decided to join Sussex and his first big cricket season was 1895. . i , "Ranji," as his many admirers called . him, played a very attractive game, characterised by lack of display, calmness and swiftness. He stood motion- , less till the ball was upon him and in a flash it was hit. He was the first man to score more than 3000 runs in a season. He did this three times. He also made two double centuries in a.singie match on a single day against Yorkshire. His finest season's average was 59.91. From 1895 to 1902 he was head of the Sussex averages, becoming captain of the team in 1899. In 1896 and 1900 he was the champion batsman for All England. He went with Stoddart's All England eleven in 1897-8 to Australia, where he was very popular. ... ; In the autumn of ,1899 "Ranji took a team to the United States and Canada. In 1900 he made 200 runs, five times. A man of democratic views, he was the first to attempt to break down the practice of professionals and amateurs lunching separately—a novel idea to come from the land of caste. This smiling batsman was the first Indian to touch the imagination of the man in the street. * In 1902 he went back to Nawanagar, of which he became ruler in 1906 in succession to his cousin. Although very disappointed at being passed over whenthe last Jam was installed, he had waited patiently, and after his accession did much for the welfare of his people, introducing many reforms into his State. Leaving nothing to subordinates, he worked at affairs of State for five hours every day, hearing sometimes as many as 50 petitioners and turning none away until he was satisfied that justice had been done. In his leisure he went in for all kinds of sport, including football and big-game shooting, and he kept up a cricket team with two professionals. In 1914-5 "Ranji" served at the front with the troops he had offered -to the Government. He also lent his house at Staines as a hospital for wounded soldiers. In 1917 he received the K.C.S.I. and in 1918 was raised to the rank of Maharaja, later being awarded the G.C.S.I. and G.B.E. During visits to England in 1908, 1912 and 1920 ho played for Sussex again. Beep regret on behalf of himself and the English cricketers was expressed byMr. P. F. Warner, manager of the touring English cricket team, when the news of Ranjitsinhji's death conve3*ed to liim last night. The passing of Ranjitsinhji was the passing of a great figure in the traditions of English cricket, said Mr. Warner.