Jackie McGlew
Encyclopedia
Derrick John "Jackie" McGlew, born on 11 March 1929, Pietermaritzburg
and died at Pretoria
on 8 June 1998 was a cricketer
who played for Natal and South Africa. He was educated at Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
, where he was Head Dayboy Prefect and captain of both cricket and rugby in 1948.
An opening batsman with fabled powers of adhesion, suiting his name, McGlew set records in the 1950s for slow scoring. But though his tenacity brought criticism — even from Wisden
— he was the linchpin around which the strong South African cricket team of the 1950s was built.
McGlew was picked for the 1951 tour to England on the strength of a century in a 12-a-side match, and was not a success in his two Test matches
. But within 18 months, he was both a fixture in the Test side and vice-captain as South Africa held the strong Australians
to a series draw in 1952-53. And in the same season he hit what was then South Africa's highest Test innings, an undefeated 255, against New Zealand
at Wellington
.
McGlew was the South Africans' most successful batsman on his second tour of England in 1955, scoring centuries at Old Trafford
and Headingley
. He captained the side in two Tests because of injury to the tour captain, Jack Cheetham
, who insisted McGlew remain as captain for the Fifth Test even although, he, Cheetham was fit, as it was unwise to alter a winning combination but was over-ruled by the other members of the Selection Committee. In 1956, for his efforts on the tour, McGlew was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year with Wisden contrasting the dourness of his batting with the liveliness of his fielding in the covers.
Dourness reached new levels in 1957-58 in the home Test series against Australia: at Durban
, McGlew took 313 minutes to reach 50, and the 545 minutes he took to get to 100 was the world record for the slowest century in first-class cricket
until declining over rates in the 1970s took all such timed records away. In all, he batted 575 minutes for 105, but South Africa failed to win because there was not enough time left to bowl Australia out twice. Wisden praised the innings as a feat of concentration and endurance but added: "It is doubtful whether South Africa benefited by it."
McGlew's third tour of England in 1960 saw him captain the side. He had a poor Test series, and the tour was blighted by controversy over the bowling action of the South African fast bowler, Geoff Griffin, who was no-balled for throwing at Lord's. McGlew retired from Test cricket after the 1961-62 series against New Zealand, in which he scored his seventh and final Test century. In all, he captained South Africa in 14 Tests, winning six and losing four. He scored 2,440 Test runs at an average of more than 42.
A useful before Lunch and Afternoon Tea bowler. he took no Test wickets with his leg break
s, but did reap a hat-trick
for Natal against Transvaal
in 1963-64, with the wickets spread over two innings. His best bowling figures in a single innings were only two wickets for four runs.
An excellent tactical captain, he was warmhearted and devoted to the game.
In retirement, he briefly flirted with pro-apartheid politics, at one point standing as a candidate for the ruling National Party
, before moving into business. In 1991-92, when post-apartheid South Africa was re-admitted to world cricket, he was picked as manager of the first visit by a South African team to the West Indies, the Under-19 tour.
Pietermaritzburg
Pietermaritzburg is the capital and second largest city in the province of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. It was founded in 1838, and is currently governed by the Msunduzi Local Municipality. Its "purist" Zulu name is umGungundlovu, and this is the name used for the district municipality...
and died at Pretoria
Pretoria
Pretoria is a city located in the northern part of Gauteng Province, South Africa. It is one of the country's three capital cities, serving as the executive and de facto national capital; the others are Cape Town, the legislative capital, and Bloemfontein, the judicial capital.Pretoria is...
on 8 June 1998 was a cricketer
Cricketer
A cricketer is a person who plays the sport of cricket. Official and long-established cricket publications prefer the traditional word "cricketer" over the rarely used term "cricket player"....
who played for Natal and South Africa. He was educated at Merchiston Preparatory School and Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College
Maritzburg College, known locally as College, is a public school for boys situated in the city of Pietermaritzburg, in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa....
, where he was Head Dayboy Prefect and captain of both cricket and rugby in 1948.
An opening batsman with fabled powers of adhesion, suiting his name, McGlew set records in the 1950s for slow scoring. But though his tenacity brought criticism — even from Wisden
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack
Wisden Cricketers' Almanack is a cricket reference book published annually in the United Kingdom...
