Famous Cricketers No 40 - Neil Harvey

R.A.Hamence (49*) added 122 together in an unbroken stand in eighty-nine minutes for the fifth wicket. His first century, including 16 fours, came in 118 minutes in the match at Hove against Sussex as he made a last minute attempt to reach the Test side. By this time he was beginning to pick up the pace of English pitches and in the return game against Yorkshire at Bramall Lane he played two superb innings. At The Oval he and S.J.E.Loxton (47*) finished the match by opening the second innings and scoring 122 in fifty-seven minutes; Harvey’s 73* contained two sixes and eight fours. Batting first against Gloucestershire in the next match the Australians scored 560-5 on the first day with A.R.Morris making 290. Harvey shared a partnership of 162 for the fourth wicket in 88 minutes making 95 stylish runs. By now he was pressing hard for a place in the Test side and after being made twelfth man in the first three Tests he came into the side at Headingley due to the injury of S.G.Barnes at Old Trafford. England won the toss and batted first on a perfect pitch scoring 492, from a position of 423-2, in their first innings. Australia had lost three wickets for 68 when Harvey joined K.R.Miller. By glorious strokeplay these two added 121 in 97 minutes before Miller was dismissed for 58. Following his dismissal Harvey and S.J.E.Loxton (93) then added 105 in 92 minutes. Harvey’s century took 177 minutes and included fourteen fours - Loxton’s 93 came in 135 minutes with five sixes and eight fours. Having reached 112 Harvey was out to a cross-batted sweep to a well pitched up ball from Laker. He finished the tour with a flurry of runs; an attractive 60 against Kent followed by a brilliant exhibition at Taunton that brought him 126 runs in 149 minutes with two sixes and fourteen fours, adding 187 with A.L.Hassett (103) for the second wicket after W.A.Brown had been run out in the first over and S.G.Barnes had retired ill at 69. At Hastings he took only ninety-five minutes to reach his hundred, with 13 fours, adding 175 in 110 minutes for the fourth wicket with A.L.Hassett (151). In addition to his batting he thrilled the English crowds with some brilliant displays in the field taking some remarkable catches at long-leg. For a player who only reached his twentieth birthday on the way home to Australia he made a remarkable impression on England. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 16. Australians v Leicestershire, Leicester, May 1, 3, 4 (Australians won by an innings and 171 runs) lbw b J.E.Walsh 16 448 130 147 17. Australians v Yorkshire, Bradford, May 5, 6 (Australians won by four wickets) c A.B.Sellers b E.P.Robinson 7 101 71 2 not out 18 63-6 89 18. Australians v Surrey, Kennington Oval, May 8, 10, 11 (Australians won by an innings and 296 runs) b J.W.J.McMahon 7 632 141 1 195 2 19. Australians v Cambridge University, Fenner’s, May 12, 13, 14 (Australians won by an innings and 51 runs) run out 16 414-4d 167 196 20. Australians v Oxford University, Christ Church Ground, Oxford, May 19, 20, 21 (Australians won by an innings and 90 runs) c H.A.Pawson b A.H.Kardar 23 431 185 1 156 21. Australians v Lancashire, Old Trafford, May (26), 27, 28 (Match drawn) b W.B.Roberts 36 204 182 not out 76 259-4 22. Australians v Hampshire, Southampton, June 2, 3, 4 (Australians won by eight wickets) b J.Bailey 1 117 195 did not bat - 182-2 103 23. Australians v Sussex, Hove, Jun 5, 7 (Australians won by an innings and 325 runs) not out 100 549-5d 86 138 24. Australians v Northamptonshire, Northampton, June 16, 17, 18 (Australians won by an innings and 64 runs) c W.Barron b R.V.Divecha 14 352-8d 119 2 169 25. Australians v Yorkshire, Bramall Lane, June 19, 21, 22 (Match drawn) c and b A.Coxon 49 249 206 c H.Halliday b N.W.D.Yardley 56 285-5d 85-4 1 7