watson
Banned
In 2009 the MCC put together a 90 minute documentary called 'Cape Summer: MCC Tour to South Africa 1957/57'. It is narrated by Michael Elliot. The documentary is so monumentally good that I think that is deserves its own thread. There are no histrionics and the production is understated, but it is still engrossing.
The interviews with Peter Richardson and Clive Van Ryneveld are central to documentary as they recall each of the five Tests matches in detail. There are also excellent interviews with Denis Compton, Peter May, Trevor Bailey, Johnny Wardle, John Waite and Trevor Goddard. Incidently, Goddard reveals that he found Bailey the most difficult of the English bowlers.
As usual for the 1950s the film quality is not the best, but that still doesn't stop the slow motion footage of Adocock, Heine, Goddard, Tayfield and Wardle in Part 2 being sensational. Adcock looks absolutely terrifying as he runs through the crease at full tilt and hurls the ball with his great 'windmill' action. He is not unlike Mike Procter, but slightly less chest-on. How he bowled a good outswinger is a mystery.
However, it was Tayfield and Wardle who ended up being the heros of the series which finished 2-2. It is suggested that if Peter May had used Wardle properly and not prohibited him from bowling his Chinamen more often then England would have won the series.
May scored 1270 runs on the tour, but averaged only 15.3 in the Tests as he obviously failed to come to terms with the aggression of the South African bowlers. Consequently, Richardson, Cowdrey, and Bailey formed the foundation of English batting. Goddard and McLean for the South Africans.
I hope that you enjoy watching the many personalities of this iconic Tour 'come to life', and that you also come away with the impression that Trevors Bailey and Goddard would have to be two of the most under-rated and misunderstood greats in cricketing lore.
The interviews with Peter Richardson and Clive Van Ryneveld are central to documentary as they recall each of the five Tests matches in detail. There are also excellent interviews with Denis Compton, Peter May, Trevor Bailey, Johnny Wardle, John Waite and Trevor Goddard. Incidently, Goddard reveals that he found Bailey the most difficult of the English bowlers.
As usual for the 1950s the film quality is not the best, but that still doesn't stop the slow motion footage of Adocock, Heine, Goddard, Tayfield and Wardle in Part 2 being sensational. Adcock looks absolutely terrifying as he runs through the crease at full tilt and hurls the ball with his great 'windmill' action. He is not unlike Mike Procter, but slightly less chest-on. How he bowled a good outswinger is a mystery.
However, it was Tayfield and Wardle who ended up being the heros of the series which finished 2-2. It is suggested that if Peter May had used Wardle properly and not prohibited him from bowling his Chinamen more often then England would have won the series.
May scored 1270 runs on the tour, but averaged only 15.3 in the Tests as he obviously failed to come to terms with the aggression of the South African bowlers. Consequently, Richardson, Cowdrey, and Bailey formed the foundation of English batting. Goddard and McLean for the South Africans.
I hope that you enjoy watching the many personalities of this iconic Tour 'come to life', and that you also come away with the impression that Trevors Bailey and Goddard would have to be two of the most under-rated and misunderstood greats in cricketing lore.
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