Alf Gover's Indore Incident: The Funniest Toilet Break in Cricket History

Cricket's Funniest incident: England fast bowler Alf Gover enjoyed a long and distinguished first-class career with Surrey, capturing 1,555 wickets at an average of 23.63 across two decades of cricket. Although his Test career was brief, interrupted by the Second World War, he later achieved renown as a respected coach, establishing and running a celebrated fast-bowling school. Beyond his professional accomplishments, Gover is also remembered for a very funny incident during the 1937–38 tour of India with Lord Tennyson’s XI. The side played fifteen first-class matches, including five against India, and it was during one of these fixtures at Indore that an episode unfolded—later immortalised in Fred Trueman and Frank Hardy’s 1978 book You Nearly Had Him That Time—which ensured Gover a lasting place in cricketing folklore. n the 1937-38 season, under the name Lord Tennyson's XI, a team of 15 English cricketers toured India. They played 15 first class matches, including five against India XI, as well as nine other matches. During a match at Indore, this incident took place that made Alf Gover one of the best topics for after dinner speeches. Source of this incident: A book titled ‘You Nearly Had Him That Time’ by Fred Trueman & Frank Hardy, published in 1978. A lot has been written about the unhygienic conditions in India during that era and English players having an upset stomach was a common occurrence. During this match at Indore, Gover began his run up to the wicket at the start of an over but didn’t bowl. To the dismay of all, he kept running, passed the umpire, ran over the pitch full length, at full speed crossed the batsman who was waiting for the ball to play, crossed the slip cordon and very soon disappeared into the pavilion. No one knew as to what had happened. In urgency, whenever a player from the fielding side leaves the field, a substitute takes his place, and play continues but here play stopped. The captain Lord Tennyson couldn’t ask a new bowler to start the over as he couldn’t find the ball. No one knew where the ball was? It took a few minutes to realise that while running in desperate search for a lavatory, Gover had forgotten to leave the ball on the ground. The captain himself went to the Dressing Room and called Gover. ‘Captain I am here!’ Gover’s voice came from the toilet. ‘Where is the ball?’ the captain shouted. Also Read: LIVE Cricket ScoreThen Gover realised that he had taken the ball with him and threw the ball over the toilet door and the captain emerged from the pavilion with his prize.