Bob Newson

Who was Bob Newson?

Edward Serrurier "Bob" Newson was a South African cricketer who played in three Tests in 1930–31 and 1938–39.

Newson was a lower-order right-handed batsman and a right-arm fast bowler. He had a 20-year first-class cricket career, but as the career included two gaps of more than six years without a single first-class game, he totalled only 24 matches in all, including his three Test appearances.

Newson had played just three first-class matches for Transvaal when he was picked for the first Test of the 1930–31 series against England at the age of just 20. According to his obituary in the 1989 edition of Wisden Cricketers' Almanack, he had not been notified of his selection and arrived at work on the morning of the Test as normal; his father brought his clothes to the ground in time for the start, but Newson appeared in the official match photograph in borrowed cricket gear. He batted at No 11 and in the first innings scored 10 out of a last-wicket partnership of 45 with Quintin McMillan; but he failed to take a wicket in a narrow South African victory by 28 runs, and was dropped for the next game. He did not play again that season and after two matches for Transvaal the following season he dropped out of cricket altogether for more than six years.