A legend
in our
midst
WHAT an innings – 96 not out, still at the crease. Who knew that the world's oldest living Test cricketer is right here in Durban?
John Watkins, an all-rounder who was a more than useful seam bowler, toured Australia with Jack Cheetham's side in 1952/53 and in the second Test scored 50 in the first innings and 90 in the second, contributing handsomely to defeating the Aussies in that encounter and drawing the series.
He turned 96 the other day and is still pretty spry and sharp as a tack, living in Durban North with his partner, Signe Harker.
The other day he told his old Natal teammate, wicketkeeper Roley Pearce - who had just had a successful op for eye cataracts: "You should have had it done 80 years ago. You'd have held a few catches."
Also in that touring side were Jackie McGlew, who went on to captain South Africa, and cricketing greats such as Hugh Tayfield, Russell Endean and Roy McLean.
Many saw Watkins as McGlew's right-hand man, quietly offering him valuable advice on field placings and other tactics.
I recall as a kid watching Watkins and the others in action at the Oval in Maritzburg. I'd no idea he was still with us. Long may that be the case.
Malady
POLITICAL diagnosis: electile dysfunction - the inability to be aroused by any of the candidates standing for election.
Tide turns?
IS THERE a turning of the tide in the debate over whether the rhino horn trade should be legalised in the interests of raising funds to combat poaching and undercutting the illegal trade?
About three years ago the issue was debated at Mlilwane Game Sanctuary in Eswatini (was Swaziland), the debate organised by the organisation Legal Trade for Rhino Survival.
Those supporting the Cites ban on trade wiped the floor with those wanting the ban relaxed.
This week at White River, in Mpumalanga, the same debate was staged, many of the same individuals participating – the event staged at Penryn College and organised by the Lowveld region of the Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa.
This time the vote went the other way 47 votes for a lifting of the ban, 27 against and with 15 abstentions.
Stellenbosch environmentalist Dr John Hanks said a legal trade in rhino horn should be introduced so that legitimate rhino owners would get the benefits of the trade; a legal market would reduce the illegal trade and poaching.
Anti-trade campaigner Colin Bell argued the opposite - that the legal trade in ivory had provided a loophole to launder poached tusks. Corruption was a major threat.
An interesting outcome – especially in an area so close to Kruger National Park, where rhino poaching has been horrendous.
Tailpiece
A WOMAN golfer tees off and watches in horror as the ball heads for a foursome of men playing the next hole. It hits one of them and he goes down clasping his hands to his groin and writhing in agony.
She runs over. "Please let me help. I'm a physical therapist and I can relieve your pain".
"Oh, no, I'll be all right."
But he's still lying there in the foetal position, clasping his hands at his groin. She gently takes his hands away and starts administering tender and artful massage."
"How does that feel now?"
"It feels great - but I still think my thumb's broken."
Last word
Some weasel took the cork out of my lunch. - W C Fields
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