Rupert Tang Choon
Rupert Paul Tang Choon (31 May 1914 – 5 September 1985) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Trinidad from 1934 to 1955.
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Rupert Paul Tang Choon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 31 May 1914 Sangre Grande, Trinidad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 5 September 1985 (aged 71) Sangre Grande, Trinidad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-hand batsman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm leg-spin | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1934-35 to 1954-55 | Trinidad | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricket Archive, 25 August 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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.[1] 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.[2] His highest score in this period was 83, batting at number seven against Barbados in 1940-41.[3]
He "came near to being chosen to tour England with the 1939 West Indian side"[4] 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.[5]
Batsman, 1943-44 to 1954-55
Tang Choon seldom bowled after the 1942-43 season, taking only one wicket during the rest of his career.[6] His batting improved, however. In his two matches in 1944-45 he scored his first century, 132,[7] 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.[8]
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.[9] He played his last first-class match in 1954-55 against the Australians when he was 40 years old.