Rupert Tang Choon
{{short description|West Indian cricketer}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Rupert Tang Choon
| fullname = Rupert Paul Tang Choon
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1914|5|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Sangre Grande, Trinidad
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1985|9|5|1914|5|31|df=yes}}
| death_place = Sangre Grande, Trinidad
| country = West Indies
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm leg-spin
| club1 = Trinidad
| year1 = {{nowrap|1934/35–1954/55}}
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 52
| runs1 = 2,656
| bat avg1 = 34.05
| 100s/50s1 = 3/17
| top score1 = 132
| deliveries1 = 3,835
| wickets1 = 59
| bowl avg1 = 36.01
| fivefor1 = 2
| tenfor1 = 0
| best bowling1 = 6/123
| catches/stumpings1= 52/–
| source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/24/24213/24213.html CricketArchive
| date = 25 August
| year = 2014
}}
Rupert Paul Tang Choon (31 May 1914 – 5 September 1985) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Trinidad from 1934 to 1955.
All-rounder, 1934-35 to 1942-43
Tang Choon played the first part of his career as a leg-spinning all-rounder. In his fourth first-class match, against Barbados in the Inter-Colonial Tournament in 1935-36, he made 72 and 2 batting at number eight, and took 6 for 123 and 3 for 131 in a 36-run victory for Trinidad.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/15/15693.html Barbados v Trinidad 1935-36] In 1938, for R.S. Grant's XI against British Guiana, he took 3 for 13 and 5 for 81 to help his side to an innings victory.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/16/16809.html British Guiana v R.S. Grant's XI 1938] His highest score in this period was 83, batting at number seven against Barbados in 1940-41.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17307.html Trinidad v Barbados 1940-41]
He "came near to being chosen to tour England with the 1939 West Indian side"Wisden 1986, p. 1219. but the leg-spinners Bertie Clarke and John Cameron were preferred.
He played for North Trinidad in the Beaumont Cup from 1934-35 to 1951-52, in the days before the matches had first-class status. In the 1934-35 match he took 8 for 32.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/136/136039.html South Trinidad v North Trinidad 1934-35]
Batsman, 1943-44 to 1954-55
Tang Choon seldom bowled after the 1942-43 season, taking only one wicket during the rest of his first-class career.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/24/24213/f_Bowling_by_Season.html Rupert Tang Choon bowling by season] His batting improved, however. In his two matches in 1944-45 he scored his first century, 132,[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/17/17467.html Trinidad v Barbados 1944-45] 40 and 83. Against MCC in 1947-48, batting now at number five, he scored 103, adding 244 for the fourth wicket in three and a half hours with Gerry Gomez. "A neat, lithe batsman, Tang Choon gave a truly brilliant display," noted Wisden. However, he scored only 7 and 17 in Trinidad's second match against MCC shortly afterwards.Wisden 1949, pp. 748-50.
He captained Trinidad in both their matches in 1951-52. He scored 104 and 47 not out against British Guiana in 1953-54, his third and last century.[https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20889.html British Guiana v Trinidad 1953-54] He played his last first-class match in 1954-55 against the Australians when he was 40 years old.{{cite web |title=Trinidad v Australians 1954-55 |url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1950S/1954-55/AUS_IN_WI/AUS_TRINIDAD_04-07APR1955.html |website=Cricinfo |access-date=11 April 2023}}
References
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External links
- {{cricinfo|id=53155}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tang Choon, Rupert}}
Category:Trinidad and Tobago cricketers