Lives in Cricet No 33 - Jack Robertson and Syd Brown

85 Wanderers Ground was now no more. It had stood in the centre of the city and had been taken over, controversially, to provide space for the expanding railway. The Wanderers Club was consequently now developing Kent Park for its members, first-class cricket in Johannesburg having moved, at least for a few years, to Ellis Park. The old ground was much missed. Five-year- old Ian wasn’t too bothered, however. A tiny pushcart railway was used to take away construction rubble from the new ground. His mother had made friends with another family, and he and their son used to play in the carts and get pushed by the local workers – and consequently get covered in Johannesburg’s red dust! The first-ever Test match at Ellis Park was played just after Christmas 1948. Jack probably took in at least some of it, and was no doubt impressed as, on a sun-drenched first day, Hutton and Washbrook led the way with a Test cricket record opening partnership of 359. He may have had mixed feelings, however, as Washbrook’s success would have lessened his own chances of a Test recall. Aussie Summer