The Latest Teaser Quiz

[Maranello]

Yep, it is Iftikhar Ali Khan, the Nawab of Pataudi. Profile here.

He was the father of Mansoor Ali Khan Pataudi, another Nawab, another Indian Test cricketer, and actually a captain. Mansoor married a famous Indian flim actress, and his son Saif Ali Khan is an Indian film actor. From nawab to court-jester in two generations.... what a fall!

[R W S]

Nawab of Pataudi came to England at the young age of 16, and was taught by Frank Woolley. He was a right-handed batsman with a fluent but patient style. Representing Oxford university at the age of 21, he scored a massive 238 not out against Cambridge University at lord's.

He played in the first two tests in the Bodyline Series of 1932/3, scoring 102 in his first ever Test match in Sydney at the age of 22. Dropped after an argument with the England Captain Douglas Jardine, he returned home to England and took no further part in the infamous tour. He played for England one more time (also against Australia) in 1934 at Trent Bridge, but then returned home to India due to ill health.

Nawab captained the Indian side when they toured England in 1946, playing in three Tests against his adopted country. He had very little success in the Test matches but averages just under 50 for the first class games, scoring 981 runs on tour. He died of a heart attack while playing polo, his son following in his father's footsteps by captaining India at Test level.

[Maranello]

wow.. he died young. Impressive "career", typical early 20th century Indian aristocrat. Went to my old school which I did not know of till today..!