Cricket, the Philadelphia story . . . Ranjitsinhji's XI of 1899

In 1899, Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, or Ranji, was at the height of his power and talent. He had just finished the English first-class cricket season with a record run aggregate of 3159, beating his previous record of 2780 runs from 1896. However for him there was still one more task to accomplish before the year was out.

Two years previously Ranji took guard against a young swing bowler from Philadelphia, John Barton King. In Ranji's own words King's first delivery "leapt at him like a tiger"and he was bowled first ball. Sussex were bowled out in less than an hour for forty six, King taking 7-13. The 'Gentlemen of Philadelphia' won that match with King claiming another six wickets in the second innings.

Revenge is best served cold, they say, Ranji was ready for that moment. He had hand picked a powerful team of England's greatest batsmen, including eight players who had played, or would go on to play, test cricket for England. What followed was a brutal lesson, which ultimately served to strengthen the Philadelphians in the future, amid a storm of controversy that grew as the tour progressed.

Take yourself back to the turn of the twentieth century and relive the time when an Indian Prince played the King of Philadelphia.