Rupert Paul Tang Choon (31 May 1914 – 5 September 1985) was a cricketer who played first-class cricket for Trinidad from 1934 to 1955.

Rupert Tang Choon
Personal information
Full name
Rupert Paul Tang Choon
Born(1914-05-31)31 May 1914
Sangre Grande, Trinidad
Died5 September 1985(1985-09-05) (aged 71)
Sangre Grande, Trinidad
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm leg-spin
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1934/35–1954/55Trinidad
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 52
Runs scored 2,656
Batting average 34.05
100s/50s 3/17
Top score 132
Balls bowled 3,835
Wickets 59
Bowling average 36.01
5 wickets in innings 2
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 6/123
Catches/stumpings 52/–
Source: CricketArchive, 25 August 2014

All-rounder, 1934-35 to 1942-43

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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

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Tang Choon seldom bowled after the 1942-43 season, taking only one wicket during the rest of his first-class 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.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Barbados v Trinidad 1935-36
  2. ^ British Guiana v R.S. Grant's XI 1938
  3. ^ Trinidad v Barbados 1940-41
  4. ^ Wisden 1986, p. 1219.
  5. ^ South Trinidad v North Trinidad 1934-35
  6. ^ Rupert Tang Choon bowling by season
  7. ^ Trinidad v Barbados 1944-45
  8. ^ Wisden 1949, pp. 748-50.
  9. ^ British Guiana v Trinidad 1953-54
  10. ^ "Trinidad v Australians 1954-55". Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
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