By Satish Sekar © Satish Sekar (April 11^th 2025)

Ramping up the Rivalry 1902-1904?

The first man to take a wicket with a deliberately bowled googly, Bernard Bosanquet, was rightly proud of some of his achievements, such as claiming the wickets of Sussex great Charles (CB) Fry and Fry’s great friend, Prince Kumar (KS) Ranjitsinhji – both of whom sone for Sussex and England, and later, off the pitch too. In the early stages of the rivalry the Sussex pair had the upper hand over Bosanquet.

Fry, and Sussex, hammered Middlesex by an innings and 224 runs at Lord’s in June 1902 – Sussex made 354 for 8 declared. Fry was bowled by Bosanquet for 122, but that was the only wicket that he took in the match. Bosanquet (9 and 4) and Middlesex did little with the bat as Middlesex was dismissed for 51 in the first innings and 79 in the second innings. Although Bosanquet had finally taken Fry’s wicket, it was scant consolation in the context of the match.

Bosanquet didn’t play in the return match at Eastbourne in July which was drawn. However, Ranjitsinhji had a spectacular day with the ball on the first day of that match. Middlesex was all out for 207. Ranjitsinhji took 5 for 68 from 22 overs. Sussex replied with just 178 all out. Middlesex responded with 401 all out led by Sir Pelham Warner’s 139. Sussex needed 431 to win, but despite Fry’s unbeaten 159, the match petered out to a draw as Sussex made 281 for 2. Ranjitsinhji, captaining Sussex, chose not to bat himself.

The End of the Preliminaries for Bosanquet

In June 1903 Sussex hosted Middlesex. Sussex made 287 all out. Ranjitsinhji missed out on a century by one run, bowled by George Beldam, who was also a talented footballer. Fry made 89, dismissed by Albert Trott. Beldam took 5 for 66 from 28 overs and four balls. Bosanquet claimed just 1 wicket – Ernest Killick for 26. Middlesex’s response was, however, ruined by the weather – 31 for 3. Bosanquet did not bat.

The return match in August 1903 was drawn after being wrecked by the weather – the first two days were lost. Middlesex declared at 152 for 5. Sussex responded with 112 for 2. Both Fry and Ranjitsinhji made unbeaten half-centuries (55 and 51) – Ranjitsinhji was captain. Middlesex’s Leonard Moon had the distinction of being the highest scorer in the match with 57.

Second Lieutenant Moon died in November 1916 from wounds sustained during the First World War. Moon played four Test matches for England in South Africa on the 1904-05 tour.

In May 1904 Middlesex entertained Sussex at Lord’s. Middlesex made 339 all out in their first innings – Bosanquet scored 47, but his performance with the ball was more important. He took 4 for 64 from 18 overs and Trott also claimed four wickets, 4 for 99 from 23 overs and 3 balls, including the prized wickets of Fry for 87 and Ranjitsinhji for 36 – Fry had taken over the captaincy. Sussex was all out for 312.

George Cox took 5 for 73 from 32 overs in Middlesex’s second innings, including Bosanquet whom he bowled for 19. They were 188 for 9 when no further play was possible – the final day was lost – so the match was drawn.

Bosanquet’s next match against Sussex would be thrilling.

The Rivalry Turns?

Up to this point – the first match between Middlesex and Sussex in 1904 – Fry and Ranjitsinhji had had the best of the individual rivalry with Bosanquet, if there was a rivalry to speak of, especially Fry, but that was about to change as Bosanquet delivered a dominant performance, taking 14 wickets in the match in August 1904, which included Ranjitsinhji in the first innings and Fry in the second innings (see https://empowersmag.com/empowersmagwp/2025/04/12/its-just-not-cricket-part-three/).