SELECTORS SPRING A SURPRISE

By Len Brown (Tuesday 8 November 1966)

The Rhodesian cricket selectors sprang something of a surprise last night when they announced the 12 players from which the side would be chosen to play Natal in their Currie Cup match at the Police Ground here, starting Saturday week.

Of the side which played Australia, Dave Napier is excluded, and two spinners who have only represented the Mashonaland A team in Logan Cup matches are named. They are off-spinner Neville Deudney and left-arm spinner Mike Shacklock.

But both are genuine spinners of the ball, and if the Police Ground pitch retains its present collaboration with spinners, either r both could find themselves pressed into service. The team is:

Tony Pithey (capt), Rob Ullyett (vice-capt), Colin Bland, Neville Deudney, Jackie du Preez, Nick Frangos, Howie Gardiner, Ray Gripper, Eddie Parker, Mike Shacklock, Huntsman Williams, Neville Williams. Johnny Wallace will be twelfth man.

JOE PARTRIDGE MAY BE BACK FOR RHODESIA

By Len Brown (Friday 18 November 1966)

Joe Partridge, discarded by the Rhodesian cricket selectors for the two matches against the Australians, could be in the Rhodesian side to play Natal in their Currie Cup fixture at the Police Ground starting tomorrow. When left-arm seamer Huntsman Williams yesterday withdrew from the 12 from which the side will be finally selected, the selectors promptly named Joe as replacement.

Huntsman Williams, who played in both games against the Australians, suffered a recurrence of an old back injury when lifting a bag of mealies [maize] on his farm earlier this week, and was yesterday forced to pull out of the side.

I don't think I'll be breaking any confidence when I say that only those close to Joe will realise just how much this recall means to him. Since the Transvaal game, when he bowled so badly, Joe has been a physical fitness maniac.

He realised he was carrying just those few pounds too much weight for one still hopeful of playing first-class cricket - and determined to do something about it.

He has been following a strict training routine since then, and when last I saw him bowl - in the nets in Bulawayo while the Australians were playing a Matabeleland XI two weeks ago - he was already close to recapturing his old pace and rhythm.

And last weekend, in a league match in Bulawayo, Joe bowled 18 overs non-stop, and finished with figures of five for 24.

He now joins the 12 named for the Natal match, which includes three spinners in Jackie du Preez, left-arm Mike Shacklock and off-spinner Neville Deudney, and seamers Eddie Parker and Neville Williams.

One of these six will be left out when the selectors make their final decision tomorrow morning. That decision will depend a great deal on what they 'read' from a pitch which has favoured the spinners in both the Transvaal and Australian matches.

Joe Partridge likes bowling to Natalians here in Salisbury, and so he ought to. It was in October 1961 that he established a Rhodesian bowling record when he bagged eight for 69 in the first innings against them, and wound up with match figures of 14 for 101.

NATAL WILL START FAVOURITES

By Len Brown (Saturday 19 November 1966)

With five of their current team talented enough to warrant selection for the South African XI due to play the Australians in East London in a fortnight's time, and led by that astute skipper Jackie McGlew, Natal are probably rated as favourites in their Currie Cup cricket match against Rhodesia which starts at the Police Ground this morning.

The Currie Cup champions are an admirable blend of youth and experience, and even their young ones, such as Richards, the two Procters and Lee Irvine, have had more experience of big cricket than most youngsters their age in Southern Africa.

In fact, the only newcomers to Currie Cup cricket in the side are 19-year-old Pelham Henwood, the left-arm spinner, who has been booked for this Natal side ever since he showed his talents in the Nuffield Week in Kimberley at the beginning of last year, and Anton Procter, who played in Salisbury league cricket last season and was 12th man for Rhodesia against Eastern Province.

The five due to play in East London for the S.A. XI are: David Pithey, who needs to introduction to Rhodesian cricket fans, Mike Procter, Pat Trimborn, Barry Richards and Berry Versfeld. They will be joined by Richard Dumbrill, who is not up here on this trip.

And before this season is out, Procter and Trimborn might well find themselves battling it out for a place in the Springbok Test side, as opening bowler in place of Peter Pollock.

But if this Police pitch lives up to its reputation this season of being friendly towards spinners, it is the performances of David Pithey, Henwood and Parsons which will be of most interest to Rhodesians.

