Amar Singh

Amar Singh Biography

Had typhoid not claimed him at a mere 29, Amar Singh could have emerged as one of the finest all-rounders of the era. When he and Mohammad Nissar rocked England in India’s first ever Test, an impressed Wally Hammond mentioned that Amar Singh’s deliveries “came off the pitch like the crack of doom.”

For that half an hour in their first Test, India had England under a firm grip, only to let them slip away. Amar Singh whisked out 4 wickets in the Test and smashed a fourth-innings 51 — India's first Test half-century. He formed a formidable new-ball pair with Nissar, something India are still looking for, even after eight decades.

Amar Singh’s bowling average read 30, but it must be remembered that he played in an era when Indian cricket was in her nascent stages. His 7 for 86 at Madras in 1933-34 remained the best figures by an Indian for 18 years, while his 6 for 35 at Lord’s in 1936 (England were all out for 134) remained the best overseas for 17 years.

He troubled Len Hutton on that 1936 tour in the Yorkshire match to the extent that the great man commented, as late as in 1970, that there was no contemporary bowler better than Amar Singh. By then he was a Lancashire professional, playing for Colne; he also played for Burnley.

His First-Class numbers, 3,344 runs at 24 and 506 wickets at 18, make excellent reading, but opportunities of playing cricket at that level were scant. He ran through sides during his brief Ranji Trophy career, and when Lord Tennyson brought his men for an unofficial series in 1937-38, Amar Singh claimed 36 wickets at 16.67 from 5 ‘Tests.’

Abhishek Mukherjee

Amar Singh Batting & Fielding Averages

Career

Avg

100s

50s

Test

ODIs

T20s

World Cup

Amar Singh Bowling Averages

Career	M	B	R	W	Avg	EC	SR	5WI	10WM	BBI	BBM
Test	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
ODIs	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
T20s	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--
World Cup	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--	--		--