Personalities In Sport

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 311, 23 March 1928, Page 10

Personalities In Sport

The Master Artist Behind the Stumps

A small, unassuming figure behind ; the stumps, with bowlers of various types to contend with. No flourishes, no loud-mouthed appealing, and no hesitancy; but neat, quiet, efficiency. That is William Albert Oldfield, the world’s best wicketkeeper, in action while the Australian eleven is fielding. Oldfield is a marvellous ’keeper, swift as lightning when a stumping chance or catch is going, but always suggesting ease. He never makes what is a difficult art look in any way difficult. He is equally good on leg-side or off. Oldfield, however, is not merely a wicketkeeper. He is a first-class batsman also, and liis century against Canterbury at Lancaster Park recently will not easily be forgotten by the people who saw that memorable day’s cricket. Oldfield was born in Sydney on September 9, 1597. so that he is 30 years of age, and has-- plenty of cricket m front of him yet. He learned his cricket at the Cleveland Street School, where he* was captain of the eleven, being a batsman and a bowler in those days. Leaving school, however, Oldfieid first took to the pads and gloves, playing in City and Suburban cricket on the Sydney Domain. A WAR CRICKETER For a short time, Oldfield was a member of the Glebe Club, in Sydney, ’keeping in two matches to Albert Cotter, the famous Australian fast bowler. Then he joined the Gordon Club, and has been in its eleven ever since. In the Great War Oldfield served in the Medical Corps. He was wounded and buried by a shell at Polygon Wood. After the war Oldfield became a member of the Australian Imperial Forces team that toured England in 1919. There were two teams belonging to the Australian Forces at the time, and at first Oldfield played with the second and comparatively unknown combination. In a match at Oxford, however, he did so well behind the sticks that he was asked to play for the senior side, and since then he has never looked back, appearing in all Australian sides from that date. In 1920-21. when J. W. H. T. Douglas’s English side toured Australia. Oldfield played in the first three Tests, being displaced by H. Carter in the

last two. He made 107 runs highest score 50. and an n'L *** 21.4. He stumped five men andS* 1 two !n 1921 Oldfield was m \\ arwick Armstrong s famous k! 5 * bination that toured England C played in the last Test only 28 not out. and caught one A BATSMAN, TOO When Gilligan's team toured , tralia in 1924-25, Oldfield s wick» t k~ tng was brilliant throughout and : played in every Test, finishing wav' batting average of over 41. i„ 1926 season Oldfield was once lr Kngland with an Australian *1?- : and his ’keeping was one of the ,r ’ standing features of Australian crict during that memorable season England won back the Ashes, 1., matches. Oldfield had a batting a v .‘ age of 24.42. with S2 not out as 1 highest score. In the Tests, his ha ting average was 2S. with S 3 not outhis highest score. He is a eertaiV lor the Australian Eleven when meets the English side in Austral next season. Oldfield has toured New Zealand K fore, and cricket enthusiasts h a pleasant memories of his nerfonnarv when he was touring the Domini with the New South Wales side I. by C. G. Macartney. Oldfield ’has r presented his State in every seaicsince the war, excepting in the season following his return from abroad. “TIMING” THE BALL Oldfield claims that a is born, and not made, but, even .* there is need for plenty of practi If a wicketkeeper learns to “time" t ball, just as a batsman does, he » never have any trouble with his hand Oldfield’s hands do not show a mark and one would not think that he hi ever done any wicketkeeping to k at them. Yet he has kept to ir--such as J. M. Gregory and E. A. ) . Donald. He is a delightful personality, modest and unassuming as his work He has often said that he owes a 1 of his success to the sound advi given him by Herbert Collins. C. I. Kelleway, and the late Frank Ired.. all splendid cricketers.