Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

81 Consequences to play. He was dead within a year. The selectors made one other change replacing Waite with Russell Endean as wicketkeeper and opening batsman. Nourse again won the toss and Endean, on debut, proved his selection a good one as he made 31 in a partnership of 66 for the first wicket. Eric defied England’s bowlers for 165 minutes for 55, but after his dismissal at 106 the innings declined and the South Africans made just 202. They would not have done as well as that had Athol not contributed 41, rescuing the side from a perilous 146 for seven. The two new inclusions then combined as Lowson was caught by Endean off Melle for a duck and shortly before stumps Athol trapped Hutton in front and England ended the day at 51 for two. On the second day Compton held the innings together with 73, his only support coming from May (33) and Willie Watson (31). When Melle had swept away the tail to take four for 9, England’s 194 gave South Africa a narrow lead. With the two sides virtually level, South Africa’s second innings needed a good start in order to set England a challenging target. Eric played steadily, holding up one end until stumps, but the loss of Endean, van Ryneveld and Nourse left the side a precarious 68 for three at stumps. Eric, 36 not out overnight, was the key, but with the addition of just nine runs to his score he was trapped in front by Jim Laker. The remainder of the batting collapsed and the innings closed at 154, leaving England 163 to win. Laker’s off spin took six for 55 to be the chief destroyer. While the target was not large, runs had been difficult to score and England had failed chasing a relatively small target in the First Test. Hutton and Lowson set about their task in a calm, controlled fashion reaching 53 before the first wicket fell in sensational manner. After Hutton tried to sweep a ball from Athol it hit the batsman’s gloves and bounced over his left shoulder. Hutton saw it heading towards his stumps and in a reflex action swept the ball away with his hand as Endean was attempting to make the catch. Eric appealed for obstruction from silly mid on and the umpire Dai Davies agreed. It was the first time such a decision had been given in Test cricket. Hutton had no complaints, saying it was a fair decision as he struck the ball away without thinking. Off the next delivery Eric caught Peter May and at 53 for two the South Africans were back in the game. However, the bowlers