Massively tall in his frame and powerfully built, George Bonnor was a clean striker of the ball and could hit the ball a really long way. His fearless approach did unsettle bowlers when he got on song but it also meant that consistency eluded him on a general basis. Despite his cricketing skills, it will be for a bizarre event that Bonnor will always be remembered. He was the first player in international cricketer to get dismissed hit wicket. Predominantly a batsman who also bowled gentle medium pace, Bonnor was a veteran in the first-class circuit and managed an impressive run tally which looks all the more impressive, considering his style of batting in an era dominated by the bowlers. As mentioned earlier, he could strike the ball really well and there was one funny incident in 1880 at The Oval during a Test against England, when he mishit one into the skies for so long that the batsmen took three runs by the time the catch was taken. In 1912, a massive heart attack cut short Bonnor's life, passing away at the age of 57.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan