BERT OLDFIELD’S RISE TO FAME.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18644, 22 December 1928, Page 7

BERT OLDFIELD’S RISE TO FAME.

PERFORMANCES WITH A.I.F. CRICKETERS. * ; 1 Many times when the A.I.F. cricket]' team was starring in England, questions ] ■ were asked . about the unknown ; wicketkeeper,* Bert Oldfield, of whom» ■ practically nothing had been heard before the war called him. 1 Eddie Long, who Jjad worn the pads and gloves in the team’s first game, all knew well as one who had risen to the heights of representative cricket in New South Wales. Hampden Love, his colleague, has achieved fame in Balmain. He, too,' was no mean Keeper. But who was the youth who was looked upon as their superior? “A great find for West Australia,” said one paper. Then South Australia put in a claim. Some of their tpam in Sydney in 1919, just before the soldier cricketers returned, said he belonged to them, was, in fact, a relative of one of their ablest players, and would fill the role that Aftie Jarvis, burly wicketkeeper for many Australian Elevens, Jock Mackenzie, P. M. Xewland and others had played for South Australia in years gone by. But these were all wrong, and no one knew better than the juniors round about Newtown. Players in the Western Suburbs churches’ com- . petition recognised in the Oldfield of the cables the youth who had helped St Stephen's to win the premiership. Born in Stanmore, his youth mind was turned towards cricket when he attended Cleveland Street public school, which has a long-list of athletes of all branches amongst its old boys. In addition to the ’keeper, there are Alan Kippax and Charlie Kelleway . of the team which has, just played against England, though in' his school-da\-s Charlie was not particularly athletic. The hand that sends down swervers now was more prominent wielding the bow of a violin- then. Reaving the churches’ competition Oldfield went to Glebe, playing with the City and Suburban team, but his ascent through third and second grades , to the highest ranks in the club took only a few weeks, and he became a , first grader towards the close of season 1914-15. He played against Waverley . and University, but long before cricket was resumed Oldfield was in khaki. He performed well in England after the war, but at that time modestly thought he had no chance of being included in the strong A.I.F. team. After he had made a .century at Oxford, a telegram arrived from Mr Howard Lacey, asking him to keep himself in readiness, and the next Australia heard was that the obscure fair-haired young man who had played two first grade games before he left for Europe was the most promising wicketkeeper Australia had had for many years. He had only set foot in. his- native land when it was recognised that his English reputation was thoroughly earned. Unique from the fact that he has played more first-class than first-grade games, he has risen to heights as*great as any attained by a wicketkeeper for Ne\V South Wales. Certainly he has not proved himself over such a long distance as Hansen Cartdr. Hansen Carter first represented the colony in 1897, and finally played in first-class matches during the 1921 tour of England. Of course, he did not have a continuous run. There is no reason to suppose that W.A.O. will keep his form like the man from Waverley. Carter was born in Yorkshire, Jim Kelly imported from Victoria—so Oldfield stands alone as a native-born New South Wales player. Bert, as he is known to his pals, played Rugger with Glebe before his war days, but when test match reprel sentation loomed in front of him he doffed the jersey. Popular, eager to impart what he can to younger players, everyone wishes that he—the most in- : dispensable member of the Australian Eleven —will be wearing the gum tree green and wattle gold of his homeland for many years yet.