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Southland Times, Issue 23954, 21 October 1939, Page 16

Alf Gover, most likeable and unassuming of English cricketers, was the victim of poor sportsmanship by Kent spectators at Blackheath recently. With his team-mate and partner at the batting crease, Mobey, he appealed against the light when Surrey had one wicket to fall. The umpires upheld the objection—they said later that they would have done so 20 minutes earlier had any appeal been made—and there was a delay of nearly half an hour, during which the crowd gathered in front of the pavilion and booed. Worse, when Gover opened the bowling for Surrey, he was barracked and catcalled each time as he ran up to the wicket. Winning the toss, Garland-Wells decided to bat only after considerable reflection. In this he proved right, for although the slow bowlers could turn the ball, it came oft the pitch so slowly as to give the batsmen plenty of time for their strokes.