Empire Cricket Booklet

JONTYWINCH

an important political force in South Africa who had abandoned teaching to become a journalist and a canvasser for the politician James Rose-Innes. He was also a sports enthusiast, who recalled passing his matriculation examination 'along with Percy [Ross] Frames', the first president of the South African Rugby Board. In 1883, Jabavu was 'induced to join the Lovedale staff' to take over the missionary newspaper, Isigidimi Sama Xhosa (the 'Xhosa' or 'Kaffir' Express). According to Andre Odendaal, the earliest regular reports on black cricket appeared in this publication which Jabavu edited prior to setting up his own newspaper. 55 In 1884, Jabavu was assisted by liberal whites in establishing Imvo Zabantsundu ('Native Opinion'),

tour were recorded in the last two matches and they were scored at a pace that had rarely been apparent up to that stage. Bowden was an explosive batsman and his players were encouraged to play in similar vein. The teams were also free from mind games, as Finlason and Bowden had developed a close friendship. The tension that did occur in the course of the match at Kimberley was restricted to Finlason's disillusionment with local supporters. The crowd did not appreciate the local batsmen digging in grimly to force a draw. They had come to be entertained, and they jeered and hooted at the defensive tactics. Frustrated by an audience that did not understand the game's finer points, Finlason decided to move almost immediately to the Transvaal. He vowed

Monty Bowden, England's youngest captain who inspired Transvaal's Currie Cup victory in 1890, is pictured with his Surrey captain, John Shuter, and W. G. Grace during a Gentlemen versus Players match.

which appeared in King William's Town. As editor, he 'opposed restrictive legislation against blacks' and, in the opinion of Leonard Ngcongco who analysed the influence of the newspaper, he was 'the pioneer politician whose work prepared the way for the more spectacular achievements of later African leaders'. 56 Throughout a lengthy period as editor which stretched to 1921, Jabavu's enthusiasm for cricket was also evident. The very first edition of Imvo Zabantsundu featured an editorial that stressed

on his departure to 'never take up journalistic pen again', thereby retiring from his 'little stage in almost a final fashion, as if I were going to be hanged early next morning'. 54 'Native Opinion' Whilst conflicting ideologies split the various white groups, a black newspaper proprietor, John Tengo Jabavu, carefully monitored proceedings. He was