Promnitz Henry Image 1 Border 1927

Description

King William’s Town, Cape Province born right-arm slow bowler Henry Promnitz bowled a mixture of off and leg spin, who represented Border from 1924-25 to 1927-28, Griqualand West from 1928-29 to 1932-33, and Orange Free State from 1933-34 to 1936-37. Like many other exponents of the dark arts of slow bowling, his spin was difficult to fathom, the off and legbreaks being frequently misread. His best match figures came in his second match, for Border against Eastern Province in 1925-26, when he took 6-55 and 5-46, the only time he took ten or more wickets in 45 first class matches. His best innings figures were 7-101 for Griqualand West against Natal in 1931-32.

He was selected for South Africa making his Test debut against England in Johannesburg in December 1927. In that match, he finished England’s first innings with 5-58 in 37 overs after the score at one time had been 230-1, but he dismissed centurion Herbert Sutcliffe and helped polish off the middle order and tail for 313. In his second Test, at Cape Town a week later, he took three for 56 in 30 overs in England’s second innings.

In 45 first class matches he took 150 first-class wickets at 23.80 apiece with 8 five wicket hauls and one ten wicket match. His batting record was modest but he finished with a highest score of 50, his only half century, and a batting average of 11.84.

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