Vivian Giff Image 1 Auckland 1937

Description

Of much natural ability, Auckland, New Zealand born all-rounder Giff Vivian was a left-handed middle-order batsman and left-arm spin bowler made his first class debut for Auckland in December 1930 at the age of 18, scoring 37 and 81 against Canterbury. After two more games he was selected in the New Zealand team to tour England in 1931. In 25 matches on the tour he made 1,002 runs at 30.36, with centuries against Oxford University (his first century, 135 out of a team total of 488 on the first day) and Yorkshire (101 on a turning wicket, with four sixes). He also took 64 wickets at 23.75, with a best return of 6-70 against Glamorgan. Still aged only 18, he played in the Second and Third Tests, making New Zealand’s top score of 51 in the second innings of his debut in July 1931, also taking the wickets of Sutcliffe and Ames on debut and taking four wickets in the two matches, both played at The Oval.

In the first match of the 1931-32 season he scored 165 against Wellington out of an Auckland total of 285. In the next match he took 4-73 and 5-62 against Otago, and then 5-59 against Canterbury. He did not play in the First Test against South Africa later that season, but restored to the team for the Second Test at Wellington in March 1932, he made 100, his only Test century, and 73 (top scoring in each innings) and took four wickets. “The 1931–32 season,” wrote Dick Brittenden, “supported those who claimed he was New Zealand’s finest cricketer.”

He played the First Test against England at Christchurch in March 1933 but was injured during the match and missed the Second Test. In 1933-34 he made 263 runs at 52.60 and took 9 wickets at 22.33; in 1934-35, now captaining Auckland, he made 343 runs at an average of 49.00. In 1935-36 he took 5-98 and 6-92, as well as scoring 60 and 19 not out, against Canterbury. He was only 22 when appointed to the captaincy of Auckland in 1935.

He appeared in all five matches New Zealand played against strong M.C.C. touring teams in 1935-36 and 1936-37, and was again selected to tour England in 1937, this time as vice-captain to Curly Page. He scored 1,118 runs on tour at 29.42 and took 49 wickets at 36.91, handicapped by a pulled leg muscle for much of the tour. He opened New Zealand’s innings in the three Test matches, three times reaching 50, he scored 58 and 50 in the Second Test at Old Trafford, and 57 in what turned out to be his last Test innings in the Third Test at The Oval, as well as taking 8 wickets in the series.

In the three matches of the 1938-39 season he scored 132 runs at 33.00 and took 21 wickets at 16.66, including 5-46 against Otago and 6-49 and 4-59 in his last match against Wellington (taking match figures of 10-108 in an innings victory that gave Auckland the Plunket Shield). He also played with success in the late 30s for Sir Julien Cahn’s XI.

In 85 first class matches, Vivian scored 4,443 runs at an average of 34.71, including six centuries, the highest of them 165 for Auckland against Wellington in 1931-32, and 31 half centuries. With his bowling he took 223 wickets at 27.64 apiece, with a best performance of 6-49, two ten wicket matches and 12 five wicket innings, also taking 71 catches.

Vivian, a keen amateur cinematographer, took extensive film of the 1937 tour of England. Copies of this film are held in the New Zealand Cricket Museum and in the Ngā Taonga Sound & Vision archive. He served in the artillery during the Second World War, and after the War the demands of his business and the affliction of an injured back prevented his return to cricket. However, he served as a New Zealand selector for several years.

His son Graham also played for New Zealand in five Tests between 1965 and 1972.

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