An appreciation of Geoff Griffin by Peter Martin

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Player:

GM Griffin

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DateLine: 19th November 2006

 

The only South African bowler to capture a Test hat-trick, fast bowler Geoffrey Merton Griffin, died in Durban on November 16th, 2006 at the age of 67.

 

He had been in ill health for some time with cancer of the pancreas and had accepted an invitation to be the guest speaker at his old school, Durban High, when he collapsed and died of a suspected heart attack.

 

Although there were rumblings about his action - he had a bent arm after an accident as a young boy - Griffin enjoyed a most successful 1959-60 season for Natal when he harvested 35 wickets at 12.23 to head the Currie Cup averages and he was an automatic selection for the 1960 tour of England under the captaincy of Jackie McGlew.

 

Griffin made history at the headquarters of the game, Lord’s, when, in only his second Test, he took a hat-trick before being no-balled out of the game for throwing.

 

He was called altogether 11 times for throwing in the Test. Griffin's victims were MJK Smith, Peter Walker and Fred Trueman.

 

Chucking was the main issue in world cricket in the early 1960s, with a number of Australian bowlers under the spotlight and many critics thought that Griffin had been made the scapegoat with the 1961 Australian tour in mind the following year.

 

Sadly, he was also no-balled in the exhibition game which followed the Test, which ended early on the fourth day, and with Queen Elizabeth due to visit a 20-over match had been hastily arranged.

 

Chamging to bowling underarm, he was again no-balled for not informing the umpire of the change.

 

That was the end of his international bowling career and he completed the tour as a batsman only.

 

Before the first Test of the series he had attended the Alf Gover Cricket School in London where Gover was able to work on his action and he was not called in the first Test at Edgbaston.

 

He later left Natal for Rhodesia who he represented but he was again no-balled in a Currie Cup match against North Eastern Transvaal, which effectively concluded his first-class career.

 

He was a talented all-round sportsman, representing Natal at athletics (the high jump, long jump, triple jump and pole vault events), and he was also a Natal Under 19 rugby player and represented Rhodesia at hockey.

 

In his two Tests Griffin captured eight wickets (24.00), with a best of 4-87, while in all first-class cricket he took 108 wickets at 21.51 with a best of 7-11.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2006 Peter Martin)