Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

42 Chapter Five Lost Years When the 1939/40 season arrived the world had been plunged into war, but in South Africa first-class cricket continued with a full programme of provincial matches, although not for the Currie Cup. In Transvaal’s first game against North Eastern Transvaal Athol Rowan made his first-class debut. He made 43 and took five wickets with his off breaks in a satisfactory beginning to his career. According to one reporter the pair were as unlike as it was possible for brothers to be. The small, wiry Eric was a bundle of energy, prepared as one reporter said, ‘to fight an opponent into the ground’. Athol was taller, more solidly-built and in his younger days, rather shyly spoken. Twelve years the senior Eric was protective of his little brother, who in turn, wanted nothing more than to emulate his older brother by playing for his country. In an article in the Forum Eric’s influence on his younger brother was highlighted. ‘Ever since he was a small boy Athol has relied to a great extent on his famous brother. Almost as soon as he was able to hold a bat Eric taught him the correct shots: when Athol played in a junior team at school Eric contrived to be there to help and criticize, for, to Eric there was no doubt that Athol would play for South Africa.’ In order to see some first-class cricket in another part of the country Eric had even paid for Athol, then about twelve, to accompany him to Cape Town to see Transvaal play Western Province. Years later, when Athol announced his retirement from business he paid tribute to his brother. ‘All I will say is that no greater guy ever lived. He was a sheet anchor in our family and is a wonderfully generous and helpful chap. I was mixed up in cricketing controversies with Eric and we stood together. But this does not mean to say that we didn’t have our differences. You should have heard our arguments about players when we served together on the Transvaal selection committee.’ Unfortunately Eric was not in the team for his young brother’s debut. Their first game together came in the next match against Natal in Johannesburg. After Natal had been dismissed for 147 Eric and Sid Curnow opened the innings with a partnership of