A quick look yesterday afternoon revealed little grass on the pitch, but with the coarse roots still visible in patches, the assumption is that the spinners will again be favoured, but to nothing like the extent they were in the Transvaal and Australian matches. In fact, some of them might have to work hard for any reward they might hope to reap this weekend.

But there will still be enough turn for the spinners to force all the batsmen, on both sides, to tighten up their techniques, and in this respect perhaps Rhodesia might be considered to have a slight edge, having played two games under these conditions this season.

There's enough batting strength in this Natal side, however, to cause headaches to any attack in the country.

Openers Denis Gamsy, who is no stranger to this ground, and left-hander Lee Irvine, followed by Barry Richards, Mike Procter, Berry Versfeld, Anton Procter, David Pithey and, of course, that young man McGlew himself.

The Rhodesian selectors will make their decision on the final eleven this morning, and are left with a dual choice . . . two seamers and three spinners, or three seamers and two spinners.

Whatever their final choice, it won't affect the batting to any great extent, and here Rhodesia can claim parity with the Natal line-up.

All the top batsmen have been in form for some time, with the exception of Ray Gripper, and he has been showing glimpses of his old form in recent weeks.

There won't be any changes in the top part of the order, which should read: Gripper, Frangos, Ullyett, Tony Pithey, Bland, Gardiner, du Preez and Parker.

Both sides are excellent in the field, and it could be left to the catching to decide what promises to be a most intriguing match.

OLD FOX McGLEW BAFFLES RHODESIA

By Fred Cleary (Sunday Mail, 20 November 1966)

Jack McGlew has lost none of his old cunning and tenacity. The Natal captain and former Springbok leader gave ample proof of this at the Salisbury Police Ground yesterday when he helped rescue his side from a precarious position with some determined batting against Rhodesia. And then he 'schemed' the downfall of Rob Ullyett in the closing minutes, a move which could swing this Currie Cup cricket match in Natal's favour.

First McGlew (57) and David Pithey (66) featured in a great fightback, putting on 112 runs in 105 minutes for the seventh wicket, to see Natal reach the commendable total of 330.

Then, after Rhodesia had lost Ray Gripper to a brilliant ball from Trimborn, McGlew made use of bad light and suspect Rhodesian nerves.

One appeal by the Rhodesian batsmen, Frangos and Ullyett, had already been turned down by umpires Fothergill and Everington, and five minutes later the players started walking off the field. But the umpires called them back as the sun suddenly burst through.

Obviously McGlew was determined to squeeze every ounce of advantage from the poor light and the situation. Procter rapped Ullyett hard on the body with his second ball, and instead of making sure he was fully recovered Ullyett took guard again . . . and was promptly bowled by Procter's fourth delivery.

McGlew must have hugged himself with delight. He would never have got Bill Lawry to 'recover' so quickly.

So, Rhodesia are 302 runs behind and have eight wickets in hand.

This is not an impossible obstacle to overcome on this wicket, which takes spin, albeit slowly, but on which the Rhodesian seamers, at any rate, could extract no life yesterday.

Frangos is still there, and with Tony Pithey, Bland, Gardiner and Parker to come, Rhodesia have it within them to move into the lead and take first innings points.

But they will have to watch a 'new look' Pat Trimborn, who bowled in the late afternoon yesterday with tremendous fire and purpose.

On this form he appears good enough to partner Peter Pollock in the coming Tests.

Overall, Rhodesia did well to hold Natal to 330, although I should really say one can be thankful for the fact that at least four of the early Natal batsmen gave their wickets away.

It looked as if they had formed their own branch of the 'Friends of Rhodesia Association' as Denis Gamsy, Barry Richards, Mike Procter and Berry Versfeld tossed their wickets away, much in the same manner as the Rhodesians against Transvaal recently.

It was only that fine recovery by McGlew and Pithey which saved Natal from humiliation. And had they crumbled it would have been unfair on the openers, Lee Irvine and, ironically, Denis Gamsy, who set them off with a purposeful and solid first-wicket stand of 82.

The home seamers could do little. Partridge was game, but had lost the ability to bring the ball back sharply off the seam. Parker appeared to be just bringing the ball through with his arm and not using enough body, and Neville Williams never looked penetrative enough.

Even Jack du Preez sent down a heap of full-tosses and short-pitched deliveries in his first spell (conceding 38 in his first six overs) and the left-hander Irvine took full advantage of this. In one over he drove and pulled du Preez for three successive fours, and with 50 up in 64 minutes Natal looked like moving into a firm position.

