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The Brave Hearts
match’,* he scored a century despite the injuries he was suffering.
During the Second World War, he faced yet another difficulty. Because of an accidental fall, his back pain recurred. This time the pain was severe. He had to wear a steel jacket continuously for eleven months. Seeing him in such a critical condition, everyone thought that Allen would never be able
Allen Melville to play cricket again. But not only did he return to the game of cricket but toured England as the captain of the South African team. Allen, as if, he had a 'date' with difficulties, fractured his finger. Secondly, because of a sprain in the thigh, Melville felt acute pain. Yet he played cricket with pleasure and joy. He scored 189 and 104 (not out) in the Tent bridge Test Match. He again scored a century (117) in the Test played at Lords. Thus he scored three consecutive Test centuries, first in the 'time-less Tesť', then two
In the cricketing season of 1938-39, the last Test match played in South Africa between England and South Africa lasted full ten days, barring of course the interval for rest. This match was started on 3rd March 1939 and was declared 'drawn' on 14th March 1939. The match was declared over because the English team had to board a ship to return home. In the entire history of the game of cricket, this time-less test match' was the longest ever played.
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