Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

27 and Fingleton to short leg. Two balls later the ball was pushed towards the latter, who dived and got a hand under the ball to complete a fine catch. Eric was on his way for 16. The fabled O’Reilly-Grimmett leg-trap was born. The Australians also had their first experience of Eric’s attitude. Batsman Len Darling remembered that the South African kept up a running commentary on all kinds of things. The Australian wasn’t sure if this was just a way of dealing with nerves or a method of getting under his opponents’ skins, but he did remember that things were never dull when Eric was around. The South Africans lost the First Test at Kingsmead in Durban by nine wickets. Herby Wade won the toss and decided to bat, and it was Eric who held the innings together. Coming in at the fall of Siedle’s wicket for 31 out of 45, he initially struggled against the spinners but became more comfortable, reaching his half- century in 135 minutes with two fours. In all he held out for just over three hours in making 66 before he was the eighth batsman dismissed, caught and bowled by Grimmett, when the total had reached 187. A hard-hit 35 from Bob Crisp took the score to 248. Hundreds from McCabe (149) and Arthur Chipperfield (109) saw the Australians to 429 and a substantial lead. Australian Summer Eric takes a fine diving catch to dismiss Arthur Chipperfield for a duck off the bowling of ‘Chud’ Langton in the second innings of the First Test at Durban. [Bassano Collection]