Former South African skipper, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Norman-Gordon-c79925 for his 100th Birthday – Cricket News Update
Former South African Test captain, Dr. Ali Bacher has hailed the oldest player of his generation, Norman Gordon, who awaits his 100th birthday, making him the only remnant of the golden cricket era.
The former South African fast bowler played in the Timeless era of cricket where he played 5 Test matches for his country in 1938-39 cricket season.
He surpassed http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Eric-William-Thomas-Tindill-c56173, as the oldest player alive, on March 23, 2011. Tindill, was 99 years and 226 days old when he died.
Gordon, who lives in Central Johannesburg, was quoted saying that he was “nervous” and “excited” about the prospect of turning 100, and was adamant it will be the Best thing that could happen to him in his life.
He represented the Proteas in the pre-World War 2 era, where he played all 5 Test matches for the national side, bowling his heart out, in a period where test cricket had no time limit, like the five-day format nowadays.
In the 5 match series, which was against the English, Gordon was best bowler on show. In the first test, which was a drawn affair, he took figures of 2-59 and 5-103.
He also bowled well in the subsequent Test matches, where the final and fifth test match ended in a draw, after both sides decided to end it. This match was famously known as the Timeless Test match, where it took 10 days without a result being produced.
Then came the World War and after it ended, Norman was too old to get a reckoning in the South African side.
Former South African test cricketer and administrator, Dr Ali Bacher knows the efforts put in by Gordon and hopes to pay tribute by assembling other renowned fast bowlers, such as http://www.senore.com/Cricket/M-Ntini-c1865 on this great occasion for cricket
and especially, the 99-year-old.
"When he got to 99 last year, like a good captain, I told him to take it easy. I told him not to go for the big hits, rather play it in the gaps and look for the singles," Bacher stated.
Norman will celebrate this occasion on 6th of August, next month.
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