September 4, 1936 – When a team of two players defeated a team of 11

Cricket is widely known as a sport between 11 players playing on either side but in some rare cases, teams fielded 20 players in their side while a few played with only two cricketers. One case when only two players featured for a team during a two-innings a side game was played on September 4th and 5th in 1936. The Isle of Oxney, a team of 11 players took on The Professionals team that had only two players on their side.

The two were Kent’s Bill Ashdown and Sussex’s Albert Wensley who were in their late 30s with an experience of over 350+ first-class appearances. Ashdown scored 21070 runs in the 457 FC matches he played till that season by bagging 581 wickets while Wensley had 1101 wickets to his name along with the 10165 runs in the 382 matches. (The game was mentioned in the “Cricket’s Strangest Matches” book by Andrew Ward)

The history:

The game of two professionals taking on 11 players from the Isle of Oxney had a history of 100 years as it began in the 1830s. The Isle of Oxney is placed on the border of Kent-Sussex. The landlord of Wittersham’s Norton’s Inn wasn’t happy with the local team bragging about their achievements. He then put a bet with the locals that he would find two cricketers who could beat the Isle of Oxney’s XI.

The landlord roped in the Kent professionals Edward Wenman and Richard Mills who defeated the local team in Wittersham by 66 runs. Wenman made 65 while Mills remained unbeaten on 84 in the first while it was Mills who got out in the 2nd essay for 29 with Wenman scoring 16*. This two-innings game was played between September 4th and 5th in 1834.

Rules of the game:

The rules were different from a normal game as there were some exceptions in this match since one of the teams was playing with fewer members.

1. The Professionals team will be considered “all out” if one of the two players gets out.

2. No extra fielder will be allowed for Professionals. One of the two will be the bowler while the other will be the keeper.

3. The Professionals had an option to bowl with the same bowler in successive overs. They were given the concession of changing the bowling at their will.

The game:

FGH Pridham, the captain of the Isle of Oxney’s team, was a coal merchant. He was accompanied by three gardeners, two carpenters, a hop-dryer, two farmers, a bricklayer and a motor mechanic. The idea of two men taking on a team of 11 did help in publicizing the game as it pulled more than 2000 spectators to the venue (4000+ according to some other sources). The Isle team that batted first had the luxury of playing at their will either on the off-side or the on-side as there were no fielders.

As a result, none of the two professionals delivered a maiden over. Wensley finished with 5/66 in his 12.4 overs while Ashdown took 4/82 in his 12 overs as the 11-man team was bowled out for 153. Bill Catt, Pridham’s opening partner, was the top-scorer with 68. The Professionals were too good and took a first innings lead as Wensley scored 96 with 13 fours and three sixes while Ashdown made 83 with 14 boundaries.

The pair shared a 186-run partnership that included seven extras before Wensley got out four runs short of his hundred. The Professionals gained a 35-run lead in only 36.4 overs they batted before rain washed out the remaining time left in the game. The Professionals once again came on the top of Isle of Oxney in the historic fixtures as they were declared winners based on first innings lead.

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