The Life Of An Adventurer

[fredfertang]

The Life Of An Adventurer

"One of the most extraordinary men to have played Test cricket" is how Wisden described South Africa's Bob Crisp. In this feature Martin tells the story

 

[Starfighter]

With respect to Crisp's pace, Ray Robinson put him in the same category as Allen and McCormick and others who were known for being distinctly sharp rather than fast-medium, and he was fast enough to hit an (admittedly very out of form) Wally Hammond a few times at Trent Bridge. He had low armed slinging action quite reminiscent of Fidel Edwards. That Wisden description of him is so on point, one of the great characters to have graced the cricket field.

 

[the big bambino]

Wondered why Crisp never played that last series before the war given the form he was in just a few months before hand. So he was writing copy for the series instead. Though when he made himself available after SA went one down I'm wondering now why the Saffers didn't pick him.

 

[Starfighter]

I don't think you can say for sure that Newson, Davies or Gordon (in addition to Langton) made for a worse attack than one with Crisp. The pitches in that series were simply brutal.

 

[the big bambino]

Probably the 5 easiest roads ever prepared for a series. Think Crisp Newson Gordon and Langton with Mitchell and Dalton providing relief would've been their strongest attack.

 

[Midwinter]

Thanks that was a good story/

 

[Howe_zat]

One of the great spud-themed cricketers, alongside the likes of Mashrafe Mortaza, Jonathan Agnew and Kirk Edwards