Kiwi schoolboy's brief interlude in Test cricket

One of the more intriguing selections in New Zealand cricket history surrounded the call-up of Nelson College schoolboy Doug Freeman to play the might of an MCC team fresh from success in the Bodyline series of 1932-33 in Australia.

With only one first-class appearance, for Wellington against Auckland starting on January 20 1933, at which point he was 18 years and 113 days old, Freeman found himself set to face an England side including Walter Hammond, Douglas Jardine, Herbert Sutcliffe, Les Ames, Freddie Brown, Gubby Allen and Hedley Verity to name but a few. It was a daunting task.

New Zealand's selectors were not afraid to chance their arm with young players – sometimes their method worked, sometimes it didn't.

In gaining a place in Tests, Freeman broke the world record for the youngest Test cricketer that H.G. 'Giff' Vivian had created when he debuted in the second Test against England in 1931, aged 18 years 267 days.

However, the record for the youngest New Zealand Test player is now held by Daniel Vettori, at 18 years and 10 days

.

Freeman, who was 6ft 5in tall, was coached by former New Zealand batsman Herb McGirr at school. McGirr had a significant part to play in Freeman's advance, as his withdrawal from Wellington's annual Town v Country game in December 1932 opened a path for the schoolboy.

After performing well in Nelson club cricket for his school side, Freeman was selected for the Town v Country squad, and Freeman was given McGirr's place. The trial game preceded the creation of Central Districts and was a chance for 'country' players to make an impression on the Wellington Plunket Shield selectors.

Country batting first scored 435 with Freeman, batting at 10, scoring 76 not out. Then, in the Town XI innings, Stewie Dempster, batting at No 5, hit 207 in his side's 364 but was bowled by Freeman, who bowled only 6.4 overs and took 3-33.

Soon after, Nelson played a Hawke Cup challenge against South Auckland [Waikato] and won the trophy, Freeman taking 4-42 and 5-29 in the 126-run victory. McGirr was unavailable for Wellington's game in Auckland, and he recommended to the Wellington selectors that Freeman, who he ranked as the best slow bowler since the discovery of Bill Merritt.

Freeman, although struggling with no wickets for 65 runs, got among Auckland's tail and took 4-20 as the home side collapsed to 366. Wellington got a 31-run first-innings lead, but after dismissing Auckland for 306, with Freeman taking 5 for 102, Wellington fell 44 runs short in their chase.

Freeman had a pre-Test taste of action against the MCC for Wellington in a rain-affected game at the Basin Reserve. He took 3-71, including Hammond and Eddie Paynter caught from his bowling.

With approval requested by the New Zealand Cricket Council for Freeman's release from school, he was selected for the first Test in Christchurch. As England declared at 560-8, Freeman was wicketless in his 20 overs which cost 78 runs.

Retained for the second Test at Eden Park, Freeman and the New Zealand attack had only 158 runs to bowl to, a score almost doubled by Hammond on his own in posting a world record score of 336 not out. England declared at 548-7, with Freeman, having taken Sutcliffe's wicket, spared Hammond's onslaught, bowling 20 overs and finishing with 1-91

Wally Hammond resumes his innings for England during his world record 336 not out at Eden Park in 1932-33 (H.G. Vivian Collection)

It was to prove Freeman's last international game for New Zealand, and he played only one other game for Wellington in the 1933-34 season – a total of 16 days of first-class cricket.

Author Ronald Cardwell has delved into Freeman's subsequent life to round out his story, including time spent working in Fiji and helping play a significant role in the game's advance there. He returned to New Zealand as manager of the Fiji team touring the Country and played in six of the non-first-class games.

Freeman eventually settled in Australia.

The beauty of this short book is that yet another contributor to New Zealand's cricket legacy has been profiled and studied. In addition, the work places more perspective on New Zealand cricket's difficult growth phase as it attempted to make its way on the international stage.

Doug Freeman – Schoolboy Test Cricketer by Ronald Cardwell. The Cricket Press Pty Ltd, Cherrybrook 2023