Historical footage: Impressions of some greats

[the big bambino]

Remember that. We only gave them that much to chase thanks to a late stand between Massie and little know leggie Watkins. Pakistan began its chase with Sadiq who blazed a ball from Massie into the offside. The camera tried to chase it to the boundary. In doing so it panned the slips and I saw Greg Chappell, I think, start to cheer, applaud and run towards cover. The camera then doubled back until it found a smirking Ross Edwards lying flat on his stomach and holding the ball in his right hand being set upon by congratulatory team mates. It was an unbelievable catch and sent Pakistan toward defeat.

Pakistan similarly led most of the way in the 2nd test too before posting the smallest innings in a high scoring match when chasing 290 odd to eventually lose. I see Salam Altaf played that series. he came back in 1976 and bowled the biggest inswinger I've ever seen to Ian Davis. Swear it started well outside off and finished clearing leg by a good margin. Recall the commentators wondering what just happened.

 

[Starfighter]

Now, for context here it should be borne in mind that Lillee was measured at 148.5 km/h in 1975 an 154.8 km/h in 1976, and at the Perth test in 75/76 Lillee while sick bowled 139 km/h, Holding 148.54 km/h, Roberts 150.67 km/h and Thomson 160.45 km/h (That's from the little documentary clip, I've heard other similar or higher speeds elsewhere). Thus it seems that for some reason or another the speeds recorded during the competition were significantly below what the bowlers were actually capable of bowling.

 

[Starfighter]

Australia's innings from the third test, 1950-51. Neil Harvey walks off at 6:10 having been bowled by Bedser, other than that you batsmen people can guess what's going on. Miller scores 145 in six hours with six fours and one six, a rather restrained innings by his standards. Bedser, Brown and Warr would bowl all but six of the 129 eight ball overs for the innings.

 

[Starfighter]

Movietone's highlights of the famous Old Trafford test in 1961.

By the way, would anyone happen to know of any footage of Les Jackson bowling?

 

[Starfighter]

 

[the big bambino]

That war time match btwn Warner's XI and the RAAF shows Gubby Allen sending Keith Miller's off stump flying. Judging by the look of surprise on Miller's face it must have come of the wicket with a bit of fizz. Miller was generous enough to compliment the bowler and looks to be saying "good ball" as he walks off. Allen would have been close to 41 years of age at the time of the match and still capable of good speed.

 

[watson]

That war time match btwn Warner's XI and the RAAF shows Gubby Allen sending Keith Miller's off stump flying. Judging by the look of surprise on Miller's face it must have come of the wicket with a bit of fizz. Miller was generous enough to compliment the bowler and looks to be saying "good ball" as he walks off. Allen would have been close to 41 years of age at the time of the match and still capable of good speed.

There's no way that's GO Allen bowling Miller. Unless he's completely mucking about with his action because it's a friendly

 

[Starfighter]

There's no way that's GO Allen bowling Miller. Unless he's completely mucking about with his action because it's a friendly

Different balls/bowlers cut together. You'll notice the keeper is up in the far shot but not in the shot that actually shows the dismissal.

 

[the big bambino]

Exactly. Its an annoying habit that seemed to have back then. The guy running into bowl isn't Allen as the keeper is over the stumps. The next frame showing Miller getting bowled is a different ball altogether as the keeper isn't in frame. The bowler who appears in the corner of the frame and whom Miller congratulates is Allen.

 

[watson]

Jimmy Cook smashes Rodney Hogg

 

[watson]

Peter Kirsten shows Graeme Pollock how to hit the ball properly.

 

[Starfighter]

Exactly. Its an annoying habit that seemed to have back then. The guy running into bowl isn't Allen as the keeper is over the stumps. The next frame showing Miller getting bowled is a different ball altogether as the keeper isn't in frame. The bowler who appears in the corner of the frame and whom Miller congratulates is Allen.

Yup, the editing on those newsreels is hair-tearingly bad. I really do not understand why they so often cut out a dismissal, showing the events of either side of it but not the dismissal itself. What prevents them from showing it?

I have noticed that it is more common on Pathe reels than on Movietone reels.

 

[watson]

Garth Le Roux, Clive Rice, and a young Allan Donald take on Kepler Wessells and Kim Hughes

 

[watson]

Clive Rice yorks Steve Rixon as the 300+ run chase goes down to the final overs.

 

[watson]

A package of Clive Rice bowling during the final overs of the above RSA v AUS ODI.

 

[Starfighter]

The first test in 1924-25. A batsman is seen batting and is apparently caught at the wicket. The card talks about Bardsley and Collins, but neither was caught behind in the match and I would say it is Hendry going by this picture. Gilligan, who had lost much of his pace and effectiveness after sustaining a serious chest injury (an batting on) in Gentleman vs Players the past English season, bowls. Tate bowls from the other end, with a somewhat lower front arm than was common. England bat, and again the card deceives - a batsman is bowled, but the opening pair weren't in the match. It may be JW Hearne in the second innings going by the open stance, but the rest is the first innings so it may be Gilligan. Chapman is run out after inventing a single. At the end Hobbs walks off.

 

[Starfighter]

The second test 24-25. Australia bat first again, and we get a sweeping shot of the MCG with the old, proper scoreboard as Gilligan bowls. Funny that they still had the 'poles in the way' problem in the eighties. Dick Tyldesley and JW Hearne send down their leg breaks. Later on Tate Bowls.
Without warning this time we switch the England innings with some good footage of Gregory bowling (The Cricket Archives, which I think has already been posted here has some good footage as well, and one ball of Kelleway, from 28/29). Then after a couple of balls of... stuff we go back to Australia batting, ending with two balls from Gilligan and the Australians walking out onto the field.

 

[Starfighter]

The fourth test. Gregory and Kelleway bowl to Hobbs and Sutcliffe. Kelleway is always called 'fast medium', which he isn't, but he was 38 at the time. For some reason - perhaps being an opening bowler - I always imagined him as being taller, like Gregory.

 

[Starfighter]

 

[Starfighter]