Johnnie Moyes
Encyclopedia
Alban George "Johnny" Moyes MBE
MC
(2 January 1893—18 January 1963) was a cricketer who played for South Australia
and Victoria
. Following his brief playing career, Moyes, a professional journalist, he later gained greater fame as a writer and commentator on the game.
As a right-hand batsman Moyes scored 883 runs at an average of 29.43 and a highest score of 104 in 103 minutes, against Western Australia
in his first season. His leg break
bowling took 5 wickets at an average of 53.60, with best figures of 2 for 22. He was considered good enough to be selected for the Australian tour of South Africa
in 1914, but this was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War I
. He played for the Rest of Australia against New South Wales and Victor Trumper
was so impressed that he invited him to play as a guest for Gordon Club in a club match. However he was out first ball!
Moyes served with distinction in World War I with the 1st AIF
in England and France, earning the Military Cross
. He played in a number of services’ matches in England and played two matches for Victoria.
Moving to Sydney as news editor and sports editor of leading newspapers, Moyes joined Gordon (who must have forgiven him for his previous failure!). In one club game he scored 218 runs in 83 minutes. He captained Gordon to a grade
premiership in 1923-24, scoring 174 in the final. As a state selector for New South Wales in 1926/27 Moyes helped Don Bradman get his first taste of interstate cricket.
Moyes became well-known as a cricket commentator for the ABC
between 1950 and 1963. Pollard describes him as “always bright and informative, a cheery character respected by players and listeners”. He was a prolific author and wrote the first definitive history of Australian cricket in 1959. Other works included books on Australian batsman, Australian bowlers, Bradman, Benaud
, and many books of tours by Test nations. For his services to sport Moyes was awarded the MBE
.
Moyes died suddenly at his home, three days after commentating on the Third Test of the 1962/63 series between Australia
and England
at Sydney
. A few days before he died he asked the England vice-captain Colin Cowdrey
to write a forward on his book on the 1962–63 Ashes series
;
MBE
MBE can stand for:* Mail Boxes Etc.* Management by exception* Master of Bioethics* Master of Bioscience Enterprise* Master of Business Engineering* Master of Business Economics* Mean Biased Error...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(2 January 1893—18 January 1963) was a cricketer who played for South Australia
Southern Redbacks
The South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
and Victoria
Victorian Bushrangers
The Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
. Following his brief playing career, Moyes, a professional journalist, he later gained greater fame as a writer and commentator on the game.
As a right-hand batsman Moyes scored 883 runs at an average of 29.43 and a highest score of 104 in 103 minutes, against Western Australia
Western Warriors
The Western Australia cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team representing the state of Western Australia...
in his first season. 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...
bowling took 5 wickets at an average of 53.60, with best figures of 2 for 22. He was considered good enough to be selected for the Australian tour of South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1914, but this was cancelled because of the outbreak of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. He played for the Rest of Australia against New South Wales and Victor Trumper
Victor Trumper
Victor Thomas Trumper was an Australian cricketer known as the most stylish and versatile batsman of the Golden Age of cricket, capable of playing match-winning innings on wet wickets his contemporaries found unplayable. Archie MacLaren said of him, "Compared to Victor I was a cab-horse to a Derby...
was so impressed that he invited him to play as a guest for Gordon Club in a club match. However he was out first ball!
Moyes served with distinction in World War I with the 1st AIF
First Australian Imperial Force
The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed from 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany. Generally known at the time as the AIF, it is today referred to as the 1st AIF to distinguish from...
in England and France, earning the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. He played in a number of services’ matches in England and played two matches for Victoria.
Moving to Sydney as news editor and sports editor of leading newspapers, Moyes joined Gordon (who must have forgiven him for his previous failure!). In one club game he scored 218 runs in 83 minutes. He captained Gordon to a grade
Sydney Grade Cricket
Sydney Grade Cricket is a cricket competition played in Sydney, Australia. The competition began in 1893 when a number of clubs, which had been playing for many years on an ad hoc basis, voted to create a formal competition structure....
premiership in 1923-24, scoring 174 in the final. As a state selector for New South Wales in 1926/27 Moyes helped Don Bradman get his first taste of interstate cricket.
Moyes became well-known as a cricket commentator for the ABC
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
between 1950 and 1963. Pollard describes him as “always bright and informative, a cheery character respected by players and listeners”. He was a prolific author and wrote the first definitive history of Australian cricket in 1959. Other works included books on Australian batsman, Australian bowlers, Bradman, Benaud
Richie Benaud
Richard "Richie" Benaud OBE is a former Australian cricketer who, since his retirement from international cricket in 1964, has become a highly regarded commentator on the game....
, and many books of tours by Test nations. For his services to sport Moyes was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Moyes died suddenly at his home, three days after commentating on the Third Test of the 1962/63 series between Australia
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...
and England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
at Sydney
Sydney Cricket Ground
The Sydney Cricket Ground is a sports stadium in Sydney in Australia. It is used for Australian football, Test cricket, One Day International cricket, some rugby league and rugby union matches and is the home ground for the New South Wales Blues cricket team and the Sydney Swans of the Australian...
. A few days before he died he asked the England vice-captain Colin Cowdrey
Colin Cowdrey
Michael Colin Cowdrey, Baron Cowdrey of Tonbridge, CBE , better known as Colin Cowdrey, was the Captain of Oxford University, Kent County Cricket Club and the England cricket team in a career that lasted from 1950 to 1976...
to write a forward on his book on the 1962–63 Ashes series
1962–63 Ashes series
-Preliminaries:Predictions that the batting would prove superior to the bowling and that the first Test might well be left unfinished were certainly justified; and yet there were three times when one side or the other might have gained a winning advantage...there was some very brilliant batting,...
;
Blessed with rare gifts "Johnny" Moyes was loved and respected wherever he went ... He brought to the microphone an authoritative manner, and the shrewd, quick mind of the trained journalist. If he was outspoken and fearless in his appraisal of any situation, at all times he was utterly fair and impartial. Perhaps it was in this way more than any other that he contributed so much to our great game, and that he endeared himself to all who were privileged to know him well.