COWIE MAKES GOOD

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 178, 14 August 1937, Page 16

COWIE MAKES GOOD

CAREER IN BIG CRICKET UP TO STANDARD OF JFARNES The Auckland fast bowler, Jack Cowie, was one of the most discussed players in the Dominion round about last February when the New Zealand team for England was in the process of mobilisation. Although he ha'd represented New Zealand in the first (Dunedin) and third. (Auckland) Tests against the 1935-36 side, captained by E. R.'T. Holmes, he did not meet with much success. Dropped chances^crucified him at Carisbrook; he was left out of the second Test at Wellington, where he got four for 65 in 35 overs for Auckland that year; and brought in again for Eden Park, where the wicket is always too good for him. So when the "eight" certainties were announced by the selectors after the classic Auckland- Wellington match here, and Cowie's name was missing, his admirers— and they were not numerous— ' were dubious about his chances of ultimately going Home. The' Otago v. Canterbury match,! which the dark blues surprisingly won, did not throw much further light on the fast bowling questioii, so Cowie made the grade against his Wellington (C. K. ParSloe) and Dunedin (R." Silver) rivals. And now, with memories of that second Test which New Zealand should have won but for dropping F. R. Brown four times, followed by painful' batting after Vivian and Moloney had a disastrous ■ misunderstanding, all Cowie's critics have ' become friendly! Hitherto only Australian and South African bowlers had tasted the joys of collecting 10 English wickets in one Test. The game held further pleasant memories .'for Covyie, for it enab'led him to brihg his lisf of first-class wickets to a three-figure total. His career in big cricket is summarised below: —

Apart from Farnes, Cowie is possibly the best fast bowler in England to-day. The manner in which he caii undergo more than hourly spells of bowling at such moderate cost has .earned for Cowie the keenest adpiiration of English critics. In New Zealand "compe tent judges were inclined to regard the Aucklander as a bowler of the up-and-down variety, but in England he has acquired aimost every asset of a great fast bowler. The ope ling ovcrs bowled at a great speed, a>\d with even greater accuracy, spell many, uncomfortable moments for the best batsmen. Bringiiig the ball off from the pitch in a lightning fashion, Cowie has trapped many slow-footed batsmen into leg-before decision. A beautiful ihswinger and a vicious break-back have frequently scattered the stumps, and it is not at all uucommon to see an adventurous tbatsman touch one of these deliveries, which rise awltwardly from the pitch, then from the bat, into the hands of eager' slip lielclsmen. ; Rarely, indeed, has Co\vie been mastered on tour, and with quite a dozen more games seems lilcely to claim 100 wickets, and at the same time earn for himself the reputation of being "Nevv Zealand's greatest bowler."

Season. Wkts. Av. Runs. Avge. 1934-35 16 22.37 68 22.26 1935-36 8 63.25. 53 10.60 1936-37 21 14.90 9 2.25 1937 'in Eng. 59 22.47 80 6.66 104 24.30 210 8.75