Lives in Cricket No 42 - Frank and George Mann

95 MCC in South Africa 1948/49 wickets fell quickly as a result of poorly executed calls for quick singles and simple run-outs, leaving South Africa on the rack at 19 for three. Nourse and Wade put up some resistance but runs came slowly against the attacking fields set by George and South Africa ended the day 218 runs behind with only three wickets remaining. The follow-on was saved on the morning of the third day, but when England began their second innings there was no indication that Mann had thoughts of some quick runs and a declaration with time to bowl South Africa out. England reached 196 for three at close of play with a lead of 318, and batted on during the morning of the final day before George finally decided to set South Africa a target of 376 runs in four and a half hours at a rate of 84 runs an hour. Hardly generous – but on a wicket that that was still easy paced with a fast outfield South Africa had nothing to lose and everything to gain if they began their second innings by accepting the challenge and then shutting up shop if wickets fell too quickly. But no attempt was made to go for the runs and a disheartened home crowd watched South Africa limp to 194 for four by the end of play, all hopes of winning the rubber dying without even the gesture of a fight. There were ten days before the final Test at Port Elizabeth and two more matches to play, both against Natal, first at Pietermaritzburg and then in Durban. Not surprisingly, George took an unchanged England team into the Test. Nourse won the toss and decided to bat first on a wicket that was not expected to last the whole four days, although once again South Africa failed to get off to a reasonable start, losing the first two wickets for only 13 runs. Then Mitchell and Nourse added 111 for the third wicket before South Africa ended the first day at 219 for three, Mitchell unbeaten on 73 after six and a half hours of dogged resistance. Now would have been a good time to attack but South Africa, batting with little enterprise, seemed more content to delay England’s first innings, hoping that they would get them in when the wicket had started to break up. South Africa ended their innings with a potential match winning total of 379. England lost Washbrook early and were 80 for one at close of play but were never allowed to settle at the start of the third day: George came to the middle at 149 for four, which soon became 168 for five, still 62 runs short of avoiding the follow-on with a day and a half remaining. The stage was set for the South African bowlers to spin their way to victory and level the series. But George and ‘Roly’ Jenkins resisted and added another 100 runs before Jenkins fell lbw to ‘Tufty’ Mann. Now Bedser played his part in taking England nearer to safety, helping George add another 73 runs before close of play with the England captain unbeaten on 136, his first Test century. John Arlott later commented of this innings, which included one six and twelve fours: Few England captains can ever have made their first century in face of such difficulties or at so vital a stage of the game: it was almost a story-book success, and so far from being ‘just another century’, it was purely the reward of memorable courage and resolution. 49 49 The word most often used to describe George’s batting in this innings was ‘revelation’.