Then, at 82, Irvine fell, scooping a good length delivery from du Preez to a diving Ullyett at short square leg. Irvine had batted 81 minutes for his 38.

Barry Richards did not stay long. After the 100 had gone up in 94 minutes, the slim, talented right-hander who is fighting for a place in the Springbok Test team, played a lazy shot from the new Rhodesian off-spinner, Neville Deudney, and Partridge held an easy catch at midwicket.

Without the score moving, Deudney ran out Mike Procter, the latter being slow off the mark from a Gamsy drive into the covers.

Then Versfeld and Gamsy set out to retrieve the position.

The 150 came in 141 minutes by way of some brisk running between the wickets - a strong feature of the Natal innings - and then at 89 Gamsy tossed away a fine opportunity of reaching a deserved century when he failed to latch on properly to a du Preez long hop and sent the ball tamely into the hands of Colin Bland at midwicket. He had been at the crease 160 minutes for his 89, collecting 10 fours and one six on the way.

Thunder was about, but the rain kept away and at lunch Natal were 183 for four, a healthy enough position.

But seven minutes after lunch Anton Procter gave du Preez an easy return catch and Versfeld, who could not get his timing right while accumulating 35, fell skying the ball straight up over the wicket-keeper, and Gripper taking an easy catch.

Then came the Pithey-McGlew stand. At first McGlew looked dreadful, swinging at almost anything in sight.

Then he found his old composure, and even a broken bat did not deter him as he and the former Rhodesian all-rounder buckled down to their task. The runs came from McGlew's perfect cover drives and square cuts and Pithey's elegant all-round strokework.

Eventually, at 310, McGlew had his stumps shattered by a Partridge delivery which moved late. The Natal captain batted for 74 minutes [error - should be 105] for his 57 and hit four boundaries.

Trimborn did not last and when David Pithey holed out to his brother at mid-off after scoring 66 in 45 minutes [another error - actual time not known, perhaps 145?], the end was near and Natal were dismissed for 330 in 360 minutes.

Du Preez again took the bulk of the wickets (6-128) and although he bowled looser than his last two games, he still looked very good.

Neville Deudney looks like being Rhodesia's answer as the alternative spinner.

When they batted in poorish light, the Rhodesian openers Frangos and Gripper looked run-hungry. Gripper smacked Procter for one wonderful square cut to the boundary, and just when it looked as if his poor run would be over, he was bowled by a brilliant Trimborn delivery which cut back late off the seam.

Then Ullyett and Frangos battled it out until Ullyett fell in those dramatic final minutes.

BAT TROUBLE (Sunday Mail)

The Natal batsmen Jack McGlew and Berry Versfeld had batting trouble yesterday - literally.

Versfeld was unhappy with his original bat, changed it, then changed the replacement. Then McGlew split his bat in two with an on-drive. The ball went one way and half the bat the other.

COMMENT

By John Parry (Sunday Mail)

Rhodesia, with its limited attack, did well to hold Natal to 330 runs.

There was a nasty half hour in the morning when it looked as though Irvine and Gamsy were going to take the Rhodesian bowling apart.

Then came the pleasant surprise. Neville Deudney, last minute choice, bowled 32 overs for only 62 runs, and took one wicket. This enabled Tony Pithey, who skippered well, to close one end and attack with Jack du Preez.

Du Preez's figures of six for 128 in 42 overs did not flatter him.

Gamsy, David Pithey and McGlew saw Natal to a respectable score. I've never seen Pithey bat so well before, and Gamsy has always been a thorn in the Rhodesian flesh.

McGlew started like a man in a big hurry to make nothing, and finished with an invaluable 57.

A very good day was, to my mind, marred by some over-astute gamesmanship from Natal. There were appeals against the light; turned down.

Then McGlew turned the heat on. He set a field against Frangos which the Rhodesian batsman should have been ashamed to accept.

For a moderate bowler like Parsons to pack a close-field, intimidating row of men, off and leg, and bowl slow spinners to an inert batsman of Frangos' class was, to say the least, dispiriting.

This was, surely, the batsman's fault. But McGlew owes more to the game than to clown his way through an umpire-bluffing session, as he did.

