SYDNEY BARNES - Cricket Legend Historical Film DVD

Sydney Francis Barnes (1873-1967) was an English professional cricketer who is generally regarded as one of the greatest ever bowlers. He was right-handed and bowled at a pace that varied from medium to fast-medium, with the ability to make the ball both swing and break from off or leg.

He played for clubs in the Lancashire, North Staffordshire and Central Lancashire leagues between 1895 and 1934. He had two phases playing for Staffordshire in the Minor Counties Championship. In Test Cricket, Barnes played for England in 27 matches from 1901 to 1914, taking 189 wickets at 16.43, being one of the lowest Test bowling averages ever achieved.

In 1911-1912 he helped win the Ashes when he took 34 wickets in the series against Australia. In 1913-1914, his final Test series, he took a world series record 49 wickets against South Africa.

In 1963 Barnes was named by Wisden in its hundredth edition as one of its "Six Giants of the Wisden Century". In 2008, he had the highest ranking among bowlers in the ICC Best-Ever Test Championship Ratings and, in 2009, he was inducted in to the ICC Cricket Hall of Fame.

This documentary is enhanced with interviews with Cricket experts and famous players - and with personal comments from the great man himself recorded in the 1960s - together with rare film footage of Barnes in action against the West Indies in 1932 and film of his testimonial match.

60 minutes - £12.99+£1 p&p