A bowling all-rounder by design, it’s through his captaincy that Harry Cave gained popularity through his style of leadership and man-management. Born into a cricketing family that had his father and five uncles playing domestic cricket, it was inevitable for Harry to take up the sport. Primarily a bowler who relied on the inswinger and a sharp leg cutter, he could bowl long and accurate spells without budging in terms of fatigue. With the bat, he was the adventurous kind and while that worked in First-class cricket, it didn’t reap rewards in Test cricket. Harry played a key role in New Zealand’s first ever Test win and was also part of their first overseas tours. He often did the role of a stand-in captain and did it with great efficiency, so much so that it became a pathway to fame for Harry due to his commendable tactics as skipper. One of his uncles had even officiated in Test cricket.

Written by Hariprasad Sadanandan