G. DUCKWORTH TO RETIRE

Southland Times, Issue 23287, 25 August 1937, Page 14

G. DUCKWORTH TO RETIRE

ENGLISH WICKET-KEEPER

As Bert Oldfield is 40, and George Duckworth is 36, the report of the latter’s retirement from cricket at the end of the season is surprising, says a writer ,in The Herald, Melbourne. I think the Sydney “Hill” will miss George more than his own county for it echoed his falsetto appeal for “Owzat” at the slightest provocation. Apart from his cricket, George keeps the best loft of homing pigeons around Huddersfield, he is very fond of photography, is a dreadful golfer, and can just swim the length of a ship’s swiming pool—about four yards. Mr Harry Brereton was telling me that in 1932, when Harold Larwood had burst all the bowling boots he had with him he borrowed a pair from George. These were half a size too small for him. so they, too, were burst in short time. . . „ , ' ' zx new pair arrived from England one day when Mr Brereton and several internationals, as well as Harold Larwood and George Duckworth, were together. As soon as George saw the boots he said: “Harold, boy, an’ can I break them in for you?” But Larwood saw the twinkle in George’s eye, and decided he would break them in himself. George played 10 Tests against Australia, and has 26 dismissals to his credit (23 caught, three stumped). Injury and the fact that Les Ames was in splendid all-round form, kept George out of the last Test series.