Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

91 said it was light enough for England to start their innings but Washbrook soon appealed and they came off. In the late afternoon rain began to fall and there was no chance of any more cricket that day. There was less than three hours’ play possible on the second day and England could only progress to 144 for the loss of Washbrook and Simpson. After a pre- breakfast inspection of the wicket on the morning of the third day, George Mann asked for the pitch to be rolled early to repair any damage caused by a storm the previous afternoon. He changed his mind before the ground- staff arrived and delayed any rolling until just before start of play. He was looking for a result rather than see the Test being played out to a draw and wanted to ensure that the pitch would not be improved after the heavy roller had briefly broken the dry crust formed on its surface. England had reached 172 for four when George came out to play his first Test Match innings. 47 John Arlott later reported that no one could have played more true to mould than the England captain. He probed forward in the orthodox public-school forward defensive stroke which is his second cricketing nature. The spinning off-break snarled across the face of his bat, and Mann drew back as if it had bitten him. To the next ball he applied a bat of immense resolution and hit a lusty, spanking four. So his innings continued, an amazing mixture of the forward defensive stroke prodding baffled at the spinning ball and straight swing which spoke his good attacking heart. Eventually he was caught off Rowan for 19 valuable runs in a partnership of 40 runs with Compton. Although England had lost their last eight wickets for a mere 109 runs, they had a lead of 92, only 90 of which South Africa could write off while losing four wickets before bad light stopped play an hour from time. A public announcement that there would be no more play that evening was challenged by George and a second announcement informed those that remained on the ground that if the light improved, play could be resumed, but it was a false hope. The final day had arrived and South Africa added another 129 runs, leaving England needing 128 runs in a maximum of 135 minutes. Five of those minutes were almost immediately lost when a late cut from Hutton hit Nourse on the knee and he needed medical attention. Rain stopped play at 4 o’clock and another 15 minutes were lost before play could resume. Their first wicket fell five minutes later but England kept up the chase while another five wickets fell and, with thirteen eight-ball overs remaining, only 58 runs were required. The Compton-Jenkins partnership added 45 runs in 48 minutes. With rain now falling steadily and England 115 for six, an appeal against the light by either side would have stopped play, but both teams felt that victory was within their reach and were determined to carry on. Then Compton was bowled and Jenkins went one run later so that, when Lindsay Tuckett, medium-fast, began the last over 47 The Manns thus became the first father and son to captain their national sides in Test cricket. They have been followed only twice, by the Pataudis who completed their pairing as India’s captains in 1962, and by the Cowdreys in 1988. Vic Richardson of Australia had two Chappell grandsons who captained their country in Test cricket. MCC in South Africa 1948/49