100 Years Ago: 26 September 1924

South Africans bound homeward

The majority of the members of the South African cricket team of 1924 are now leaving for their homeland on the Union Castle liner Armadale Castle.  Philip Hands, Cecil Dixon, Nummy Deane and George Bissett have already left, due to injury and other reasons, and only Jimmy Blanckenberg and Sid Pegler are still in England now for a while.  The main party were seen off yesterday by a large party of friends, including Frank Mann, Henry Leveson Gower and Frank Mitchell, captain of the 1912 South African team.

The captain, Herby Taylor, thanked all who had worked so hard to give them a pleasant tour, although the results were disappointing.  He admitted that their bowling was not good enough, and bowlers who were top-class on their own matting pitches could not adjust to the turf pitches of England.  He thought that the South African team would never be able to hold their own in England until turf pitches were used throughout South Africa, but progress was being made in that area and one was laid down already in Durban.

He said that the Solly Joel tour would give the South Africans the chance to try out promising young players.  He thought that the cricket in England was of an even higher standard than he had met on his last visit in 1912, especially the fielding, and that Tate was a superb bowler on any pitch.  He felt that if the M.C.C. could reproduce their English form in Australia, they would probably win the series.

1924 County Review

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE — equal 6th place

Nottinghamshire lost some ground in the championship table this year, but were still a good stable side.  The wet season did not best suit their bowling attack, while their batting was not quite so consistent, although Whysall had an outstanding season and was invited to tour Australia, rather ironically as primarily reserve wicket-keeper.  Arthur Carr also had a good batting season, but George and John Gunn, and Payton, who kept getting run out, all returned poorer figures than last season.  Joe Hardstaff could not find form at all and dropped out of the team, while Willis Walker could not command a regular place.  But put together the batting still did a fair job and the team had more depth in both batting and bowling than most of their opponents.

Barratt enjoyed a good bowling season who often found bounce even on soft, slow pitches.  Matthews generally bowled well, but the slow pitches did not suit his pace and he was rested at times.  Richmond and Sam Staples both did well in the spin department, although Richmond was rather inconsistent at times.  Flint earned himself a regular place in the team with useful all-round form as a batsman and medium-pace bowler.  Nottinghamshire never looked like challenging for the championship this year and many of their top players must be nearing the end of their careers, but they are still a strong force.

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