Description
Johannesburg, Transvaal born Cyril Vincent was a left-arm orthodox spin bowler and capable lower-order batsman who played 25 Tests for South Africa between his debut against England at Johannesburg in December 1927, making 53 on debut in South Africa’s second innings, and his final match at The Oval in August 1935. Having made his Provincial debut for Transvaal in 1920-21 he came to the fore in 1925-26, heading the Transvaal averages with 16 wickets at a cost of 9.31 each. A fine and consistent bowler, he took 23 wickets in the 1927-28 Test series at 22 each, including 6-131 in England’s first innings at Durban.
He was renowned for bowling long spells tirelessly. His Test best figures of 6-51 also came at Durban in England’s first innings in a drawn match in February 1931 to secure the rubber for South Africa, and besides five Tests against Australia and two against New Zealand in their 1931-32 tour of both countries, all of his Tests came against England, and he had match figures of 8-149 in the Headingley Test of 1935, his best match figures in Test cricket. His other Test half century was against England at Headingley in July 1929, although he also made 48 not out against Australia at Adelaide in January 1932 and his Test average was a respectable 20.23 from 38 innings.
He played 85 matches in all first class cricket, he made 5 half centuries with a highest score of 83 and an average of 17.97. With his bowling he took 293 wickets at 23.91 apiece, twice taking ten wickets in a match and returning 16 five wicket hauls, with a best return of 7-36. He also took 69 catches of which 27 were in Test matches.
He retired after the 1942-43 season and was later chairman of the South African selectors.
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