In the dry age of the 19th century, Frederick Spofforth was Superstar material with an unmatched charisma and aggression. He maximised his skills as a fast bowler and was a potent strike bowler for Australia. Speed wasn't his forte but then, he didn't need it either. A rampaging bowling action that ended with a typical leap before release, gave him momentum and also enabled him to get the ball to hurry off the pitch. It did help him that it was the early years of the game and there were plenty of pitches that were uncovered and sticky, thereby giving more allowance to the bowlers. Nevertheless, Fred's exploits were laudable and he was also the first bowler ever to take a hat-trick in the game. As he belonged to an era when the game was still evolving, the monetary benefits in the game were scarce and it forced him to leave the game when he was at his very best. Fred shifted to England and spent time in business.

Fred's biggest quality was his impeccable fitness - a skill that set him apart from the rest, especially in an era where these weren't considered that important. His physical strength helped him up his game to higher levels. He was both a strike bowler and a workhorse, often tireless spells of relentless pressure. As mentioned earlier, Fred was aggressive and also brutally honest in his opinions. He never thought twice, even if it meant rejecting the chance to be on Australia's first ever Test team due to what he thought was a selection mistake in the side. He didn't care and loved to live on his own terms. Safe to say that he was one of cricket's first superheroes and was duly rewarded with a spot in Australian Cricket's Hall of Fame. He passed away in the year 1926.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan