Famous Cricketers No 78 - Bruce Mitchell

1935 – South Africa in England Mitchell, although he suffered from synovitis after the opening match against Worcestershire and did not play again until June, was more consistent than in 1929 and his batting frequently changed the course of the match. In first-class matches he made 1451 runs at an average of 69.71 and topped both Test aggregates and averages for either side. He played a marvellous innings of 164 on a suspect pitch at Lord’s which at the time was the highest score made by a South African in a Test match in England. Both innings in this Test were played under painful and heroic circumstances as he had been struck over the eye and was carried off the pitch against Staffordshire earlier in the week. South Africa who won this Test held on in most stubborn fashion and won the Test series for the first time in England. His other centuries on the tour were 142 against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge and 195 and 128 both at Kennington Oval the first against Surrey and the second in the final Test Match. In the Surrey game he added 330 runs for the first wicket with Eric Rowan (171) which remains the highest partnership for any wicket by South African teams in England. As a slip fielder he was unsurpassed taking twenty-two catches. Own Team O M R W Opp Ct Total Total 80. South Africans v Worcestershire, Worcester, May 1, 2, 3 (South Africans won by an innings and 166 runs) b R.T.D.Perks 1 351 90 1 95 81. South Africans v Lancashire, Old Trafford, June 1, 3, (4) (Match drawn) lbw b L.W.Parkinson 59 268 128 1 c L.W.Parkinson b J.Iddon 29 142-6 82. South Africans v Northamptonshire, Northampton, June 5, 6, 7 (South Africans won by an innings and 35 runs) b T.A.Pitt 11 297 4.2 1 8 1 G.C.Perkins st H.B.Cameron 129 12 1 39 3 A.H.Bakewell st H.B.Cameron 133 R.J.Partridge b E.W.Clark c A.J.Bell 83. South Africans v Glamorgan, Cardiff, June 8, 10, 11 (Match drawn) c A.H.Dyson b D.E.Davies 16 401 - - - - 142 1 4 0 19 0 245-9 84. SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND, Trent Bridge, June 15, 17, (18) (Match drawn) b M.S.Nichols 25 220 22 1 66 1 N.S.Mitchell-Innes lbw 384-7d 1 not out 8 17-1 85. South Africans v Lancashire, Liverpool, June 19, (20), 21 (Match drawn) c G.Duckworth b J.Iddon 82 153-2 92-6d 86. South Africans v Yorkshire, Bramall Lane, June 22, 24, 25 (South Africans won by 128 runs) c A.B.Sellers b H.Fisher 39 263 - - - - 201 c H.Verity b W.E.Bowes 15 301-7d 4 0 15 0 235 87. SOUTH AFRICA v ENGLAND, Lord’s, June 29, July 1, 2 (South Africans won by 157 runs) lbw(N) b M.S.Nichols 30 228 - - - - 198 1 not out 164 278-7d 2 0 11 0 151 88. South Africans v Somerset, Bath, July 3, 4, 5 (South Africans won by 51 runs) b W.H.R.Andrews 21 173 - - - - 218 3 c W.T.Luckes b A.W.Wellard 21 284 22.5 4 45 5 L.C.Hawkins c E.L.Dalton 188 E.F.Longrigg b R.A.Ingle c E.L.Dalton A.W.Wellard lbw H.L.Hazell c D.S.Tomlinson 89. South Africans v Nottinghamshire, Trent Bridge, July 6, 8, 9 (Match drawn) c B.Lilley b C.B.Harris 142 512 4 0 14 0 312 1 37 3 118 6 W.W.Keeton c E.L.Dalton 312-9 W.Walker b J.Hardstaff c R.J.Williams B.Lilley b G.F.H.Heane c K.G.Viljoen H.Larwood st R.J.Williams 14