Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

68 Geoff Chubb, Russell Endean, George Fullerton, Norman ‘Tufty’ Mann, Percy Mansell, Cuan McCarthy, Jackie McGlew, Roy McLean, Michael Melle, Athol Rowan, Clive van Ryneveld and John Waite. The last-named was a cousin of Eric’s. The selection of Athol Rowan was something of a gamble as his injured knee would have to be nursed carefully during the tour. As a result of this Hugh Tayfield was added as a cover later in the tour. It was an interesting mix with three players, Nourse, Rowan and Chubb, over forty and a number in their early twenties. As on his previous tour of England, sixteen years earlier, the first weeks were spent adjusting to conditions far removed from the hard pitches and clear light of South Africa. Disaster struck early when Nourse had his thumb broken in the match against Gloucestershire at Bristol. The injury was a severe one, requiring a pin to be inserted to help repair the damage, and casting doubt on the captain’s ability to play a major part in the series . In Noursemen in England C.O. Medworth says that Eric (who was not playing in the match) was having a massage when Nourse left the field. In four minutes Eric was in the field, directing operations. Jack Crapp (captaining Gloucestershire in the absence of Sir Derek Bailey) allowed Eric to act as substitute for Nourse and to captain the team. Triumph and Controversy The 1951 South African team Back row: R.A.McLean, D.J.McGlew. Middle row: W.H.Ferguson (scorer/baggage master), P.N.F.Mansell, H.J.Tayfield, C.B.van Ryneveld, C.N.McCarthy, J.E.Cheetham, J.H.B.Waite, M.G.Melle, W.R.Endean. Front row: G.W.A.Chubb, A.M.B.Rowan, A.D.Nourse (captain), S.J.Pegler (manager), E.A.B.Rowan (vice-captain), N.B.F.Mann, G.M.Fullerton. [Bassano Collection]