Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

43 221 before the latter was leg before to Ossie Dawson for 135. Eric simply continued on and on. Natal’s bowlers were powerless to stop him. His innings only ended when skipper Bruce Mitchell declared at 608 for six with Eric unbeaten on 306 after 462 minutes with 28 fours and a six. The Natal Mercury described it as ‘an innings of complete mastery’. It would remain the highest of his first-class career and resulted in an innings win. It was the highest first-class score made in South Africa at the time. In doing so he wiped out the inter-provincial record of 304 not out set by Dave Nourse for Natal against Transvaal in 1919/20. Dudley Nourse, who captained Natal in this match, said in his autobiography, Cricket in the Blood , that Eric did not favour any particular shot and that there was ‘nothing dynamic about his batting, but considerable solidarity’. He went on to mention Eric’s attitude, saying that he was ‘a cocky little player’ and that he had ‘any amount of grit’ being ‘always ready with an answer at any period of the day’. He also said that Eric would ‘face the fastest bowler on the most awkward wicket with no form of bodyguard or protection for his hands and never shrink from the issue. He is brave to the point of foolhardiness’. Nourse further commented on Eric’s delight in irritating the opposition and disturbing or annoying a bowler thus causing him to lose his length. As far as Eric’s 306* was concerned, Nourse maintained that he could not remember anything about the innings other than that Eric batted ‘for an inordinate length of time and that switch the bowling as I would, none seemed to make the slightest impression on him.’ Nourse concluded by describing it as ‘an innings of great patience and concentration, requiring powers of endurance and as such must be classified as among the big innings in South African history.’ Nourse’s comments are interesting. There is certainly respect for his batting ability, but no real warmth for Eric as a person. The good form continued in the next match against Western Province when an innings of 164 played a major role in a narrow twelve-run win. His final match saw him make 88 as Transvaal thrashed Eastern Province by an innings and 230 runs. It concluded a season in which he scored 590 runs at 147.50. Young brother Athol also had a good start, capturing 19 wickets at 18.26. By the time the next summer came around the War had taken over and there was no first-class cricket played. Like many of his countrymen Eric enlisted, joining a South African Armoured Car Lost Years