Warwick Armstrong's 1905 Tour — 2,002 Runs and 130 Wickets in England

Armstrong had played 21 first-class matches before the 1905 tour. His batting was commanding from the start — strong off the back foot, a powerful driver — and his leg-spin developed quickly. By the time he reached England in 1905 he was already a Test cricketer of some standing.

The 1905 tour was Joe Darling's last as captain. The team was strong but ageing; only Armstrong, Bardsley, Cotter and Macartney would survive into the post-1909 generation.

Australia lost the 1905 series 2-0 (with three drawn) but the touring side was in form throughout. Armstrong's contribution was both with bat (highlight: 248 v Sussex at Hove) and ball (career-best 9 for 44 v Worcestershire).

Warwick Windridge Armstrong, 6 ft 2 in and weighing close to 22 stone at his peak, was already known as 'Big Ship' before he reached 30. Born in Kyneton, Victoria, in 1879, he made his Test debut in 1902 and was Joe Darling's choice for the 1905 Ashes tour at age 26.

The tour was Armstrong's coming-of-age. He scored 2,002 first-class runs (including 11 hundreds) and took 130 wickets with leg-spin, becoming one of the few touring cricketers ever to do the 2,000-and-100 double on a single overseas trip. In the Ashes Tests he was less spectacular (252 runs at 31.50, 16 wickets at 33.18) but his county form was beyond the level of any Australian on the tour.

Armstrong's career covered 1902-1921, with 50 Tests, 2,863 runs at 38.69 and 87 Test wickets at 33.59. He captained Australia in 10 Tests, all between 1920 and 1921, winning eight and drawing two — including the 5-0 home Ashes whitewash of England in 1920-21. He was a controversial figure: bluntly outspoken, often in dispute with the Australian board, and one of the Big Six who refused to tour England in 1912. He died in 1947.

“Armstrong was one of the few touring cricketers who has ever done the double of 2,000 runs and 100 wickets in an English season.”

Armstrong continued through the 1909 tour of England (ordinary by his standards) and into the 1911-12 home Ashes. The 1912 Big Six dispute saw him refuse to tour England; he resumed his career after the war.

He captained Australia in 1920-21 to the famous 5-0 Ashes whitewash and the 1921 Ashes (3-0 in England), retiring as the most successful Australian captain to that date. He moved into business in Melbourne and died in 1947.