Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

67 Chapter Eight Triumph and Controversy For the first time in three years the Currie Cup returned for the 1950/51 summer. While there were no Test matches there was a tour of England at the end of it. Having missed the previous one Eric wanted to make sure he would be involved. In spite of his advancing years, his twentieth first-class season was arguably his best. In six games he scored 765 runs at 109.28 with three centuries. He began with 176 against Rhodesia, then followed it with an unbeaten 277 against Griqualand West made in 390 minutes. The innings set a new Currie Cup record, passing the 271 not out recorded by Jack Cheetham just a week before. This was an extraordinary game with Eric declaring the Transvaal total at 500 for three, rather than bat on for a triple century. His bowlers then responded by dismissing Griquas for 139 and 29. In the second innings pace bowler Michael Melle took an incredible eight for 8. Eric had sent Cheetham a telegram congratulating him on breaking the record, but then issued a word of warning, ‘I’m sorry to tell you Jack, but I intend to beat your record next week against Griquas’. The famous Rowan confidence was vindicated on this occasion. Later in the season Eric made 130 in the second innings against North Eastern Transvaal to guide his side to a two-wicket victory in a closely fought match. With five wins out of their six matches Transvaal comfortably won the Currie Cup. With Dudley Nourse averaging in excess of 70, it was clear that he and Eric would again be the cornerstones of the South African batting. The selectors - Sid Pegler, ‘Tup’ Holmes, Arthur Coy, Carl Schwabe and Frank Lambert - agreed, naming the pair captain and vice-captain respectively. It was a different selection panel, but Eric saw a certain irony in being chosen after being considered an unacceptable choice four years earlier. He saw his appointment as ‘a little bit of a reward’ for all the experience he possessed, but admitted that he would have liked to captain the side. He also scoffed at the argument that his age might be a problem. He didn’t drink or smoke and had kept himself very fit, so it wasn’t an issue. In addition to the two veterans the selectors chose Jack Cheetham,