Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

61 made a substantial contribution to the total of 278 and Hassett enforced the follow-on for the second time. Eric failed, but Nourse made a composed century in the face of some fine bowling by Ray Lindwall (five for 32). When he was dismissed an eighth wicket partnership of 102 between spinners Tayfield (75) and Norman ‘Tufty’ Mann (46) ensured the avoidance of an innings defeat, but the margin of eight wickets was still substantial. When the teams moved to Kingsmead for the Third Test, Nourse won the toss and was able to give his side first use of a new pitch. According to Arthur Morris, age and the depredations of white ants had caused the Kingsmead pitch to be dug up and replaced with a new kind of soil. The curator had told the Australians that if rain came there was going to be a lot of fun for someone. He said, ‘There are three inches of black soil and I should imagine rain will turn it into something approaching a glue pot.’ What transpired was one of cricket’s most extraordinary games. The first day’s play took place on a docile, plumb pitch and was dominated by the two veterans, Rowan and Nourse, and their unbroken partnership of 167 for the third wicket. Eric defied Australian Challenge Veterans Nourse and Rowan lead the South Africans out to meet the Australians in the Second Test at Newlands in 1949/50. (l to r): J.D.Nel, N.B.F.Mann, W.W.Wade, H.J.Tayfield, E.A.B.Rowan, J.C.Watkins, V.I.Smith (partly obscured, A.D.Nourse (captain), J.E.Cheetham, O.E.Wynne. [Bassano Collection]