Andrew John Sandham (23 March 1890 – 19 March 1973) was an English professional cricketer who played as a right‑handed opening batsman for Surrey County Cricket Club and the England national team. He is noted for scoring the first triple century in Test cricket, 325 runs against the West Indies at Lord’s in 1930, and for a long first‑class career that encompassed over 500 matches.
Early life and education
Andrew John Sandham was born in Walthamstow, Essex, England. Little is recorded about his formal education, but he began playing cricket in local clubs as a teenager, showing early promise as an opening batsman.
Career
County cricket
Sandham debuted for Surrey in 1910 and quickly established himself as a reliable opener. Over a twenty‑year first‑class career (1910–1934) he scored 31,862 runs at an average of 40.70, including 70 centuries. He captained Surrey intermittently and contributed as a part‑time leg‑break bowler, taking 45 wickets.
International cricket
Sandham made his Test debut for England against Australia at The Oval on 13 August 1921. He played 14 Test matches between 1921 and 1930, scoring 901 runs at an average of 38.37 with three centuries. His most historic innings came on 14 July 1930 at Lord’s, when he compiled 325 runs against the touring West Indies side. This innings was the first triple century recorded in Test cricket, surpassing the previous highest Test score of 287 by England’s Wally Hammond (though Hammond’s 287 was later eclipsed by Sandham’s 325). The record stood until Don Bradman’s 334 later that year.
Style of play
Sandham was renowned for his solid defensive technique, capable of occupying the crease for extended periods while also possessing the ability to accelerate scoring when required. His partnership with opening partner Jack Hobbs at Surrey was considered one of the era’s most effective pairings.
Later life and death
After retiring from first‑class cricket in 1934, Sandham served as a coach and a cricket administrator, notably as a member of the Surrey County Cricket Committee. He remained involved in cricket commentary on radio during the 1940s and 1950s. Sandham died on 19 March 1973 in Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, aged 82.
Legacy
Andy Sandham’s 325 remains a landmark in cricket history as the first Test triple hundred. Although his international career was relatively brief, his achievement is frequently cited in discussions of early 20th‑century batting milestones. Surrey County Cricket Club honors him among its most prolific run‑scorers, and his statistical contributions place him among England’s leading batsmen of the inter‑war period.