ELEGANT BATSMAN

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 39, 16 February 1933, Page 13

ELEGANT BATSMAN

THE MANTLE OF TRUMPER

(By "Not Out.") On the occasion of a trial match at the Sydney Cricket Ground some six years ago, a youth just seventeen years of age—a fresh-faced almost wisp of a boy—stepped on to the threshold of international fame. He. took strike, played. his stroke—a slashing square cut to the fence—and played rriore strokes with such perfection as to cause a stir amongst the keen-eyed judges there to see if any. new .talent 7was offering. The| boy's flashing bat continued to make play, and to. make the tongues wag. ; Eyes of experience were not deceived. A new star had arisen. Here, it seemed, was the new Trumper —Archie Jackson!. The discovery of this youth was credited to Arthur Mailey, and the one introduction was quite sufficient to satisfy' those -■ watching this trial that-in;Archie. Jackson Australia had a young cricketer with a great future.. In his first season of first-class cricket Jackson's figures were remarkable in that almost invariably he followed up a small score in the first innings' with a big score in the second innings, when-his artistry was seen at its best; His second season began inauspiciously, but, on being promoted to the position of opening batsman for his State (Now South. Wales) 'he achieved the distinction of making a century in each innings, for which feat ho received a special presentation from tho. Now South' Wales Cricket Association. There was little doubt about giving Jackson a place in Richardson's team for New Zealand, and the young "find" came . here' on his first big tour, though, it was regretted by Wellington followers of the game, ho was not included in the team which met Wellington.- At that time, another fine young player was on the horizon of big cricket, none other than Don. Bradman, and there was some regret amongst Australian enthusiasts that Bradman was not also given the opportunity of "coining out" by being included in the team for the New Zealand tour. Later, Jackson's big chance came when Chapman's English team was in Australia. An injury prevented Ponsford from playing in the Adelaide Test, and Jackson was called upon to fill the vacancy.. So .well did he grasp the opportunity that,: he played an innings—his first in Test cricket— which holds a place in cricket records as a real classic. Itwas said that Jackson's innings (which yielded 164 runs) was complete in its artistry and that.mastery of every stroke -was revealed. And so Jackson 'went on to an English cricket campaign. Unfortunately, however, the young cricket star was'then not in the best of health. Some doubt was expressed as to whether he would stand up to a tour of England.. He was gallant in his effort, but the illness troubled him throughout tho tour, although he made over 1100 runs at a, good average. The elegance of his .batting, however, was npt seen in England to anything like the same extent as in Australia. The lurking illness kept him out of cricket last season, and for health reasons he transferred to Queensland this season. He became Tgell enough to take up'the game again, and, until a few weeks ago when he became seriously ill, he showed a remarkable return to form. Acting on doctor's orders, he played in pennant cricket only. The hope that he would come right into his; own again as a brilliant young cricketer has not been fulfilled, and there will be widespread and: deep regret at the passing of the modern Trumper.