Ilikena Lasarusa Talebulamaineiilikenamainavaleniveivakabulaimainakulalakebalau, born on this day, 1921, is a favourite in quizzes, for his is the longest surname in the history of First-Class cricket.
However, there is more to him than that.
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However, there is more to him than that.
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The gargantuan surname obviously demands some explanation.
Thankfully, @tintin1107 has done that, so I can move on.
The thread also mentions why his name was abbreviated to IL Bula.
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Thankfully, @tintin1107 has done that, so I can move on.
The thread also mentions why his name was abbreviated to IL Bula.
https://twitter.com/tintin1107/status/1327581711291412481
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Bula was almost certainly the greatest cricketer in the history of Fiji.
Only 9 of his matches were given First-Class status. He scored 702 runs at 41.29 with two hundreds.
Bula was part of the Fiji team that toured New Zealand in 1947-48.
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Only 9 of his matches were given First-Class status. He scored 702 runs at 41.29 with two hundreds.
Bula was part of the Fiji team that toured New Zealand in 1947-48.
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He scored 1,011 runs at 37.44.
In the five First-Class matches he got 464 runs at 46.40 – splendid numbers by any standards.
He was the fifth-highest scorer in that New Zealand summer (this includes all New Zealanders in all matches, including domestic).
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In the five First-Class matches he got 464 runs at 46.40 – splendid numbers by any standards.
He was the fifth-highest scorer in that New Zealand summer (this includes all New Zealanders in all matches, including domestic).
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He got 88 when Fiji famously chased 247 to beat Wellington by 1 wicket.
Against Walter Hadlee's Canterbury, he got 63 and 120 in a 36-run defeat. The 120 came in the fourth innings against a target of 354.
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Against Walter Hadlee's Canterbury, he got 63 and 120 in a 36-run defeat. The 120 came in the fourth innings against a target of 354.
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Hadlee was so impressed that he and Fijian captain Philip Snow, rummaged through the rulebooks and found a loophole.
If no First-Class cricket match had been played in the player’s native country, he would be eligible to play cricket for the nearest Test-playing nation.
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If no First-Class cricket match had been played in the player’s native country, he would be eligible to play cricket for the nearest Test-playing nation.
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This made all Fijians eligible to play Test cricket for New Zealand.
Now, a very strong New Zealand team was supposed to tour England in 1949.
(This side, the 1949ers, would return from England without losing a Test or against any county).
Hadlee wanted Bula.
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Now, a very strong New Zealand team was supposed to tour England in 1949.
(This side, the 1949ers, would return from England without losing a Test or against any county).
Hadlee wanted Bula.
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Unfortunately, the idea did not materialise.
Hadlee thought it might not go too well with the other New Zealand cricketers.
Snow, on the other hand, predicted that Bula was too homesick for a six-month-long tour.
Unfortunate.
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Hadlee thought it might not go too well with the other New Zealand cricketers.
Snow, on the other hand, predicted that Bula was too homesick for a six-month-long tour.
Unfortunate.
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However, the fact remains that decades before Papua New Guinea made waves in international cricket, a Fijian was considered good enough to go on an England tour with New Zealand.
A bit now about Bula the person and his tremendous popularity.
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A bit now about Bula the person and his tremendous popularity.
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On that New Zealand tour he used to perform South Sea songs on the ground for the fans immediately after the day's play.
Waikato Cricket Association presented him with a ball inscribed in silver for two of the hardest-hit innings (77 and a 20-minute 53*) they had witnessed.
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Waikato Cricket Association presented him with a ball inscribed in silver for two of the hardest-hit innings (77 and a 20-minute 53*) they had witnessed.
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He often batted in a sulu (a Fijian skirt).
He did not care for footwear.
And he hit massive sixes, often not bothering to stick to the MCC manual.
They loved this man, for his uniqueness as well as his fantastic cricket.
They chased him for autographs throughout that tour.
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He did not care for footwear.
And he hit massive sixes, often not bothering to stick to the MCC manual.
They loved this man, for his uniqueness as well as his fantastic cricket.
They chased him for autographs throughout that tour.
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Let me finish this with a quote from Snow: "He would flick some dust off his bare feet or peer at his battered bat. With his great stretches forward, his shin-high sulu would float out above the top of his pads.
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"He would tuck it back and prepare to deal wholesomely with the next ball – if possible, over the head and up-stretched hands of the extra boundary fielder just put there."
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