Ron Halcombe - Early Years

Early Years

Halcombe grew up in South Australia, and studied at St Peter's College, Adelaide in his youth. There he earned the attention of cricket watchers for his skill and his suspect action. Halcombe was suspected of throwing, meaning an illegal bowling action in which a player straightens his arm in the process of delivering the ball, thereby throwing it, whereas the laws of cricket required that a bowler did not change the elbow of his angle in delivering the ball. In 1923, while still a schoolboy, he was observed by former England captain Archie MacLaren (who was currently visiting Australia as part of the Marylebone Cricket Club team) and former Australia captain and all rounder George Giffen. To test the legitimacy of Halcombe's action, his wrist, forearm and elbow were encased in splints, so that he could not move his elbow position. He delivered balls at varying speeds, and the experts failed to detect an illegal action.

Halcombe made his first-class debut during the 1926–27 season, playing four matches for South Australia. He made his debut against Queensland. He was unbeaten without scoring in his first innings as South Australia made 579. Halcombe then took 2/37 as Queensland made 251 and were forced to follow on. He conceded 58 runs without taking a wicket in the second innings, but his team nevertheless won by ten wickets.

In the next match against Victoria, he took 2/60 in the first innings before making his first first-class run, scoring an unbeaten one. He then went wicketless in the second innings as Victoria piled on 649 runs and won by 571 runs, with Halcombe unable to bat due to injury. Halcombe's two other games were against Western Australia; he took match figures of 3/62 and 5/95 as South Australia won both matches. His best innings performance was 4/61 in the second innings of the latter match, which saw Western Australia bowled out for 265. Halcombe ended the season with 12 wickets at 30.17 and three runs at an average of 3.00.

During the 1927–28 season, Halcombe was selected in only one match, taking 1/119 as South Australia were defeated by Victoria by an innings and 310 runs. He scored three not out and a duck in the match. After playing only one match in the previous season, Halcombe transferred to Western Australia. During his time in South Australia, Halcombe had played in matches officiated by Test umpire George Hele without his action being called into question. Of short stature for a fast bowler, Halcombe generated high pace from a short run-up.

Halcombe's first match for his new state in 1928–29 was against the touring England cricket team. He took 3/114 as the tourists compiled 406 in a drawn match. He took the wickets of leading batsmen Ernest Tyldesley, Douglas Jardine and Herbert Sutcliffe. During the second innings of the match against England, Halcombe struck George Geary in the head with a bouncer, forcing him to be carried from the field. This drew further attention to Halcombe's bowling action. Halcombe was dropped to the colts (youth) team, and he promptly bowled them to victory against South Australia with 6/31 and 6/32. After taking match figures of 3/77 against Victoria Colts, Halcombe played his second first-class fixture of the season when Australian selectors selected him for an Australian XI against England at the end of the season. He took 2/50 in a drawn match, his wickets being Maurice Tate and Maurice Leyland.