<P> Following his failure to take the Bar examinations and return to India, Ranjitsinhji's allowance was stopped by Vibhaji . Ranjitsinhji, owing money to many creditors in Cambridge who included personal friends, appealed to the British in India and Vibhaji was persuaded to advance a loan to cover Ranjitsinhji's expenses before his expected return to India . Simon Wilde believes this incident encouraged a belief in Ranjitsinhji that someone else would always cover his debts . Even so, he was not called to the Bar in 1894, or at any point afterwards . Nor did he make any attempt to return to India, despite his assurances to Vibhaji . Instead, his developing friendship with Billy Murdoch and C.B. Fry led to Ranjitsinhji becoming interested in playing cricket for Sussex . Murdoch, the Sussex captain, wished to increase his team's playing strength . It is likely that, although he would play as an amateur, the club offered Ranjitsinhji a financial inducement, as was common for leading amateurs; given his monetary difficulties and unwillingness to return home, he was unlikely to refuse the offer . However, these arrangements came too late for Ranjitsinhji to play for the county in 1894, and his cricket that year was limited to matches for the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC), festival games and benefit matches . Consequently, he could neither find any batting form nor build on his achievements of the previous year . Although struggling to bat against off spin in one game, he scored 94 while sharing a partnership of 200 runs with W.G. Grace in another . In eight first - class games, he scored 387 runs at an average of 32.25 . </P> <P> Despite debts which continued to mount, Ranjitsinhji prepared thoroughly before the 1895 season, practising in the nets at Cambridge with Tom Hayward and scoring heavily in club matches . Although Sussex were not a strong team, Ranjitsinhji was not certain of a place in the side . His debut came in a match against the MCC; after scoring 77 not out in his first innings and then taking six wickets, he scored his maiden first - class century in the second . In 155 minutes, he scored 150 runs and took his team close to an improbable victory; he became increasingly attacking throughout the innings and dominated the scoring . At the end, although his team lost, he was given an ovation by the crowd who were impressed by his strokeplay . Yet it is unlikely that he met the qualification rules in force at the time for appearing in the County Championship; this was hinted at by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, but no protests were made . </P> <P> For the rest of the season, Ranjitsinhji made a vivid impression wherever he played . Crowds were substantially increased at matches in which he appeared and he established a reputation for brilliant batting and shots on the leg side . Although, after his debut, he made a slow start in poor weather, he batted himself into good form in several matches on Brighton's good batting pitch . He scored centuries against Middlesex and Nottinghamshire in very difficult batting conditions, and his batting against the latter was regarded by critics as among the best of the season . He was less effective at the end of the season, possibly suffering from mental and physical fatigue, but his overall record of 1,775 runs at an average of 49.31 placed him fourth in the national averages . Ranjitsinhji was particularly popular at Brighton; Simon Wilde writes: "The crowds would stroll the outfield during intervals in play...at a loss to explain what he did: the most disdainful flick of the wrists, and he could exasperate some of England's finest bowlers; the most rapid sweep of the arms, and the ball was charmed to any part of the field he chose, as though he had in his hands not a bat but a wizard's wand ." </P> <P> Shortly before the season began, Vibhaji died; his 12 - year - old son Jaswantsinhji officially succeeded to the throne on 10 May, while Ranjitsinhji was playing for Sussex against the MCC, taking the new name Jassaji . The British appointed an Administrator to rule until he reached an appropriate age to assume the responsibility of a ruler . As Ranjitsinhji's fame increased throughout 1895, journalists pressed for more information on his background . Some stories circulated that his father was the ruler of an Indian state and that he had been deprived of his rightful position as ruler of Nawanagar; despite his protestations that this was not correct, it is likely that Ranjitsinhji was the source of these stories . It is possible he began planning to contest the position, prompted by the enquiries of the press and his claim to be a prince . </P>

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