Mick Roper

Wisden obituary
Arthur William (`Mick') Roper, who died in Sydney on September 4 at the age of 55, was a fast bowler in Lindsay Hassett's Services XI, which did much to re-establish international cricket after World War II. Mick Roper made countless friends with his blend of frankness and good humour. He played first-grade for Petersham at 17, for NSW Colts and was state fast bowler at 21. Mick became a Beaufighter pilot in 455 RAAF Squadron stationed in Scotland. He figured in a headlined incident at Lord's through a misunderstanding. Under cricket laws in 1945 a batsman could be out bowled if a ball disturbed a bail from its groove. When Roper hit G. O. Allen's wicket no bail fell and the batsman, picking the ball up, returned it. Given out on appeal, Allen walked away believing the appeal was for `handled the ball' instead of for an inspection of the stumps to see whether a bail was disturbed.
The Cricketer, February 1973