Ron Halcombe

Infobox cricketer biography
playername = Ron Halcombe
country = Australia
fullname = Ronald Andrewes Halcombe
nickname =
dayofbirth = 19
monthofbirth = 03
yearofbirth = 1906
placeofbirth = Petersburg, South Australia
countryofbirth = Australia
dayofdeath = 01
monthofdeath = 08
yearofdeath = 1993
placeofdeath = Geelong, Victoria
countryofdeath = Australia
heightft =
heightinch =
heightm =
batting = Right-hand
bowling = Right-arm fast
role = Bowler
club1 = South Australia
year1 = 1926–1927
clubnumber1 =
club2 = Western Australia
year2 = 1927–1940
clubnumber2 =

deliveries = balls
columns = 1
column1 = Domestic career
matches1 = 25
runs1 = 100
bat avg1 = 5.00
100s/50s1 = 0/0
top score1 = 14*
deliveries1 = —
wickets1 = 54
bowl avg1 = 38.01
fivefor1 = 1
tenfor1 = 0
best bowling1 = 5/40
catches/stumpings1 = 7/0

date = 18 December
year = 2007
source = http://content-www.cricinfo.com/baggygreen/content/player/5786.html cricinfo.com

Ronald Andrewes Halcombe (March 19, 1906 – August 1, 1993) was a first-class cricketer who represented Western Australia from 1928 to 1939. A right-arm fast bowler, Halcolmbe was considered a leading contender to become his state's first ever representative for Australia in Test cricket due to his express pace, but his career was derailed after he was no balled for throwing two times in early 1930. In retirement he became a well known sports commentator for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Early years

Halcombe grew up in South Australia, and studied at St Peter's College, Adelaide in his youth. There he earned the attention of cricket watchers for his skill and his suspect action. In 1923, while still a schoolboy, he was observed by former England captain Archie MacLaren (who was currently visiting Australia as part of the Marylebone Cricket Club team) and former Australia captain and all rounder George Giffen.Whimpress, p. 52.] To test the legitimacy of Halcombe's action, his wrist, forearm and elbow were encased in splints, and he delivered balls at varying speeds, and the experts failed to detected an illegal action.Whimpress, p. 53.]

Halcombe made his first-class debut during the 1928–29 season, playing five matches for South Australia before transferring to Western Australia. Halcombe had played in matches officiated by Test umpire George Hele without his action being called into question. Of short stature, Halcombe generated high pace from a short run.cite book | last = Cashman, Franks, Maxwell, Sainsbury, Stoddart, Weaver, Webster | year = 1997 | title = The A-Z of Australian cricketers|pages =p. 114|isbn=0-19-550604-9|publisher= Oxford University Press|location=Melbourne]

Move to Western Australia and throwing incidents

During the 1929–30 season, Halcombe's career appeared to be on the up when he was selected for a trial match that was used to select Australia's Test team for the 1930 tour of England. However, his career turned sour in a match against Victoria in January 1930. Halcombe opened the bowling for Western Australia from the pavilion end of the Melbourne Cricket Ground. He delivered the first three balls to Clive Sindrey who took a single from the third ball. Leo O'Brien then faced Halcombe and umpire Andrew Barlow no-balled Halcombe six times in succession from square leg. One of the balls struck O'Brien in the hand and forced him to retire with a burst blister on the palm, while another went for four byes. After the first two no ball decisions, the Western Australian captain Richard Bryant conferred with Barlow, but when Halcombe resumed, the umpire continued to call him for throwing. After the sixth no ball, Halcombe threw the ball to his skipper in disgust. After another discussion, he bowled at significantly reduced pace and completed his over. Halcombe did not bowl again in the match.

Despite the incident regarding Halcombe's legitimacy, Halcombe was selected for Western Australia's following match, which was against Tasmania. It was the first match between the two states and raised an issue of cricket diplomacy. In welcoming his visitors, Lieutenant Colonel L. M. Mullen, chairman of the Tasmanian Cricket Association stated that he viewed the match as a "Test" and that it was regarded as a notable even in the history of Australian cricket. The Western Australian manager Alf Randall replied that he eagerly awaited the day when each Australian state played in the Sheffield Shield – Tasmanai did not gain admittance until the 1970s. It was believed that although there was pressure for Halcombe to be omitted, the Western Australian leadership wanted other umpires in other states to analyse his action in a match situation. According to Randall, leading Australian Test batsman of the day Bill Woodfull and former player turned journalist Jack Worrall regarded Halcombe as legitimate so it was reasoned by the Western Australians that there were no grounds to exclude Halcombe.

