Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

13 final match, against Natal. With the Currie Cup on offer once again in 1933/34 Eric began with 82 and 65 against Natal in Johannesburg. This good start was followed by an innings of 129 against Griqualand West and then 123 against Orange Free State at Bloemfontein. It was his most successful season to date with 469 runs at 78.16 in only four games. The season of 1934/35 would be a significant one with a tour of England to take place at the end of it. There were certain to be some changes because South Africa’s performances since the First World War had not been particularly encouraging. There had been an over-reliance on older players and the two tours of England in 1924 and 1929 had been disappointing. There was a feeling that younger players needed to be tried and a second good season could see Eric selected. He began well with 72 against Griqualand West and then 31 and 86 against Natal, but runs eluded him in the next few games. The match against Orange Free State was Eric’s last opportunity to Growing Up A young Eric Rowan, fourth from the left without a cap, walks out onto the Newlands ground to play Western Province in a Currie Cup match in 1933/34. (l to r): H.B.Cameron, R.H.Catterall, N.A.Quinn, E.A.B.Rowan, A,C,B.Langton, S.K.Coen, M.J.Susskind, S.H.Curnow. The others in the team were B.Mitchell, N.M.McAlpine and A.H.Gyngell. [Bassano Collection]