You often hear about cricketers going through injuries and, with lion-hearted courage, making a comeback. For instance, Nawab Pataudi, who lost his right eye in a road accident in 1962, still played at the highest level for India, or Yuvraj Singh, a 2011 World Cup-winning member who fought cancer and came out on top. But imagine if someone were declared dead and then played a Test match 15 years after his “death.” Sounds interesting, doesn’t it?
Who was Harry Lee?
Born on October 26, 1890, Harry Lee was the eldest of the ‘Lees of Marylebone,’ a family known for cricket, with his younger brothers Frank and Jack Lee also playing first-class cricket in England. Initially, Harry worked as a greengrocer with his father but soon pursued his passion for cricket and joined the county cricket club Middlesex in 1911. Although he was initially reluctant to join the army, his stance changed when war erupted. Despite this, he continued to play cricket, scoring 139 runs at Lord’s Cricket Ground against Nottinghamshire in August 1914. However, as the war intensified, he was sent to the 13th Battalion of the London Regiment.
Interestingly, he was presumed dead after the Battle of Aubers Ridge in May 1915, where 499 of 550 men from his battalion were killed. In reality, Lee survived, though he was severely injured.
How did Harry Lee play cricket 15 years after being declared dead?
Lee was unconscious for three days before being found and transported to a hospital, where doctors clearly stated that he could neither join the army nor play cricket. However, showing remarkable resilience, Lee returned to cricket. In early 1916, he played for the Royal Army Service Corps and later worked as a cricket and football coach for the Maharaja of Cooch Behar in India. He made a significant cricket comeback, playing first-class matches in India.
Credit -ESPNcricinfo
Upon returning to England after the war, he dedicated himself to Middlesex, scoring over 2,500 runs. At age 40, he was called to play for England on the 1931 tour of South Africa. Although he played just one game, scoring 18 in the first innings and 1 in the second, he never received his Test cap due to a contract dispute. Despite this, the courage Harry Lee showed is still remembered by many.
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