Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

64 the second time during the summer Eric had seen the Australians win from a seemingly impossible position, although Harvey was certain the Australians would have been thrashed if Nourse had enforced the follow-on. While the South Africans had failed to gain the victory, Eric’s batting had impressed the visitors. When asked his opinion many years later Lindsay Hassett said, ‘Eric Rowan was a good, tough player. He would have made runs in any country. He didn’t have a lot of polish technically like Nourse, but he had the ability to concentrate and you had to get him out.’ He shook his head in wonder when mentioning that Eric batted without a box or gloves against Lindwall and Miller. When asked about this Eric said, ‘Well, I seldom wore a box or gloves. Going in without a box only made you more careful. You had to protect the family jewels.’ Did he ever get hit? He confessed to a few knocks on the fingers, and ‘I got hit in Cape Town once while wearing a box and it was a terrifying experience. The box got turned inside out and I never wore one after that.’ In spite of his casual disregard for the most basic of protective equipment he was full of praise for the Australian bowlers. ‘Lindwall, Miller and Johnston were three great bowlers and all were quick. As a trio they never let up on you. There was no respite. Lindwall had one of the most perfect actions. Miller was more unpredictable. When he turned to bowl off just a few paces I would walk out of the way, make him wait.’ Following the disappointment of Durban the South Africans were able to draw the Fourth Test at Ellis Park, Johannesburg. Eric made 55 in the first innings, but a century in each innings by Moroney and hundreds to Morris and Harvey meant that the batsmen held sway throughout. Jack Nel remembered his partnership with Eric. ‘Eric and I opened the innings for S.A. after Australia had batted for a day and three- quarters. When we went in, a typical Transvaal thunderstorm was coming in and the light was deteriorating rapidly. With about half an hour until close of play, Lindwall bowled me a bouncer which lifted about head-high, and which hit me on my glove and bat handle in front of my face and knocked me off my feet. The Australians thought I had been injured, as I had fallen to the ground backwards. When I got to my feet, I thought that the poor light, together with the incident, was an appropriate moment to appeal against the light. As soon as I appealed to the umpires, Eric Australian Challenge