Who Am I?

[sussexpob]

Chris Cairns?

Yep. Retired with the most 6s, and still by far the biggest 6 hitter in tests on game average. His dad once hit 6 in a row in a odi v aus.

Also weirdly he debuted in English county cricket before his debut for Otago. A shade before his 18th

[sussexpob]

Also something I didn't know. In a rained off test when he was just 14, he put on a batting clinic in the nets as both test teams lined up for a warm up. Apparently knocking his old man and Richie Handler around for fun.

Wonder what his stats would have been if he weren't trying to throw games, or was fully fit most of the time.

[DiligentDefence]

I am only the fifth player born in my county to play test matches although I only ever played for its 2nd XI.

[sussexpob]

I am only the fifth player born in my county to play test matches although I only ever played for its 2nd XI.

The only county I could think of is Glamorgan, who might overlap generic Welsh players who gravitate to other places later.

Pat Pocock was welsh, but played all his cricket for Surrey; famously took 8 wickets in less than two overs against Sussex...

Pat Pocock? This is tough

[DiligentDefence]

No.

Any chances of progressing at my home county were blocked by a player sharing a name with a famous West Indian fast bowler.

[sussexpob]

Great clues. Had me thinking, but I think I have it. Answer is close to home.

Northants had a leg spinner by the name of Andy Roberts around the early 90s. We signed Ian Salisbury from northants young team.

No idea if Ian Salisbury is from northants, nor if he is their 5th cap, or if he played a 2nd team game.

But Ian Salisbury is the guess

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good one. Got as far as Andy Roberts...

[DiligentDefence]

Great clues. Had me thinking, but I think I have it. Answer is close to home.

Northants had a leg spinner by the name of Andy Roberts around the early 90s. We signed Ian Salisbury from northants young team.

No idea if Ian Salisbury is from northants, nor if he is their 5th cap, or if he played a 2nd team game.

But Ian Salisbury is the guess

Yep, correct. Well done

[sussexpob]

I played debut in first class cricket at the age of 16, as all the senior team were drafted to fight in a world war

[Arthur Crabtree]

Just to get us going, Douglas Jardine.

[sussexpob]

Just to get us going, Douglas Jardine.

Nope.

I was known as arguably the finest player of spin ever to have graced the game, but my history of playing true quality pace bowling in hostile conditions is seen as a reason my endless potential was never met. Some argue it is the reason why I retired early at 33, having developed a dangerous technique of meeting the short ball by letting it simply hit me. The constant physical barrage took away my desire to play

[DiligentDefence]

let's try WW2. Peter May retired quite early.

[sussexpob]

Nope

In just my third first class game for Victoria, I was chosen to captain an experimental youth XI in a friendly match vs Tasmania. By the end of a near 8 hour innings, I had wracked up 429 runs of my teams 1059 all out, both First class records for individual and team scores. The score created much controversy at the time, as Tasmania were not a recognized first class team, although matches between Australian states and Tasmania were counted on FC totals. Despite major protests from the previous record holder, Wisden printed the record had been broken, and it officially stood.

None of this mattered.... 4 years later both records would be broken again. I scored 437 in my teams total of 1107 in a Shield game v Queensland in 1926/27. The later record still stands today as the largest FC score recorded by a team.

I remain one of only 2 players in the history of the game to score 400 twice. Brian Lara the only other man.

[Gingerfinch]

Ponsford?

[sussexpob]

Ponsford?

Yep