Alf Gover
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Alfred Richard Gover | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 29 February 1908 Epsom, Surrey, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 7 October 2001 (aged 93) London, England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm fast | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Test debut | 25 July 1936 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 17 August 1946 v India | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: ESPNcricinfo, 7 November 2022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alfred Richard Gover
"Good cricket was a crusade for one of the game's kindest men" wrote the cricket correspondent, Colin Bateman, about Gover's long-standing coaching exploits.[1]
Playing career
Alf Gover was born in Epsom, Surrey in 1908. A fast right-hand bowler with a deadly outswinger and a cleverly disguised breakback, Gover began bowling at a young age and was first taken on trial by Essex in July 1926. He bowled Johnny Douglas at the nets several times and travelled with Essex as twelfth man to The Oval in 1927. A chance conversation with Herbert Strudwick, the great Surrey wicket-keeper, led Gover to changing county because he thought his prospects would be brighter with Surrey.
Gover played his first county match against
In 1935 Gover's progress was stalled by him shortening his run to conserve his energy, but when allowed his full run in 1936 Gover went from strength to strength. He took 54 wickets in May mostly on the placid Oval pitches, and carried on so well that he took 171 County Championship wickets for 15.42 each even when many pitches were too wet for him. He played for England against India at
Injury on a winter tour of India ended Gover's run of success: in 1938, apart from a week in late May and early June when he achieved his best figures of 14 for 85 against Worcestershire, Gover was clearly unfit (despite periods of rest) and had so little venom his haul of wickets fell from 201 to just 86. Though he recovered somewhat in 1939 with increased fitness, it was already evident Gover would struggle to regain the speed and venom of his two great years. However, when county cricket resumed after
Coaching career
After Gover retired from
Gover continued to be principal at his school until 1989, and he wrote widely on cricket right up to his death, in London, at the age of 93 in 2001. At the time of his death Gover was the oldest surviving Test cricketer, and his death left Bob Appleyard as the only living bowler who had ever taken 200 wickets in an English season.
He was President of the Lord's Taverners in 1974 and President of Surrey for 1980. He was cremated at Putney Vale Crematorium.
References
- ISBN 1-869833-21-X.
- ISBN 978-1-84607-880-4.
- ^ Frank Tyson, In the Eye of the Typhoon, The Parrs Wood Press, 2004
External links
- Alf Gover at ESPNcricinfo
- Cricinfo obituary
- Wisden obituary
- Frank Tyson, In the Eye of the Typhoon, The Parrs Wood Press, 2004