20 Facts About Sandy Bell

Alexander John Bell was a South African cricketer who played in 16 Test matches from 1929 to 1935.

Sandy Bell was a tail-end right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast-medium bowler.

Sandy Bell was then given limited opportunities in the first team in the matches leading up to the first Test match, for which he was not selected.

Sandy Bell took his opportunity: in England's first innings, following an early three-wicket burst by Denys Morkel, and then a fourth wicket for the same player, Bell took the remaining six wickets at a cost of 99 runs.

Wisden Cricketers' Almanack wrote that Sandy Bell "maintained an excellent length and owed most of his success to his ability to make the ball swerve".

Sandy Bell was not able to maintain that form, failing to take a wicket in England's second innings.

Sandy Bell retained his place for the fourth match in the series, but was successful with neither ball nor bat and, after a heavy defeat for the South African team which settled the rubber in favour of England, he was dropped for the final game.

Sandy Bell missed out on the first Test match, which was won narrowly by South Africa, but was called into the team for the second game on an easy-paced wicket at Cape Town; he caused a small flurry of excitement by taking three quick wickets, those of Maurice Leyland, Maurice Turnbull, and Percy Chapman in a small England middle-order collapse, but the game petered out to a draw.

Sandy Bell retained his place for the rain-ruined third Test at Durban, but the South Africans took only one wicket in the whole match, and he was dropped after this game.

Sandy Bell was recalled for the fifth match of the series, but again made little impact.

Sandy Bell finally became a regular Test player on the tour to Australia and New Zealand, playing in all seven Tests on the tour.

Sandy Bell was the most successful South African bowler with four wickets for 123 runs.

Wisden noted that "Sandy Bell bowled splendidly throughout the long innings".

In terms of the result, the second Test was similar, but there was no weather excuse this time, and the South Africans lost by an innings in three days: Sandy Bell was again the most successful South African bowler in Australia's single innings, taking five wickets for 140 runs.

Sandy Bell was much less expensive and no less effective in Australia's first innings in the third match of the series: Bell and Quinn dismissed the hosts for 198, with Bell taking five for 69 and Quinn four for 42.

Sandy Bell was the most successful South African bowler and for the third match in succession took five wickets in an innings: he finished with figures of five for 142, though he failed to dismiss Bradman and did not take his wicket during the series.

Sandy Bell was comfortably the most successful South African bowler of the series, taking 23 wickets at an average of 27.26; the nearest to him in terms of both aggregate and average was Quinn was 13 wickets at 39.38.

In contrast to the whitewash suffered in Australia, the South Africans won both games against New Zealand, though Sandy Bell was not personally successful, taking only three wickets in the two games.

Sandy Bell was not in the side for the first Test, but was recalled for the second match of the series at Lord's, where South Africa recorded their first-ever victory over England in England; Bell's own contribution was limited and he took only one wicket.

Sandy Bell was a little more prominent in the third Test, taking three second innings wickets and bowling tightly when England were pushing for quick runs.