At the close, he was changing his field every three balls, taking the batsman's cap to wear himself, and then bringing on his quickest bowler in the dark to bag a vital wicket - Ullyett.

The Rhodesians shouldn't have let him do it. McGlew, though, should not have tried it on. It tarnished the laurels of his innings.

Gamesmanship, Mr McGlew, is still an unpretty word.

RHODESIA SKIDS TO STICKY 98

By Len Brown (Monday 21 November 1966)

Rhodesian batsmen will long remember the name Michael Procter, Natal pace bowler, who caught them on a sticky wicket at the Police Ground yesterday afternoon. In the two and three-quarter hours of play possible, after overnight rain had seeped through the covers and delayed the start until 3 pm, Procter wound up with figures of seven for 23, and had Rhodesia reeling at 98 for nine, in reply to Natal's first innings total of 330.

Of the seven batsmen who lost their wickets in the day's play, only two - Jackie du Preez (28) and Tony Pithey - managed to reach double figures. And this was a result of the uncertainties in the pitch as much as the excellence of Procter's bowling.

Not that anyone would wish to take any of the kudos from the young, blond pace bowler. Granted it was a pitch on which any pace bowler worth his salt should have got among the wickets, but Procter also moved the ball appreciably in the air, and on occasions had it turning sharply off the pitch.

Once or twice, early on, he aroused the ire of a few spectators by dropping the ball on the shortish side, which saw it rearing past the batsmen's faces. But to me, he was even more dangerous as a bowler when he kept the ball well up to the batsmen and gave it time to swing sharply.

One couldn't help but feel sorry for the Rhodesians, caught on a 'cow' of a pitch like this one. Until it started easing a bit towards the end of the day - even then it still wasn't anything but a pace bowler's playground - the biggest worry for the batsmen was in choosing which ball to let alone.

And with Procter's pace, lift and spin, this wasn't the easiest of decisions to have to make in the split second available.

Bowling from the town end towards the grandstand, there was a wet, putty-like patch about five yards from the batsmen, then a strip about a yard wide which was as hard as a new pitch, then more wet strips, and one can imagine the difficulties of the batsmen in gauging which of these spots the ball would land on.

After several inspections, and after a lot of hard work on the part of the ground staff, who used sawdust, hessian and the rollers freely, play started at exactly 3 pm, with Rhodesia on their overnight total of exactly 28 for two, and Frangos and Tony Pithey at the creases.

Both were in immediate difficulties to the bowling of Procter, although left-arm spinner Henwood and leg-spinner Parsons, who between them bowled only seven overs, did not appear all that dangerous.

Procter began by dropping the ball short, and when the crowd exhorted him to 'pitch them up', he did, and promptly bowled Frangos with a ball that landed on the dry patch, swung in and flattened the off stump, with the batsman offering no stroke.

Bland and Pithey batted it out until tea, half an hour later, with both taking some hard knocks on the body in the process.

McGlew was continually switching his two pace bowlers, and after tea Procter bowled from the grandstand end, got a good length ball to swing viciously as Bland went for the drive, and had his middle stump uprooted, and the board read 47 for four, of which Procter had three for 12.

Du Preez arrived oozing his usual confidence, drove Procter through the covers for three, flicked Trimborn round the corner for another three, then belted Anton Procter, who had one over, through the covers for a hearty four.

Further batting tragedy for Rhodesia was only a few overs away, however, for Mike Procter got a ball to rear almost head high to Tony Pithey, who was forced to defend himself, the ball looped off the bat to short leg where Anton Procter dived for the catch. Pithey stood his ground, but was given out after the umpires had conferred.

McGlew again switched his two pace men, with Procter now bowling to the end from which the ball was rearing. Gardiner had arrived to join du Preez, and showed he was not a mere slugger, by the way he got his head down and defended dourly.

It was during this partnership that Mike Procter might have been warned against persistent short-pitched bowling, for in one over he bowled five balls in a row that got up around Gardiner's ears.

Gardiner battled it out for 45 minutes for his two runs before going leg before wicket to Trimborn, who was, however, not getting much out of the pitch.

This Natal side are pretty good appealers - almost as vociferous as the Australians - and another concerted appeal for a catch at the wicket was turned down, the ball having glanced off du Preez's cheek.

Parker was next out when he hoicked at Procter, and Parsons, half way to the midwicket boundary, took a fine diving catch. And next ball du Preez's courageous innings ended when he also went for a big hit and Henwood took a good running catch in the covers.

