CRICKET at PARKTOWN

In Standard Eight at 15 years old, I was selected to play for the 1st Cricket Team as an off-break bowler.
This was the greatest achievement I could imagine. I was walking on air for days. Despite bowling very well, I was brought down to earth by being dropped and not making the first team again until late in my matric year in 1961. The coach, Mr McCorkel inexplicably ignored me.

I had joined the Wanderers club after being proposed by my stepfather, Judge Oscar Galgut. At the time, the club had a strict low Jewish quota, so I was fortunate to be accepted as a member.

Whilst continuing to play at Parktown (in the Second Team), I excelled at the Wanderers and was selected to play for the Wanderers A team for three years alongside Springbok players such as Johnny Waite, Syd O’Linn, Mike McCauley, Dave Ironside, Ian Morrison and a number of provincial players.

I was rather nervous, and my first ball was a double-hop. The batsman cracked the ball, which was caught at deep mid-off. An atrocious start, but an excellent result in the scorebook.