Shute Banerjee

Shute Banerjee Biography

It is somewhat unfair that Sarodindu (erroneously referred to as Sarobindu) ‘Shute’ Banerjee is remembered for his last-wicket stand of 249 with Chandu Sarwate against Surrey in 1946. Their partnership (Sarwate 124* and Banerjee 121) remains the only instance when Nos 10 and 11 registered hundreds in the same First-Class innings.

Banerjee toiled hard over a career spanning three decades. He was not express, but he was accurate, and had a vicious bouncer; he could also bowl for hours, which made him an excellent stock bowler. His 385 wickets came at 26.68, while his 3,715 runs came at 20.63 with 5 hundreds. He first rose into prominence with 6 for 59 against Jack Ryder’s Australians of 1935-36.

A surprise pick for the 1936 tour of England, Banerjee picked up 40 wickets at 29.42. India had a dismal tour on and off the field (the most controversial being the send-off of Lala Amarnath). Following his 4 for 51 at Derbyshire, Banerjee was a certainty for The Oval Test, when Baqa Jilani intervened, insulting CK Nayudu at the breakfast table. True to his promise, Vizzy awarded Baqa Jilani a Test cap, relegating Banerjee to 12th man.

Banerjee visited England again in 1946, and once again he went without a Test. By this time he had shifted from Bengal to Bihar via Nawanagar. His chance finally came when the West Indians faced their only defeat on their 1948-49 tour of Pakistan, India, and Ceylon: opening bowling for East Zone he scythed through a star-studded side with 7 for 67.

He finally made his debut at 37, where he claimed 1 for 73 and 4 for 54 in a humdinger at Bombay. Surprisingly, he was never considered again. He had one last shot, turning up for Madhya Pradesh at an age of 48.

Shute Banerjee passed away at 69.

Abhishek Mukherjee

Shute Banerjee Batting & Fielding Averages

Career

Avg

100s

50s

Test

ODIs

T20s

World Cup

Shute Banerjee Bowling Averages

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