Lives in Cricket No 32 - Eric Rowan

94 In 1976 Eric was made an Honorary Life President of the Transvaal Cricket Council and after many years of involvement he was still attending meetings and expressing his strongly held opinions. Sometimes the younger generation failed to understand the crusty old Springbok. ‘The youngsters think I’m a real so-and-so but what they don’t realise is that if I stopped having a go at them I would have stopped caring.’ He never stopped caring. In spite of the advancing years, Eric remained capable of delivering a withering assessment of anyone he felt deserving. On one occasion Bacher was leading a Transvaal side against Western Province in Cape Town with Eric as team manager. The Newlands ground there was operated by a private club, a bit like Lord’s and MCC and any issue concerning it had to be taken to the club manager, a rather portly gentleman. In attempting to argue a point Eric became so frustrated with the official’s attitude he told him, ‘You should join Boswell’s Circus. They’re always looking for fat clowns like you.’ Not diplomatic perhaps, but the point was made. Unlike many former players, Eric was not a man chained to the past. He could see value in some of the changes being brought into the game and in 1970 organised the first domestic limited overs competition in South Africa. It was a success and was taken over by the South African Board the following season. A Life Beyond Play Eric holding the Gillette Cup. He was instrumental in the establishment of the first South African domestic limited overs competition. [Bassano Collection]