Lives in Cricket No 1 - Allan Watkins

With Norman Yardley unable to tour, MCC had appointed George Mann of Middlesex as captain, and the skipper made it his business to ensure that there would be a happy atmosphere while the teamwould play positive cricket. “He had a way with him,” says Allan. “He had a cricket brain, too, and he knew when to ask for advice. He wasn’t a bad player either, certainly not a passenger.” There were seven first-class matches before the Test series began, and Allan was chosen for four of them. At Benoni against North Eastern Transvaal he never reached the crease as he watched Denis Compton hit an amazing 300 not out in 181 minutes, but he made his case for inclusion in the first Test at Durban with 55 against Griqualand West and 61 against Transvaal. Allan had not bowled many overs, but his cause had already been strengthened by some spectacular close fielding. Palmer had failed to get going, but both Crapp and Simpson had joined the established batsmen in some heavy scoring, presenting the selectors with a tough choice to be made for the Durban Test. They decided that there would be a début for Simpson and that Allan would bat at number five. Winning the toss, South African captain Dudley Nourse chose to bat. The openers made a nervy start and, at 18 for two, the captain joined Bruce Mitchell. South Africa’s most experienced batsmen were together. They had added 51 when Allan dismissed Nourse with one of the finest catches of his life. Describing it as ‘the turning point of the innings,’ Wisden wrote: ‘When Nourse placed a South African Adventure 47 Allan relaxes with his friends Jack Young and Jack Crapp