Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

69 Eric assumed the leadership for the next match, against MCC at Lord’s, and his diplomatic skills were immediately called into action when umpire Frank Chester wanted to call Cuan McCarthy for throwing because he was not satisfied with the pace bowler’s action. According to Louis Duffus, Eric talked himout of it by telling him what a stink that would cause. He also reminded Chester that he had previously passed McCarthy’s action, and so had plenty of other umpires. Eric’s quick thinking had saved the situation and McCarthy completed the tour without a problem. However, he was called in England the following year while playing for Cambridge University and was told that he would not be selected for the 1952-53 Australian tour ‘for reasons other than cricketing ability’. Presumably, there was concern about whether his action would be passed by the Australian umpires as no other explanation can be found for excluding the easy-going McCarthy. With Nourse injured, Eric led the South Africans in the next few games, playing a number of innings that showed his form to be unaffected by the responsibilities of captaincy. In all Eric led the team in 12 first-class matches and two minor matches. For a time it was thought that he would have to lead the side in the First Test, but Nourse returned for the game against Surrey, the last match prior to the commencement of the Test series. He made 45 and 23, playing well enough to declare himself fit. The South Africans had four players making their debuts: wicketkeeper Waite, batsman McGlew, all-rounder van Ryneveld and veteran bowler Chubb, who had adapted well to English conditions. They also chose to use the off spin of Athol Rowan and the left-arm orthodox of Mann. For the first time in England the South Africans would be playing a five-day Test. It was Waite who made an immediate impact, opening the innings with Eric after Nourse had won the toss and decided to take first use of what appeared to be a good Trent Bridge pitch. After Eric was dismissed for 17, Waite (76) and McGlew (40) made good starts to their Test careers, but it was Nourse who dominated proceedings. Struggling with his injury he fought it out for over nine hours, making 208 before he was finally run out. He declared the innings closed on his own dismissal at 483 for nine. Centuries by Reg Simpson and Denis Compton enabled Freddie Brown to declare his side’s innings at 419 for nine. McCarthy (four for 104) and Chubb (four for 146) toiled manfully, but both spinners were ineffective. Due to Nourse’s injury, Eric appears to have been in charge throughout the England innings. Freddie Triumph and Controversy