Ahmed Bulbulia was born on 12 November 1919 in Swartruggens. The world of cricket knew him as 'Jimmy'. Jimmy is regarded as cricket's unique character and personality.To those who saw and knew him, he was 'Mister Cricket'.

Jimmy spent his early years in Fordsburg, and thereafter moved to 'Fietas' or Vrededorp. Here he was much influenced by the Rasdien and the Mathews brothers. These were two cricketing families who were part of a great cricketing culture. They recognised the talent of young Jimmy. Though Jimmy played much street cricket, he did not figure in school cricket at the Bree Street Indian Government School. His greatest encouragement came from Mr Mohamed Kara who regularly chose Jimmy for Invitation teams.

Jimmy spoke of his collection of cricket books: "I had a vast collection. I read about George Headley and Constantine and Bradman and Stanley MaCabe. Today, I do not have a single book. Golden rule is never lend a cricket book". Jimmy followed closely the career of Don Bradman who made his test appearance in 1927.

Jimmy spoke of the legendary all-round abilities of Learie Constantine: "He was able to bowl at the batsman, run to point, and run him out". Has myth and reality got mixed up? Jimmy remembers vividly the Bodyline series in Australia and the bowling of Larwood in 1932.
Jimmy speaks of the great Indian cricketer Ranjitsinjhi: "Ranji was very fond of fishing. Once he was up the whole night fishing and the next day went on to score his highest ever score of 285 not out. He was a genius who introduced a new array of cricket strokes on the leg".

When asked what he considered to be the qualities of a good batsman, Jimmy replied:" He must be consistent. Consistency is the hallmark of the great player. I don't like one-off flash-in-the-pan innings. Consistency, and consistency alone, is all-important."

Jimmy belonged to a cricketing family. "Bree" Bulbulia organised and arranged the aborted West Indian Tour to South Africa in 1958. "Sam Loxton" Bulbulia was a solid opener with a tenacious defence.
Jimmy has a special affection for Basil D'Oliveira:"When I first saw him play at the Natalspruit Grounds in 1953, I told people that I had seen a young lad who will play Test cricket. People laughed at me......I spent 10 days at Basil’s house in Worcester in l970. Tom Graveney had a very high opinion of Basil."

Jimmy also remembers vividly a young cricketer of the 1930's from Fourteenth Street: "In the Transvaal was a young man by the name of Issie Maal. He was second to Dolly in my ranking. Out of a teams score of 200 he would often score 150. He dominated the cricket of his time and the crowd chanted 'Rajah' endearingly. He hit huge sixes into the graveyard. If you wanted to catch him you had to field in the graveyard."

One young man is the centre of Jimmy's affection and admiration, Moosa Mangera: "Moosa was versatile and athletic. He had a great heart for cricket. He was a man for the crises. He bowled long spells. His fielding was brilliant in any position. He took some remarkable catches. He was fearless. As a captain he could take audacious risks. I believe he would have played test cricket, given the opportunity. He was humble and unassuming."

Among cricketers of the last two decades (70s and 80s), Jimmy speaks highly of Tiffie Barnes, Solly Chothia, Morris Garda and Moosa Mangera.
Jimmy was captain and later chairman and manager of the Crescents Cricket Club. He was the major inspiration in the team He was a strategist and loved to think about planning the opposition out. His field-placing was tight and he was not afraid to use the spinners. Against Hinds C.C, in 1954, he opened the bowling with Mohamed Garda as off-spinner and got Hinds out for 34.

His was a commanding presence and he never lost his head. He encouraged youngsters and gave them invaluable advice. On street corners, he talked endlessly of cricket. His house became the clubhouse of the Crescents Club, and here young and old spent hours talking about the endless fascination of cricket. His home came to be referred to as "Jimmys Club". He was like the Pied Piper of Hamelin, and youngsters listened to his cricketing words in awe and fascination. Jimmy, more than anybody else, created and kept alive the culture of cricket. He was a born leader.

Against Kohinoor C.C. in 1957, Jimmy came into bat at a time when Sayed Patel was creating havoc with his prodigious leg-spinners and googlies. Jimmy decided to attack him, hit him for three sixes and the bowler was removed.

Against Vredons, needing 90 in 20 minutes , Jimmy hit five sixes in the first over, and finished the match in four overs and four balls. His personal contribution was 80 not out. He was carried off the field.
The greatest tribute paid to Jimmy was in Cape Town 1953. In the finals against Natal, captain Dawood Chota was asked to step down and vice-captain Rashid Garda volunteered to step down in favour of Jimmy as captain. Transvaal scored 146. Harpie Nordien, a Cape Town cricket enthusiast, had told Jimmy before the match: "When the south-easter blows, bring in your off-spinner". Mohamed Garda bowled off-spinners to devastating effect.The wind came and Natal were reduced to 90 for 9, but the last wicket partnership between Asmal and veteran Gul Dockrat began to inch its way, run by run , and seemed certain to snatch victory away from the Transvaalers. Transvaal appeared to despair. All seemed lost. But one man, Mac Anthony, had supreme faith, in himself. He bowled a ball which momentarily appeared to hang in the air, and uprooted Asmals centre stump. Victory came when defeat seemed certain. It was Jimmys finest hour.

Jimmy was very much on the side of the underdog. In 1946-47 Jimmy took part in the Passive Resistance campaign and twice served spells in prison. It is no wonder that he was close to Abubaker 'Hurley' Asvat, of whom Jimmy says: "He was a very good man".

Ebrahim “Cuttie” Amod says of Jimmy: "He was the most influential person in my cricketing life. He ironed out many of my batting problems. Jimmy insisted on a straight bat. For Jimmy punctuality was vital and he preached it and practised it and expected the same from others. He often said that cricket dressing is very important. If you are not a cricketer, at least look like a cricketer."

Morris Garda and Moosa Mangera are both unanimous in their praise of Jimmy. "He was Mister Cricket. He is a symbol of cricket. If you wanted cricketing recognition, you had to pass the test by gaining the approval of Jimmy. Jimmy insisted on discipline as an invaluable asset in cricket."
Jimmy’s cricketing mind remained lucid and bright as ever. His memory was vivid and his language eloquent with juicy phrases. He grew old and his face was touched with melancholy. The face seemed to mirror a yearning for the past that is gone forever; and also a hope that we would have even better cricketers in the coming years.