A remarkable life

In a posting I made in October I mentioned that I was awaiting delivery of an autobiography of Clive van Ryneveld. This duly arrived and well does the book deserve the title of '20th Century All-rounder' for indeed CvR, as he is referred to throughout the book, has led a remarkable life. The book is not in fact an autobiography, a point he stresses in the preface, merely a selection of reminiscences and reflections, and yet herein lies an element of disappointment for such has been his life that it certainly merits a fuller account.
CvR came to England in 1948 as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University. Here he gained his blue for both cricket and rugby and his play for the rugby fifteen led to an England trial from which he was selected to represent this country in the five nations' championship of 1949, scoring three tries for a not particularly successful England side. Contrast their preparation with that of today's professionals. For the game against Scotland at Twickenham the team assembled on the Friday afternoon for a 'runabout' (bring your own shorts), jersey and socks will be supplied. In the team photograph the players look like representatives of homo sapiens, not the homo giganticus we see today.
Van Ryneveld's nine week international rugby career is described in very modest language. He was invited to play in the trials, so he played, invited to play for England, so he played.
There is no indication in the book that van Ryneveld put himself through any torment in accepting the invitation to play rugby for a country other than his native South Africa yet two years later he returned as a member of The Springbok cricket team that toured England in 1951 and came within four wickets of sharing the series. CvR's contribution was relatively modest, 217 runs at just over 24 and bowling only 19 overs of his leg spin in the tests.The 1951 tour was CvR's only experience of test cricket away from the veld for he was not part of Jack Cheetham's exciting side that pushed England all the way in 1955.Opportunities to travel overseas were turned down because of his commitments as a barrister, he had read law at Oxford.He did however play three home series, captaining his country against Peter May's team in 56-57.
Van Ryneveld's first class career lasted little more than ten years for in 1958 he was elected to the South African parliament and was a founder member of the Progressive party formed a year later and who were opposed to the government's apartheid policies.The last third of this slim volume is concerned with CvR's post cricket life, a career that brought him into contact with some of the most influential figures in late 20th century history.These included Nelson Mandela, Bill Clinton, Desmond Tutu and Harold MacMillan.A remarkable life.
As there have been no postings on the blog since early November our small but selected band of followers may have decided that, like a village cricket pavilion we are closed for the winter and some readers may not find this posting until the doors are opened again in April.It may be, however that the publication of the 2012 first class fixtures has turned some followers' thoughts back to cricket and possibly this blog. After all there are only 117 days until the first game of the new season at Fenner's on March 31st. Take a coat. The ECB has pushed its luck with earlier and earlier starts to the season and been rewarded with fine April weather, but Headingley on April the 5th, brrrr.