Immenso
International Vice-Captain
Yeah. I had just edited my post above with veiled references wondering when the drink started having an effect.Yes, and drinking heavily.
Yeah. I had just edited my post above with veiled references wondering when the drink started having an effect.Yes, and drinking heavily.
Ruds' book was a work of fiction. Well, he certainly lied about a lot of his own behaviour.I remember reading in Rutherford's book that people overstated Howarth's drinking because they didn't like him as a coach. Having said that, Howarth was coach while Ruds was captain so it makes sense that they'd stick by each other.
Ultimately, who knows. I genuinely didn't recall how bad his record got towards the end. He was averaging 40 at one point for NZ. Unheard of in that era.Yeah. I had just edited my post above with veiled references wondering when the drink started having an effect.
I started watching the sport as a kid the last 3 years of Howarth's career. He just seemed part of the pack at that time (all our batters seemed about even), It wasn't until his last season in 84/85 that it became painful or apparent (e.g. the commentators started mentioning it or feeling his pain each time he got out for a low score).Ultimately, who knows. I genuinely didn't recall how bad his record got towards the end. He was averaging 40 at one point for NZ. Unheard of in that era.
Complaceny klaxon, Complacency klaxon !!!!Will be an interesting day today, I think NZ can move up a few gears where-as South Africa are already giving it everything they have.
I'm only talking about his time as a specialist captain, not his whole career.I think you're being harsh on Howarth here. 6 test hundreds, which was great for a NZer at the time and his average was equal with any other player in that era. He barely overlapped with Crowe, or Reid (who played relatively few tests) and he averaged around the same as Wright (and Edgar) during their playing years. Wright's average blossomed latterly. It was around 30 for a long time.
Very good captain, though, I agree with that.
Saying that, I have just looked at Howarth's record, and you may have a point. He didn't score a test century for nigh on the last 5 years of his career, and his average fell off a cliff during that time. Great player in his prime, though. One of our best.
Reminds me of that 2016 Aus/SL series where, in the 3rd test, the first runs of an innings were Warner hitting a 6 - immediately making it the highest opening stand of the series to that pointOnly the second time in this series the openers from either side have put on more than 10 runs.
Yessss I was about to post this one
This has triggered a childhood memory - one of the first cricket books I read in the late 80's Cricket in Australia (?) that was about the 84/85 season the Windies toured and there was a World Cricket Championship (sounded like an alternative WC). It had a pic of a bespectacled Howarth. I think my mum saw it and made some comment about how he used to be really good then seemed to forget how to bat.I started watching the sport as a kid the last 3 years of Howarth's career. He just seemed part of the pack at that time (all our batters seemed about even), It wasn't until his last season in 84/85 that it became painful or apparent (e.g. the commentators started mentioning it or feeling his pain each time he got out for a low score).