28 OCTOBER 1989, Page 28

Captains courageous

Sir: Your recent splendid cricket quiz concealed, in Question 33 (a), a further answer. Two England Captains played for Transvaal in the first Currie Cup Match; the first, Sir C. Aubrey Smith, the second Monty Bowden. Both had captained MCC in South Africa, and following the (our remained in Johannesburg to found a stockbroking firm. Bowden, restless, threw it up and joined the Pioneer Corps, head- ing north. He died after a fall from his cart three years later, at Umtali, and was buried in a coffin knocked together from whisky cases. Meanwhile, Aubrey Smith was making tracks for Hollywood.

What would Messrs Stewart and Dexter have made of this?

Nigel Clarke

7 Danehurst Street, London SW6