Lives in Cricket No 28 - Keith Carmody

96 Achievement and Rejection in Western Australia coach Carmody’s position has been tremendously strengthened as a result of his performances in this match. Young, aspiring cricketers will now not only accept Carmody – they will also look up to him.’ On the eve of the next match, the same newspaper felt that any player who can score 198 in a Shield game must be in line for Test selection. If Carmody scores heavily against Victoria he may bat his way into the Australian team for the second Test … It is not only the number of runs that Carmody gets, it’s the smooth way he makes them that sets the seal on his class. In the event, Edwards’ 104 and 67 in a draw against Victoria overshadowed Carmody’s 20 and 27. The prospects that the limited number of matches could make Western Australia realistic contenders to win the Shield on percentages faltered in defeat by New South Wales in January but were triumphantly realised through a 183-run victory over Queensland in Brisbane. The WACA’s own report attributed the ‘great achievement’ especially to Carmody’s captaincy of an inexperienced side: ‘He never lost confidence in his own judgment, and in the pursuit of his purpose of winning matches, his persistent optimistic outlook drew from the players under his charge, the best they were capable of giving.’ * * * * * * * The Western Australian side which played the Indian tourists in October 1947. This team, with W.T.Langdon replacing Barras, went on to win the Sheffield Shield ‒ at its first attempt ‒ later in the season. Standing (l to r): M.U.Herbert, A.E.O.Barras, L.H.Bandy, C.W.Puckett, M.Stirling (manager), K.R.Cumming, G.T.Kessey (wk), T.M.Outridge. Seated: A.D.Watt, A.R.Edwards, D.K.Carmody (capt), G.D.Robinson, T.E.O’Dwyer.