Partridge, on the tailend of a hat-trick, arrived at the wicket, played one or two hefty drives, and one slice over the heads of the slips for four, before he lobbed a gentle catch to Versfeld.

Deudney, batting with surprising aplomb for a tailender, and Neville Williams then stuck it out, until an appeal against the light ended play five minutes before stumps.

What is going to happen to the pitch today is anybody's guess. After play ended yesterday, it was still possible to make an indent in the pitch with one's thumb. Even if no more rain interferes, the usual sweating under the covers overnight will still leave sufficient for the bowlers to take advantage of, in the early hours anyway.

It looks like being a long, hard struggle for Rhodesia, who are still 232 runs behind that Natal total of 330, which must look so good to skipper Jackie McGlew, every time he glances at the scoreboard.

THOSE COVERS DID LOOK SO VERY POSH

By Len Brown

Those canvas covers used up at the Police Cricket Ground on Saturday night looked so posh - bright green, and new. But how treacherous they proved for Rhodesia, when they allowed so much water to seep straight through as to make the pitch a batsman's nightmare, and held up play yesterday until 3 o'clock.

What puzzled many spectators while they were standing around watching the mopping up operations was why sufficient covers weren't provided overnight.

As several pointed out, there were no other cricket grounds in use this weekend, and there were more than sufficient covers lying idle, to ensure that water did not seep through. Several Rhodesian batsmen must have been asking the same question yesterday afternoon.

NATAL BEATS RHODESIA BAY AN INNINGS

By Len Brown (Tuesday 22 November 1966)

Not even a courageous innings of 76 not out by Jackie du Preez could force Natal to bat again in their Currie Cup match against Rhodesia at the Police Ground yesterday. Rhodesia were all out for 112 in their first innings, followed on, and were all out just before afternoon tea for 212, leaving Natal victors by an innings and six runs.

Natal's bowling hero was again young pace man Michael Procter, who bowled 21 splendid overs and bagged another four Rhodesian wickets for 54 runs, giving him a match analysis of 11 wickets for 79 runs.

In fact, throughout the match, he and Jackie du Preez have vied with each other for the honours. Du Preez had six wickets in the Natal innings, top scored with 28 in that disastrous first innings of Rhodesia's, and then played the innings of his life, with the Rhodesian batting crumbling at the other end.

Du Preez arrived at the wicket with the board reading 58 for four, and was still there when the game ended three hours and one minute later, with eight fours to his credit, and having left an abiding impression on all who saw his innings, of a young man finally come to manhood in a cricketing sense.

And what a heart-warming gesture it was from McGlew and his team when they lined up solidly behind du Preez as he walked off, and clapped him all the way to the dressing room.

And included in the applause was that for his last man partner Neville Williams, who had stayed with him while they added 58 runs in 51 minutes in a defiant tenth wicket partnership, which must have had some of the earlier Rhodesian batsmen hanging their heads in sorrow for what might have been.

After the last Rhodesian pair had added 14 runs to their overnight total to bring the first innings to an end at 112, Rhodesia followed on, and in just over an hour were right up the creek, and in imminent danger of losing the paddle.

And the manner in which the 'top brass' in the order had got themselves out was, to put it mildly, as undignified as it was unnecessary.

Right from the first ball of the day it was quite evident that all Sunday's vice had been expelled from the pitch, and that conditions between bat and ball were evenly balanced, with the pitch playing fast and true.

Gripper was perhaps the unluckiest, just when he seemed to be overcoming the jinx which has bothered him all season. He got one of the few that lifted from a length, when Procter bowled round the wicket, the ball struck him on the chest and dropped on to his stumps.

Ullyett chased a long hop and offered it tamely as a catch to Irvine in the gully, and Frangos, who had four lives, swept a ball feet outside the leg stump into the hands of Mike Procter at square leg.

Then came tragedy for Rhodesia, who were hoping for another life-saving act by skipper Tony Pithey.

He played a ball to mid-on, and as Bland started for the run, sent him back. But he was so worried about Bland regaining his ground, he forgot just how far he himself was down the pitch and failed to beat the throw as Gamsy swept the bails off.

Bland, too, should be hanging his head today. He looked more like the old Bland as he played with a certainty we all recognised, took 14 runs off the first five balls of Anton Procter's over, then flicked at a long hop outside the off stump and was caught off the last ball.