— he was the linchpin around which the strong South African cricket team of the 1950s was built.
McGlew was picked for the 1951 tour to England on the strength of a century in a 12-a-side match, and was not a success in his two Test matches
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
. But within 18 months, he was both a fixture in the Test side and vice-captain as South Africa held the strong Australians
Australian cricket team
The Australian cricket team is the national cricket team of Australia. It is the joint oldest team in Test cricket, having played in the first Test match in 1877...
to a series draw in 1952-53. And in the same season he hit what was then South Africa's highest Test innings, an undefeated 255, against New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
at Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
.
McGlew was the South Africans' most successful batsman on his second tour of England in 1955, scoring centuries at Old Trafford
Old Trafford (cricket)
Old Trafford is a cricket ground situated on Talbot Road in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester. It has been the home of Lancashire County Cricket Club since its foundation in 1864, having been the ground of Manchester Cricket Club from 1857...
and Headingley
Headingley Stadium
Headingley Stadium is a sporting complex in the Leeds suburb of Headingley in West Yorkshire, England. It is the home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club, rugby league team Leeds Rhinos and rugby union team Leeds Carnegie ....
. He captained the side in two Tests because of injury to the tour captain, Jack Cheetham
Jack Cheetham
John Erskine Cheetham was a South African cricketer who played in 24 Tests from 1949 to 1955...
, who insisted McGlew remain as captain for the Fifth Test even although, he, Cheetham was fit, as it was unwise to alter a winning combination but was over-ruled by the other members of the Selection Committee. In 1956, for his efforts on the tour, McGlew was named as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year with Wisden contrasting the dourness of his batting with the liveliness of his fielding in the covers.
Dourness reached new levels in 1957-58 in the home Test series against Australia: at Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
, McGlew took 313 minutes to reach 50, and the 545 minutes he took to get to 100 was the world record for the slowest century in first-class cricket
First-class cricket
First-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
until declining over rates in the 1970s took all such timed records away. In all, he batted 575 minutes for 105, but South Africa failed to win because there was not enough time left to bowl Australia out twice. Wisden praised the innings as a feat of concentration and endurance but added: "It is doubtful whether South Africa benefited by it."
McGlew's third tour of England in 1960 saw him captain the side. He had a poor Test series, and the tour was blighted by controversy over the bowling action of the South African fast bowler, Geoff Griffin, who was no-balled for throwing at Lord's. McGlew retired from Test cricket after the 1961-62 series against New Zealand, in which he scored his seventh and final Test century. In all, he captained South Africa in 14 Tests, winning six and losing four. He scored 2,440 Test runs at an average of more than 42.
A useful before Lunch and Afternoon Tea bowler. he took no Test wickets with his leg break
Leg break
A leg break is a type of delivery in the sport of cricket. A delivery of a right-handed leg spin bowler. Leg breaks are also colloquially known as leggies or wrist spinners, as the wrist is the body part which is primarily used to impart spin on the ball, as opposed to the fingers in the case of...
s, but did reap a hat-trick
Hat-trick
A hat-trick or hat trick in sport is the achievement of a positive feat three times during a game, or other achievements based on threes. The term was first used in 1858 in cricket to describe HH Stephenson's feat of taking three wickets in three balls. A collection was held for Stephenson, and he...
for Natal against Transvaal
Transvaal cricket team
Gauteng cricket team is the first-class cricket team of the province of Gauteng in South Africa....
in 1963-64, with the wickets spread over two innings. His best bowling figures in a single innings were only two wickets for four runs.
An excellent tactical captain, he was warmhearted and devoted to the game.
In retirement, he briefly flirted with pro-apartheid politics, at one point standing as a candidate for the ruling National Party
National Party (South Africa)
The National Party is a former political party in South Africa. Founded in 1914, it was the governing party of the country from 4 June 1948 until 9 May 1994. Members of the National Party were sometimes known as Nationalists or Nats. Its policies included apartheid, the establishment of a...
, before moving into business. In 1991-92, when post-apartheid South Africa was re-admitted to world cricket, he was picked as manager of the first visit by a South African team to the West Indies, the Under-19 tour.