NEW CRICKET COACH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19389, 26 July 1926, Page 6

NEW CRICKET COACH.

E. H. BOWLEY, OF SUSSEX.

STRONG RECOMMENDATIONS.

GOOD ALL-ROUND RECORD

The choice of E. H. Bowley, of Sussex, as player-coach for the benefit of Auckland cricketers, is expected to be confirmed by the executive of the Auckland Cricket Association at a meeting tomorrow evening.

Bowley was strongly recommended for the position by Lord Hawke, Mr. A. E. R. Gilligan, captain of the Sussex eleven, and Mr. H. I). Swan, representative in Pjngland of the New Zealand Cricket Council, according to a cablegram received during the week-end. With the high-class credentials he possesses arid the recommendation from such influential sources, Bowley's appointment is considered to be practically certain. The Auckland scheme provides for a coach for the next three seasons. Should a mutually satisfactory agreement be made, Bowley wiil be retained for that period, returning to England at the end of each New Zealand season to play in English matches. In any case, a coach will be engaged to cover the term mentioned, although the player may conceivably not be the same one on each occasion.

Performances in South Africa. „ Bowley is a fine all-round cricketer, having performed notably with both bat and ball, as well as being considered one of the finest first slip fielders in England. He was 36 years of age last month. He was a member of the Hon. L. H. Tennyson's team which visited South Africa during the winter of 1924-25. The tour was a private one, being largely financed by Mr. S. B. Joel, and owing to the fact that the M.C.C. team was in Australia, no matches of test standing could be played. Nevertheless, five representative matches were played between South Africa and the Englishmen, and in these Bowley performed with distinct credit. The Englishman topped the batting averages in the representative matches, his record being 10 innings, 332 runs, 118 highest score, not out. average, 36.88. Bowley alone enjoyed the .distinction of playing a three-figure innings in one of the big contests. In these matches he did not bowl, although he topped the bowling averages for the tour with 14 wickets for an average of 13.21. In the batting averages for all matches he was third, E. Tyldesley and Captain T. O. Jameson eclipsing liim. Bowley's record was 27 innings, 963 runs, 152 highest score, not out, average 37.03. Record in County Cricket. Bowley has been prominent in county cricket since 1914, reaping a harvest of wickets and giving notable service with the bat. Regarding his play last season Wisden states;—"Bowley as an opening batsman, had grea* responsibilities, and, while he made a lot of runs, he scarcely did himself justice, being out too often to bad strokes. A desperate situation did not curb his freedom sufficiently. Still he remained a fine cricketer, and in an eleven of steadier players he would undoubtedly have been a really great batsman." In the 1925 season Bowley was second in the batting averages for Sussex with an average of 27.23. He played three of the seven three-figure innings for Sussex in county championship matches, making 133 against Warwickshire, 105 against Yorkshire, and 104 against Northamptonshire. He was seventh in the bowling averages with 38 wickets at an average of 32.15. Mr. P. F. Warner commented that Bowley was the only reliable batsman on the Sussex side, and that he was a better Ipowler than his figures showed. At first slip he was about the best in England.