I've heard from Gavaskar, Shastri on how they were encouraged by senior players in their youth and Sunny continued the trend by gifting his pads to encourage a young Sachin Tendulkar
Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar during a book release function at Cricket Club of India in 2006. Pic/mid-day archives
Last week I had a thoroughly enjoyable dinner and re-union in Sydney with South Australia's (SA) oldest living Test player Gavin 'The Ox' Stevens. Despite his physical presence highlighted by the nickname, Stevens is lucky to have survived this long, as he became extremely ill on Australia's 1959-60 tour of Pakistan and India and never played another first-class game.
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Adding to the enjoyment of the evening, Stevens was joined by his former opening partner at Glenelg and SA, Ron Haddrick. Stevens was in Sydney to enjoy a performance of 'My Fair Lady' and coincidentally Haddrick, one of Australia's finest actors, played the part of Alfred Dolittle in his youth.
My Adelaide days
Haddrick probably enjoys the distinction of being the only person to have played at the picturesque Adelaide Oval and the iconic Royal Shakespeare theatre. Prior to our dinner I came across an old photo, dated October 28, 1952. There in black and white on the 'new' Glenelg Oval scoreboard were the names Haddrick, Stevens and Chappell. The Chappell was my father Martin and as I gazed at the photo I was struck by the talent in that club side; there were six Sheffield Shield players and apart from Stevens, opening bowler Geoff Noblett also played Test cricket.
It's amazing how success in a region, seems to have a flow-on effect. Operating the scoreboard that day in 1952 was 13-year-old Don Rice who went on to play baseball for SA and Australia. Alongside him was twelve year-old Bob Touhy, who became a successful professional golfer and respected tournament director. There was also a nine year-old (obviously the most expendable), sent up the ladder to change the name of the outgoing batsman, who later played baseball alongside Rice and also captained Australia at cricket on thirty occasions.
Having been regaled by stories from both Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri about them being encouraged by senior players in their youth, I'm aware this is not a situation unique to Australia. Gavaskar continued the trend by gifting a pair of his pads to encourage a young Sachin Tendulkar, so it's not hard to understand why Mumbai gained and has retained a reputation for producing highly competitive cricketers. On further reflection, I pondered the effect of what today would be called mentoring but was simply good old common courtesy back in 1952, had on sports mad young kids.
Family affair
In addition to Martin's part in siring three boys who all played Test cricket, he shaped both our attitude and aptitude for sport. However, he wasn't alone, as many of the names on that scoreboard helped and encouraged a number of kids in the Glenelg district. At that time there was also a ten year-old running around the club named David Sincock, who went on to be a prodigious spinner of the ball for both SA and Australia.
At the regular Sunday Glenelg club picnics, the adults would organise a game of cricket with the kids before they got on with the serious business of tapping the keg and conducting a beer sculling competition. To be not only recognised by these famous names in the district but also encouraged, was a big boost to kids who had their own dreams of playing at the Adelaide Oval. I have fond memories of time spent in the dressing room with these players I looked up to and it had a positive effect on my development.
Club class
I loved to hear tales of the end-of-season club trips. How Haddrick clambered onto the bar of a country pub to recite Shakespeare and then in the interests of providing light and shade, club stalwart Howard 'Sam' Starling followed with his version of The Farting Contest. Our reunion in Sydney was a chance to reflect on my good fortune in growing up, surrounded by the strong smell of success. I'd love to say it made two old guys very happy but I'd be lying; it gave great joy to three old men.
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