During the match, Halcombe was twice no-balled by umpire A. J. Buttsworth on the first day, and then ten times in succession by umpire Walter Lonergan. This did not occur when Halcombe was switched to the opposite end. The match at Hobart's TCA ground had seen Western Australia bat first and compile 248 before being dismissed late on the first day. After the change of innings, Tasmanian openers Jim "Snowy" Atkinson and Alf Rushforth started their innings at 17:10 local time with Rushworth taking strike to Halcombe, who ran in from the pavilion end. Buttsworth called Halcombe from square leg on the third ball. Halcombe was bowling at such a pace that the wicket-keeper and slips were standing about 20 metres behind the stumps. Lonergan, standing at the bowler's end, also no-balled Halcombe for dragging his back foot over the crease. On the eighth ball, Buttsowrth called Halcombe for another throw. After Alex Webster bowled an over from the other end, Halcombe continued from the pavilion end and was greeted with applause from the crowd. Halcombe sent down another two overs without incident.Whimpress, p. 54.]

The second day started dramatically when Halcombe bowled from the opposite end and bowled the second over of the day, with Lonergan standing at square leg. His first ball was deemed to be legitimate but from then on there was a continuous call of no ball, for ten consecutive deliveries. Halcombe then substantially reduced his pace and completed the over after 18 balls. Although Bryant did not switch Halcombe to the other end in the first match, he did so on this occasion. Halcombe continued bowling and there were no further no ball calls. During the ten consecutive no balls, Lonergan had remained firm despite continuous heckling from a section of the crowd who showed their support of the bowler. Halcombe persevered and ended the innings with 3/61 from 20 overs. His action was much discussed, in particular his faster ball. The opening batsmen Rushforth and Atkinson played Halcombe in a diplomatic manner, making little effort to attack his bowling in the midst of the throwing calls.Whimpress, p. 55.]

Halcombe went on to bowl without incident in the second innings of the match. Much anticipation surrounded his return to his home town of Adelaide the following week for a match against South Australia, with one of the umpires being Hele. Halcombe spoke in an interview to Adelaide's "Advertiser" in which he declared that he was adamant that his bowling was "quite legal". Halcombe asserted that only one of the eight deliveries that he bowled under a slow motion camera could be considered to be of a doubtful nature. Halcombe again passed Hele's scrutiny unscathed, but his bowling failed to worry the South Australians, who plunderd 100 runs from 13 overs for the loss of only one wicket.Whimpress, p. 57.] Debate over the legality of his action continued during the season, with former umpire Bob Crockett supporting his no-balling while former Test captain Joe Darling disagreed. Halcombe was the first player in major cricket in Australia to be called for throwing by three different umpires.Whimpress, p. 154.]

Later career and broadcasting career

Halcombe's career continued after that time without further throwing controversies. He took 54 wickets at an average of 38.00 with his best figures of 5/40 coming against Victoria in his final season of 1939–40. However, he was never again mentioned as a serious prospect for a Test player except for rumours during the 1932–33 season which saw England tour Australia under Douglas Jardine with their "Bodyline" tactics, which involved bowling high speed deliveries at the batsmen's body. Halcombe's pace saw him touted as a possible retaliatory outlet against the English.

After his cricket career ended, Halcombe had a successful career as a sports broadcaster. In 1947 he was appointed as the sports supervisor for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation in Perth. He was Western Australia's first full time sports broadcaster, a state that he filled until his retirement in 1968. Halcombe won a strong personal following for his flamboyant description of cricket and Australian rules football matches. Halcombe also conducted regular segments on his Saturday sports programs such as "Strange but True" and "People I Met This Week". Halcombe developed a reputation as a raconteur and had a habit of rummaging through old newspapers in search of sporting items. Halcombe travelled widely throughout the state to interview notable sports personalities and presented his broadcasts in a distinctive humorous style. He was particularly remembered for his commentary partnerhips with Johnnie Moyes and Englishman Arthur Gilligan during English tours to Australia.

See also

*List of cricketers called for throwing in major cricket matches in Australia

Notes

References

*cite book| first=Bernard |last=Whimpress |title=Chuckers: A history of throwing in Australian cricket| year=2004 |publisher=Elvis Press |location=Adelaide | isbn=0-9756746-1-7