Cambridge engineers recreate 1900s cricket bowling machine

It was created from only a black and white photograph of the 7ft (2m) machine, and a patent application from the time for reference.

When the Australians visited Cambridge in 1909, their star batsman Victor Trumper was bowled out by the machine.

Thomas Glenday, head of design and technical services at the university’s engineering department, said they did not have any drawings to work with.

“It meant we had to sketch it out for ourselves, figure out how the machine was actually going to work, and how it replicates the skill and speed of a spin bowler,” he said.

“The spin has been the key piece, and probably the most complicated part of the design.”