A Spectator at the Oval
S a sucker for sentiment, a lover of cricket, .0b,a firm believer in happy endings, and as honorary organising secretary of the Frederick Sewards Trueman fan club, I was feeling pretty despondent around 1.25 p.m. on Saturday after- noon. The great man's analysis stood at 0 for 79 and by and large it was fair comment. When Dexter recalled him just before lunch the loyal cheers mingled with a hum of disapproval from the pundits. And then suddenly everything came right. The last milestone to the three-hundredth wicket and beyond swept by. His figures in this spell were 4 for 8 and they were fully earned by a beautifully controlled hostile spell of bowling off his short run. At once the pavilion argument started again. Has Trueman, at a little over medium pace, still a future in front of him in the England team? It is certainly possible: and yet I almost hope he does not attempt the change. He has set figures in Test matches that no other bowler has approached in the past, nor is one likely to do so in the future. For all champions the other side of the hill with its long decline waits. The final tours of our two greatest medium fast bowlers Tatc, and Alec Bedser proved failures. Trueman stands with Larwood and Lindwall in the Valhalla of fast bowlers. If that final bowling spell at the Oval proves to be his curtain line in Test matches, it will always be remembered ...
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