New Delhi: New images of Kumar Shri Ranjitsinhji, popularly known as “Ranji”, who is the first Asian cricketer to play test cricket for England, have been discovered at the UK National Archives.
Ranji had become the first person of colour in the England team when he was selected to play against the Australian cricket team at Old Trafford in July 1896.
Photograph of three cricketers, Ranjitsinhji (left), W G Grace (centre), and W L Murdoch (right) registered for copyright protection by Robert Payne Grace, Harcourt House, Anerley, Surrey in June 1895. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/420/933 Photo: The UK National Archives
The UK National Archives has rediscovered the original copyright registration for what is believed to be the oldest surviving film of cricket, showing “Ranji” practising in the nets in Sydney after being selected for the tour of Australia with the England team in the winter of 1897–98.
Photograph of Ranjitsinhji and C B Fry registered for copyright protection by Charles Hands, 69 Trinity Road, Balham, London 21 September 1903. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/465/537 Photo: The UK National Archives
The images were recently rediscovered by Sarah Castagnetti, a Visual Collections Specialist at The UK National Archives.
Ranji had made a stunning debut in 1896. Batting at number three after the legendary W G Grace he scored 62 in the first innings and 154 not out in the second. Despite Australia winning the game, his performance helped Ranji get a Wisden Cricketer of the Year award in 1897.
Registration form with a copy of an original cinematograph film strip attached. Shows Ranjitsinhji practising batting at the nets at the Association Cricket Ground, Sydney, Australia. Registration form shows film taken by Henry Walter Barnett, and copyright registered by Fuerst Brothers in February 1897. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/434/423 Photo: The UK National Archives
Ranji was born in 1872 in the erstwhile princely state of Nawanagar and was related to the ruler of the state, commonly known as Jam Sahib. Later, the Jam Sahib named Ranji as his heir but disinherited him after giving birth to a son four years later. In 1906 he finally inherited the position of ruler of Nawanagar, with the title Colonel His Highness Shri Sir Ranjitsinhji Vibhaji II, Jam Sahib of Nawanagar, GCSI, GBE in 1906.
Drawings of Ranji registered by Campbellfield Pottery Company in Glasgow. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/141/406-407 Photo: The UK National Archives
Ranji started playing cricket after travelling to Britain at the age of 16 to study at Trinity College Cambridge in 1889.
Portrait photograph of His Majesty The Jam of Nawanagar taken by Charles Vandyk, 37 Buckingham Palace Road, London and registered for copyright protection by Ralph Robinson, Norwood, Plymouth Grove, Manchester. September 1908. Catalogue reference: COPY 1/525/217. Photo: The UK National Archives
In total, Ranji played 15 times scoring two centuries and six fifties, totalling 989 runs with an average of 44.95. His signature shot was the leg glance.
He died in 1933 after a short illness. The following year the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) founded a national tournament, the Cricket Championship of India.
The Maharaja of Patiala donated a trophy in memory of Ranji, and in 1935 the competition was re-named the Ranji Trophy. The annual first-class cricket competition is the biggest domestic tournament in India.
