Full name Norman Gordon
Born August 6, 1911, Boksburg, Transvaal
Died September 2, 2014, Hillbrow, Johannesburg (aged 103 years 27 days)
Major teams South Africa, Transvaal
Also known as Mobil
Batting style Right-hand bat
Bowling style Right-arm fast
Mat | Inns | NO | Runs | HS | Ave | 100 | 50 | 6s | Ct | St | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 5 | 6 | 2 | 8 | 7* | 2.00 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
First-class | 29 | 31 | 10 | 109 | 20 | 5.19 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
Mat | Inns | Balls | Runs | Wkts | BBI | BBM | Ave | Econ | SR | 4w | 5w | 10 | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tests | 5 | 8 | 1966 | 807 | 20 | 5/103 | 7/162 | 40.35 | 2.46 | 98.3 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
First-class | 29 | 7173 | 2803 | 126 | 6/61 | 22.24 | 2.34 | 56.9 | 8 | 0 |
Test debut | South Africa v England at Johannesburg, Dec 24-28, 1938 scorecard |
Last Test | South Africa v England at Durban, Mar 3-14, 1939 scorecard |
Test statistics | |
First-class span | 1933/34 - 1948/49 |
Norman Gordon was unfortunate in that he broke into the South African side just before the war, and was too old by the time it ended. A right-arm quick, he made his debut for Transvaal in 1933-34 but took some time to find his feet as at that time the transition was being made from matting to turf wickets and he struggled to adapt. He played in all five Tests against England in 1938-39, bowling tirelessly in a series during which bat dominated ball. He conceded 100 runs in four innings, but was the leading wicket-taker on either side (20). At Durban, in the Timeless Test, he sent down 92.2 eight-ball overs (taking 1 for 256), and would almost certainly have toured England in 1940 where the conditions would have suited him. He was known as "Mobil", because he used to slick down his unruly hair with handfuls of Vaseline.
Martin Williamson