The roll of cricket’s Invincibles has shrunk to three with the death of Australia’s oldest Test player Ron Hamence.
Hamence, who toured England with Don Bradman’s legendary 1948 team without playing a Test, died at a nursing home in Adelaide last night at the age of 94.
“He was a lovely man with a great sense of humour,” said Denis Brien, cricket historian and president of Hamence’s old club West Torrens.
He said Hamence suffered badly from arthritis in later life but had nursed his wife Nora until she died four years ago, after which he became almost a recluse.
He is survived by a daughter, Lynette Hallett.
Hamence, born in November 1915, when Australian soldiers were still fighting at Gallipoli, never drove a car in his life.
Hamence also served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.
He was an attacking batsman who used brilliant footwork against slow bowlers.
“He once said he used to imagine that there was no wicket-keeper, and that he and the bowler were the only two in the game,” Brien said.
Hamence made his debut against England in 1947 and played three Tests, with a top score of 30 not out.
He had the distinction of making a century in his first and last first-class matches for South Australia.
Hamence, at 15, was also the youngest Australian to play disctrict cricket.
His death leaves Sam Loxton, 88, Arthur Morris, 88, and Neil Harvey, 81, as the only survivors of the team that toured England undefeated to mark the end of Bradman’s career.
- AAP
Australian press and commentators react to Ashes defeat
London, Aug.24 (ANI): The Australian press and commentators have reacted along predictable lines to the latest Ashes series defeat to England in England.
“The Australian selectors have faced serious issues right through the series and they have not been solid. The selectors need to be made answerable at the end of this campaign, said former Australian opener Michael Slater.
“Not only did they [the selectors] handcuff Ponting at The Oval with four pacemen on a palpably dry pitch, but they also, once again, resorted to the failed ploy of expecting part-time spinners to do a specialist task,” The Independent quoted Ian Chappell, as saying.
“Forget all that nonsense about criticising Ponting’s captaincy. He remains unequivocally the best player to lead the team,” said the Herald Sun.
“I really don’t think that England deserve to win this year. This is hard for me to acknowledge, since I’m South African, and it’s in my blood to hate anything Australian,” said Frost on www.cricket- blog.com.
“We’ve scored eight tons versus England’s two. He [Ponting] must go as a captain – the only captain to lose the Ashes with the invincibles will become the only captain to lose two Ashes.” virtualGaz on www.cricket-blog.com
“England don’t deserve to win the Ashes. They haven’t scored enough centuries.
Day one of the final Test said it all. England won the toss. They picked the best side while Australia may have got their side wrong. The bowlers performed modestly in the first session. England got the start they wanted. Australia were rattled. The wicket was flat. The ball was swinging a bit but hardly venomously.
Ricky Ponting was chewing his nails and looked agitated. And still no English batsman could take control. Sorry but that’s not good enough,” said Robert Craddock in his report for the Herald Sun.
“Andrew Flintoff had to produce something magnificent in his final Test, you just knew, and when he threw down the stumps to dismiss Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to end a defiant innings, the Oval faithful had their moment,” said Jamie Pandaram, The Age. (ANI)