Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

73 Triumph and Controversy hell do these people think they are? I’m playing for South Africa not England and he took it all down verbatim.’ He believed that what happened in the dressing room should have stayed there While he might have got away with the on-field action, he knew his behaviour towards the spectator and the comments appearing in the media were certainly going to attract some attention. At a meeting that evening with the team and manager Sid Pegler, it was decided that an apology would be issued. Pegler wanted to send Eric home immediately, but Nourse intervened, no doubt understanding his vice-captain’s importance to the side, especially in the light of his own injury. Perhaps he also believed the crime did not warrant the imposition of such an extreme penalty. The apology was produced as a compromise and was released to the papers. The original is now in the possession of the author. ‘I would like publicly to apologize for my behaviour at Old Trafford on Saturday and for the statements made by me in yesterday’s Sunday Express. ‘The unfortunate remarks made in the heat of the moment against the cricket-loving public of Lancashire are unreservedly withdrawn by me. ‘I trust that this apology will in some measure atone for my behaviour and that the incident be not allowed to mar the cordial relations which have always existed between our two countries. EAB Rowan 17 th June 1951 ….. Manchester’ Eric’s sit-down at Old Trafford during the game against Lancashire. The consequences of this action would see him removed from international cricket. [Bassano Collection]