NO “BACK NUMBER.”

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 925, 21 November 1933, Page 1

NO “BACK NUMBER.”

Clarrie Grimmett Nears His 300 Wickets. (Special to the " Star.”) MELBOURNE, November 10. Clarrie Grimmett apparently is determined to prove that he is not a back number. His bowling in Adelaide against the powerful Victorian batting side was rather a triumph for him. “An old dog for a hard road ” is a well-known saying, and Clarrie will certainly fight hard for another trip to England. His seven wickets takes his total for Shield games to 296, and soon he will pass the 300 mark, a figure which no other bowler has approached. It is a marvellous feat, and it is possible that the record will stand for many years as a tribute to skill allied to brains and careful study of the bowling art. ('larrie found the road to fame beset with many pitfalls. When he was in Victoria he was not regarded highly by the selectors, and could never get a proper chance in the State side, but when he shook the dust of Melbourne off his feet and migrated to South Australia he at once became famous, gained Test honours and a place in the history of cricket. Others who have taken 200 wickets in Sheffield Shield games are Ernest Jones, for whom a testimonial game is being arranged, and Bert Ironmonger, the Victorian left-hander, who is also to be honoured this month. Jones took 209 wickets and Ironmonger, at the close of last season, had 201. George Giffen took 192, Arthur Mailey ISO and Warwick Armstrong 177.