Shooting Star: Injury stopped World Cup representative Andrew Zesers in the late 1980s just as his career was blossoming. Zesers is one of only two cricketers with a surname beginning with ‘Z’ to represent Australia. Cricketer magazine

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‘They caused a sensation by all but winning in Melbourne, and in the following Test defeating the might of the Australians…’

ZULCH AND FAULKNER

When the South African Springboks toured Australia for the first time in 1910–11, opposing a galaxy of revered Golden Age legends from Victor Trumper and Clem Hill to Warren Bardsley and Bill Whitty, they caused a sensation by all but winning in Melbourne, and in the following Test defeating the might of the Australians in Adelaide.

Two of the most pivotal in the strong showings were opener Billy Zulch and the team’s champion all-rounder Aubrey Faulkner, among 11 from the Transvaal in the touring XV. Both made two centuries each, including tons in Adelaide, where South Africa won for the first time against the Australians in an exciting finish.

Sharing a 135-run stand in the first innings, Zulch made 105 and Faulkner 56. In the last Test of the summer in Sydney, they added 143, with Zulch scoring a career-best 150 and Faulkner 92, forcing Australia to bat a second time. For the Test summer Zulch made 354 runs at almost 40, and Faulkner made 732 runs at 73, a record aggregate at the time.

Faulkner is one of South Africa’s ultimate Hall of Famers, while Zulch is among just eight Test players to have a surname beginning with ‘Z’ – and the only one to make a Test century.

Just two Australians with a surname starting with ‘Z’ have played at international level: Tim Zoehrer, who played 10 Tests and 22 One-Day Internationals; and Andrew Zesers, who had two ODIs during the 1987 World Cup campaign.

BILLY ZULCH IN TEST CRICKET

Debut: 1909–10

Tests: 16

Runs: 985

Average: 32.83

Highest score: 150 v Australia, Sydney, 1910–11

100s: 2

AUBREY FAULKNER IN TEST CRICKET

Debut: 1905–06

Tests: 25

Runs: 1754

Average: 40.79

Highest score: 204 v Australia, Melbourne, 1910–11

100s: 4

* Faulkner also took 82 wickets at 26.59 with 3 5wI

 

 

 

Teaming Up: Members of the Australian and South African Test teams in Sydney 1910–11. Jack Zulch is pictured in the very front row on the extreme right and his champion Springbok teammate Aubrey Faulkner seated behind him on the extreme right. The teams: back row, left to right: Warren Bardsley (A), Sid Pegler, Charlie Kelleway (A), Charles Llewellyn, Vernon Ransford (A), Orm. Pearse. Middle: Warwick Armstrong (A), Dave Nourse, H. V. ‘Ranji’ Hordern (A), Lou Stricker, Algy Gehrs (A), A. ‘Tibby’ Cotter (A). Seated: Jimmy Sinclair, Victor Trumper (A), Percy Sherwell, Clem Hill (A), Reggie Schwarz, Bill Whitty (A), Faulkner. Front: S. J. ‘Tip’ Snooke, Charlie Macartney (A), J. M. M. ‘Mick’ Commaille, H. ‘Sammy’ Carter (A), Zulch. Insets: Tom Campbell and A. E. ‘Bert’ Vogler.

Courtesy of Jane and Gerry Dorset