Cowdrey. -Stylist

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30079, 13 March 1963, Page 13

Cowdrey. -Stylist

ANY youngster who had been given the initials M.C.C. by a cricket-loving father could be excused for not adhering to his obviously appointed course of becoming a cricketer. But M. C. Cowdrey, after his initial start fulfilled every hope his father held tor him by winning almost every honour that can be gained from cricket

In 1946, at the age of 13, Cowdrey was the youngest player to appear in a public schools’ match at Lord’s. His cricket career thereafter followed a smooth path of success, as he played for Oxford University, Kant and finally England.

To be compared to W. R. Hammond is perhaps the greatest compliment that can be paid to any batsman and very early in his career Cowdrey received that encomium. For even then he resembled Hammond very much in confidence, build and method.

Like Hammond, Cowdrey has a majestic touch about his batting. When he hits the ball through the covers it is like seeing a flash-back of Hammond in the 1930’5. But he has all the other strokes at his command and it is not extravagant to say that he is the best equipped technically of all test batsmen.

But for all his ability. Cowdray la something of a batting enigma. He will be batting beautifully—scoring