Catalogue for the auction of
Cricket, Football & Sporting Memorabilia

Alexander John ‘Sandy’ Bell. Western Province, Rhodesia & South Africa 1925-1939. Two page handwritten letter in blue biro on ruled paper from Bell with very good cricket content relating to ‘Bodyline”. Dated 22nd January 1971 and writing from East London in South Africa, Bell opens by correcting statistical details such as ‘I was O’Reilly’s first LBW victim, and not Cyril Vincent’, ‘My last wicket, in the mud, bowling off breaks off a two yard run, on a matting wicket!’. He then describes Don Bradman’s innings of 299no in the 4th Test of the 1931/32 Test series at Adelaide, ‘For sheer greed I have never seen a better effort. He ran Alan Kippax out for 0 [without facing a ball] in an endeavour to reach his century. He then ran Pud Thurlow out for 0, trying to get his 300. During this innings Jock Cameron caught him twice, and Cyril Vincent, left hand over the wicket, hit the welt of [Bradman’s] boot in the blockhole. After a long pause, the umpire said “Not out”, and gave as his reason that the blockhole was deep, and the ball might have missed the wicket. That evening Bradman asked “How did you like my innings Jock?” Quick as a flash came Jock’s immortal reply, “Which innings?”’. Bell points out that Bradman’s innings ‘led to the “bodyline” series’ and in the final section of the letter Bell describes his own attempts to stem Bradman’s scoring by betting Jock Cameron £1 that he could bowl a maiden over, and did so by bowling beamers with a leg-side field set. His final comment is that his South African team-mate, Herbie Taylor, went to England at the close of the tour, ‘There he talked to Douglas Jardine & you know the rest’. Nicely signed ‘Alex Bell’. A fascinating insight into the precursor of leg theory or ‘bodyline’ tactics. Horizontal and vertical folds, otherwise in good/ very good condition.