*Official* 2024 South Africa tour of New Zealand: 2 tests

[Immenso]

Yes, and drinking heavily.

Yeah. I had just edited my post above with veiled references wondering when the drink started having an effect.

 

[Neil Young]

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.

Ruds' book was a work of fiction. Well, he certainly lied about a lot of his own behaviour.

Howarth was a heavy drinker for years when he was playing, and then coaching.

 

[Neil Young]

Yeah. I had just edited my post above with veiled references wondering when the drink started having an effect.

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.

 

[The Hutt Rec]

If you read Howarth’s book, he was treated pretty terribly by NZ cricket, both as captain and coach. Sure his form had been down for some time as captain, but he was basically running the team because NZC were a bunch of amateurs (literally) who had no clue about all the things that needed to be done for an international team to succeed. Then they knifed him without a word, and that was after taking his advice on setting up whatever tour it was they were going on!

So yes his form did drop badly, but given all he was doing for the side it’s quite harsh to call him a specialist captain, imo. His contributions to the side were pretty immense.

 

[Immenso]

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.

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).

 

[The Hutt Rec]

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.

 

[SteveNZ]

This new ball looks bloody crucial. Doing a bit early, but probably won't do bugger all once it gets the shine off it

 

[Immenso]

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.

Complaceny klaxon, Complacency klaxon !!!!

But, yeah I agree.

(But I also think NZ are capable of not moving up any gears, coz they're in the decline)

 

[_Ed_]

A fair few close calls already today.

 

[BeeGee]

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.

I'm only talking about his time as a specialist captain, not his whole career.

 

[Aidan11]

Only the second time in this series the openers from either side have put on more than 10 runs.

 

[Bijed]

Only the second time in this series the openers from either side have put on more than 10 runs.

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 point

 

[Flem274*]

Flemings book was not overly glowing of Howarth as coach, though Fleming liked him as a guy. Too drunk to coach.

 

[SeamUp]

Fortuin's struggle is finally over. At least he can tell his grandchildren he opened the batting in test cricket.

 

[Aidan11]

Didn't need to play that shot.

 

[SillyCowCorner1]

Rachin 1/1 (1.1)

@ashley bach

 

[ataraxia]

Rachin 1/1 (1.1)

@ashley bach

Yessss I was about to post this one

 

[_Ed_]

Matt Henry probably deserved to be the one to pick up that wicket, but hey, I'll take it.

 

[SeamUp]

Raynie looked so bloody good in the first innings until he threw it away. He has so much to play for here.

 

[jcas0167]

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).

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.

A guy in the social T20 side I play in went on the 89 Youth Tour to England under Howarth. Said he was enjoyed a beer and a yarn. He bowled to him in the nets and apparently middled everything. Thought he was incredibly talented.