New man behind the stumps for Centrol had long wait

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34047, 10 January 1976, Page 4

New man behind the stumps for Centrol had long wait

(By

R. T. BRITTENDEN)

Gloves seem to be the stock in trade of the Downes family. Tommy Downes was one of New Zealand’s best-known boxers. A nephew, Les Downes, is making- a very successful debut as wicket-keeper for the Central Districts Shell series team.

It is remarkable that a cricketer as good as Downes clearly is should have to wait until he is 30 before he makes his first representative appearance. But Downes, a man whose quiet demeanour is at odds with his extreme determination and watchfulness on the field, has no regrets about being in the wings so long, although he has taken part in Central Districts trials for seven or eight years. "We had good wicketkeepers,” he said. “There w r as Robin Schofield, and then Ken Wadsworth, and I had to wait my turn.”

Downes has made a tremendous start to his career, in his first match against Wellington, he made 52 not out and then played a long valuable defensive innings of nine not out. He took five catches in the first innings, one in the second. He did not distinguish himself, particularly, against Northern Districts, but in the match at Nelson against Canterbury he held six catches in the first innings, one ip the second, and played a great innings of 89 not out which threatened Canterbury’s grip on the game. As a boy, Downes, like so many others, thought fast bowling was the only way to success and enjoyment. He did not start keeping wicket until just before he left Hamilton. At Palmerston North, lan Blackmore was the wicketkeeper. But Downes has played almost every Hawke Cup match for Manawatu since his arrival. His father, a keen cricketer, was a first-class umpire.

He scored a few useful runs against Otago this week, and so after four matches has a batting average of 51.7, and a tally of 15 dismissals, which

puts him in first position. ■ Bom in Lower Hutt, Downes was in Hamilton for his secondary schooling but for the last nine years has been in Manawatu, and for most of them, a Manawatu representative. But last season his club was only in the second grade. When he first went to Palmerston North he found on his arrival that his club was without a wicketkeeper, so he took on this role.

The youngest of five boys, Downes spent much of the leisure time of his youth playing test matches in the street, with the family and neighbouring children, and a tennis ball. Three of his brothers played junior representative cricket. Les Downes is also a skilful soccer player. He played left-half for Manawatu and was a North Island representative in the 14 and 16 years age groups. Downes scored more

than 1000 runs in his two recent years of second grade club cricket and this summer, in the seniors, his four innings brought him a century, a 60, a score of over 40, and a 37. He is an opening batsman for his

club, but has found Shell) series cricket a big step] up, with its tighter bowl-' ing. There are. he says, plenty of spinners in | Manawatu but no really) fast bowling. Downes is happy with the way things have been going for him. "The snicks have to come some time and they have been coming for me this season,” he said. He had the advantage, in joining Central Districts, of some familiarity with the bowlers. He had kept to David O’Sullivan, and had two years in Rothman’s) cricket with Alistar Jordanl one of the bowlers. Downes, a self-effacing personality, is extremely agile and, on present evidence, an extremely sure catcher. He says he never had any inclination to be a boxer. He made a wise choice.