K.S. Duleepsinhji's Emergence — 333 v Northamptonshire, 1929

Duleepsinhji was the nephew of Ranjitsinhji, India's first Test cricketer (for England). He had followed his uncle to Cambridge and Sussex. The 1929 season was his first as the senior Sussex batsman.

Duleepsinhji had come to England in 1921 to study at Cheltenham College and Cambridge University. By 1928 he was in the Sussex side; by 1929 he was the leading run-scorer in the county and being talked of as a Test prospect. The 333 at Hove came in mid-May 1929 against a Northamptonshire attack including Vallance Jupp.

Duleepsinhji's innings lasted 360 minutes and contained 34 fours and 6 sixes. Sussex declared at 521; the match was won by an innings. Wisden, naming him one of its Five Cricketers of the Year for 1930, said: 'No batsman of his generation has played the off-drive with more grace.'

Duleepsinhji played 12 Tests for England between 1929 and 1931 and scored 995 runs at 58.52 — including 173 on Test debut against South Africa at Lord's in 1929. His Test career was cut short by tuberculosis in 1932; he became a cricket administrator and later India's High Commissioner to Australia.

“Duleep was Ranji's heir in style and ten times his equal in self-discipline. He played the off-drive as a man playing a violin.”

Duleepsinhji made 173 on Test debut against South Africa at Lord's in June 1929 and played 12 Tests for England in total. His Test career was cut short by tuberculosis in 1932. He became a cricket administrator after the war and India's High Commissioner to Australia in the 1950s.