If these five had only added another 50 runs to the total, with the time taken to do so, Natal might have had to do some real run-chasing at the end to earn their outright win.

From then on, Jackson du Preez was the senior partner in charge, and until Williams arrived, looked like being left high and dry with a modest 40 runs to his credit.

But Williams was as game as du Preez to get after the attack, and with both playing some grand attacking shots the excitement mounted as the possibility of Natal having to bat again drew nearer.

But it was too good to last and Williams finally got a touch to a grand ball from Trimborn and Gamsy did the rest.

McGlew was the complete skipper yesterday. He kept his fielders on their toes, handled his attack wisely and well, and his field placing - as ever - was in a class of its own.

I liked, too, the economical action and the control and spin of left-arm spinner Pelham Henwood who, on this his first showing in Currie Cup cricket, seems booked for a long career in the Natal side.

McGLEW'S TACTICS

Sportlight, by Len Brown (Friday 25 November 1966)

That shrewd little maestro of a cricketing skipper, Natal's Jackie McGlew, seems to have irritated several of you during the recent cc match up at the Police Ground with his tactics, particularly that of continually switching his fielders, sometimes even after only two balls of the over had been bowled, and the ball patted gently back to the bowler.

Several have said to me they thought he was not only wasting time, but that it was a form of gamesmanship designed to get the batsman in a state of jitters, thereby hastening his getting himself out.

Well, my own view is that sometimes these tactics can become double-edged swords . . . I know quite a few tough lads who, in my time, had they felt that McGlew was getting under their skin with his tactics, would have started some ploys of their own.

I remember one of them, on a similar occasion, walking 10 yards away from the wicket, waiting until the opposing skipper had finished juggling his fielders about, and then asking: ``Are you quite finished, skipper?''

And when the fielding skipper nodded and indicated that he was ready now to get on with the game, our worthy decided it was his turn, and strolled nonchalantly up the pitch, tapping it with his bat and carrying out a minute inspection, as though he was looking for a lost penny or something.

The fielding skipper got the message and thereafter confined his field changes to a minimum.

And I've known several lads in my time . . . one or two of them live right here in this city . . . who would never have got to their feet as quickly as did Robbie Ullyett after being hit on the body in that last over from pace bowler Mike Procter, with the light not all that good, and shaped up again, to be bowled by a ball which I'm sure Rob never even saw.

No, sir, some of the lads I wot of, would have been stretched writhing on the ground, demanding a stretcher, tot of rum, and medical advisor . . . in that order . . . in a loud and determined voice.

And by the time they had got to their feet, there would have been no doubt in anybody's mind, that the light was too bad for batsmen to face pace bowlers . . . oh no, no doubt at all.

Some chaps play it harder than others . . . Jackie McGlew has been a little battler all his life, and plays cricket the hard way . . . and will continue to do so, until someone shows him a harder way.

Incidentally he knew perfectly well that Ullyett was entitled to another appeal against the light at the time he brought Mike Procter on, for the last over of the day. What he didn't expect was that Procter would be allowed to bowl a ball . . . he thought the batsmen would reappeal against the light.

And until that happened the umpires' hands were tied . . . the onus lay on the batsmen to appeal first . . . not on the umpires removing the bails.

ART OF CAPTAINCY (Sunday Mail, 27 November 1966)

Last week John Parry criticised Jack McGlew's captaincy in the Natal match against Rhodesia. He accused McGlew of gamesmanship. Today, Parry and McGlew take the issue further in these articles on the role of a cricket captain . . .

By Jackie McGlew

The art of captaincy has intrigued cricket players and lovers of this noble game for generation upon generation.

The skills and wiles demanded of a captain are not automatically bestowed upon every great player. Nor do many develop the art sufficiently to become recognised in this department.

One thing is certain . . . there is no captain who has ever lived nor will one ever be born who has not or will not be guilty of errors - and a whole host of them at that.

It is an age-old accepted adage that 'good generals make mistakes, but great generals make fewer'.

This is true of the cricket general. To him who diligently applies himself will the mysteries be revealed but none shall possess them all.

Having established this it is safe to say that virtues of a great captain are many and varied. Cricketers like Don Bradman, Douglas Jardine, Frank Worrell, Richie Benaud and others possess the bulk of them in great measure.

