Stoddart: why? why? why?

The unusual story of Andrew Stoddart yearns to be told and retold to show the futility of life. He belonged to the British aristocracy during the heydays of Victorian Britain. Public school background followed by the usual Oxbridge routine.

A contemporary of Ranjitsinhji, in between his birth in 1863 and his death in 1915, he had achieved enough to satisfy any person’s ego for a lifetime and more. He captained England at cricket. Not content, he tried his hand at rugby and went on to represent England, again as captain.

To be a double international in sport is a highly praiseworthy achievement and only a few outstanding sportspeople have done so. But to lead one’s nation in two sports disciplines is a very, very rare occurrence. Not even the legendary CB Fry could lay claims to have led England both in two sports disciplines.

Stoddart played cricket quite casually. Appearing in patches for Middlesex as a middle-order batter, he could be relied upon to play the responsible innings in times of need. He ended his 16-Test career with an above par average of 37.

Discerning readers would understand the gravity of the statistical figure when they consider that he played on ‘uncovered’ pitches favourable to bowlers. Grace averaged 32 and Ranji 44. Of course, stats mean nothing unless properly perceived. The concept of preparing batter-friendly paradises came much later.

All these unique achievements pale into insignificance when we realize that Andrew Stoddart was the first captain in the history of cricket to have won a match after following-on.

He took the England (then MCC) team to distant Australia, sailing months on seas. In the first Test at Sydney, Australia piled on 586 runs. England’s reply did not go beyond 325. With such a huge lead the Australia asked England to bat again. With defeat staring at them, England reached a decent score of 437 in the 2^nd innings. With just 176 to win Australia began its 2nd innings.

Overnight rain affected the fifth and final day’s play. The teams agreed to add an extra day for the benefit of the paying spectators. On the 6^th day Stoddart’s team shot the opponents out for 140, thereby winning the match by the narrow margin of just 10 runs. Andrew Stoddart became the first-ever captain to win a match after following-on! This was incredible.

 For nearly 90 years the unique record remained till Mike Brearley’s England upset Australia’s apple-cart in a similar fashion at Leeds in 1981. Brearley making a comeback as captain had the pleasure to see Bob Willis take 8 for43 as Australia collapsed for 111. Botham’s contributed 50 and 149 and took 6 and 1 wickets.

Similarly Sourav Ganguly’s Indians had the measure of Steve Waugh’s Aussies at Eden in 2001. While saluting the magnificent contributions at Eden in 2001 of the magical trio of Laxman (281), Dravid (180) and Harbhajan (7 & 6 wickets), let us not forget that Stoddart’s men were the first to achieve the epic feat way back in 1894.

 Andrew Edward Stoddart’s modesty came to the fore as he maintained that his captaincy had little to do with the ultimate unique result! Grace and graciousness combined.

But what followed was very, very strange. One day at the prime of his life Stoddart decided that enough was enough. He put a pistol to his ear and pulled the trigger. People were shocked. They moaned and sobbed. None knew the reason. No amount of research has been able to unravel the secret.

England captain at cricket and rugby; historic achievement as cricket captain; highly acclaimed all over yet Stoddart yearned to see for himself what lay beyond death…