In an article of this nature it is somewhat difficult to cover completely the multitude of facts conglomerate in a great captain. Nevertheless here are the main features:

(1) be possessed of a fixity of purpose, bulldog-like tenacity; (2) have the loyalty and respect of his men through example; (3) be a sufficiently good player to command a place in the team; (4) know the rules and regulations governing the game; (5) have a sound knowledge of his opponents' strength and weakness; (6) be able to keep his finger on the 'pulse' of the match; (7) be able to inspire his team-mates to believe in themselves.

The above by no means cover everything, because circumstances arise in each and every game where maybe a new approach, a reviewed outlook, is necessary to mastermind the situation.

It is frequently easy to be a winning captain, but true merit is to control your team when all looks lost. This is far easier said than done.

The days when captains had an unquenchable love for a gamble seem long since gone. But this is not altogether true, as witness the recent pulsating victory achieved by Ali Bacher's Transvaal over Bobby Simpson's sporting Australians.

The skipper who is capable of handling a thin attack with a recurring act of mystery will always get my vote. These are the men who build an adventure.

It is an accepted fact that for the responsibility of captaincy of the 10 brings with it harrowing experiences. Despite the great honour of leading a team there is no doubt that when a side wins the individual members are apportioned lavish praise, whereas in defeat it is nobody's fault but the skipper's.

In Salisbury last week Natal had the good fortune to have 'the luck of the draw', as modern parlance has it. It was unfortunate for Rhodesia that they lost the toss and then had the misfortune to find that rain seeped under the covers.

However, I still feel the Rhodesians did not play to a plan. Admittedly the fortunes of the game fluctuate but one must have some sort of plan which is flexible.

When the game demands, one must adjust. That is what Natal did when Rob Ullyett and Nick Frangos were at the wicket in the closing stages.

I deny emphatically that I was guilty of gamesmanship. I merely utilised the opportunities afforded at that precise moment.

Furthermore at no stage were there attempts to intimidate the umpire by the Natal players.

CARRYING IT TOO FAR

By John Parry

Jackie McGlew's assessment of the qualities required of a captain and the skills which he must use in cricket leadership come from a man who himself has been one of the best leaders South Africa has turned out.

Indeed, he and Eric Rowan are by far the most skilled tactical captains to lead a Springbok cricket side since the last world war.

As McGlew suggests, he had his problems when he was captain of South Africa. Few of these were of his own making, but I suspect he went through a difficult time. But as captain of Natal, his genius has flourished and he has led his province to notable Currie Cup successes.

He has a fine team this year, with a healthy accent on youth, and obviously has the complete confidence and respect of his players. Much depends on the current battle with the Transvaal [Note: Natal won], but yet another Currie Cup success seems on the cards for Natal this year.

All successful captains need the will to win and something of the 'killer' spirit. McGlew certainly has the dynamism of both these qualities. He refutes the suggestion made by me among others that he indulged in gamesmanship against the Rhodesians last week.

Well, it all depends what you mean by gamesmanship. In my book that term includes the following:

*** Incessant chatting up of the players and umpires. *** Field changes after every second ball, which involved, on several occasions, players crossing into identical positions. *** A male voice choir shouting in unison almost every time the ball beat the bat.

The use of some of these tactics is to ease tension and make the batsman relaxed (jokes and personal conversations).

Others heighten tension with loud unnecessary appeals and dramatic field shiftings. The end intention is to establish a psychological ascendancy which will help you to win the game. The excuse is that this sort of thing is within the laws of cricket; if it is not, the umpires will stop it.

The trouble is that this is dangerously like the doctrine of the end justifying the means. It's apt to produce retaliatory methods from the opposition and introduce a note of unpleasantness.

There have been quite enough examples of snarling matches in Test cricket, especially in the recent days of England's power.

I'm not suggesting that this pleasant Natal side is likely to develop the behaviour pattern of the great Surrey teams in their recent glory. However, it's worth pondering some words by another great cricket captain, Sir Frank Worrell:

``There is nothing wrong with wanting to win. There is nothing wrong with winning. But there is a lot wrong with getting so carried away by success . .''

Surrey's championship team made itself most unpopular. This won't happen to Natal. The point I'm making is that hard-pressure methods can be carried to a point of retaliation when neither players nor spectators get full enjoyment out of the game, and where no meaning is left in that once honoured phrase, ``It isn't cricket.''