Ponsford left when game he loved became a battle

It was an astonishing knock. The young Victorian batsman had played only three first-class innings, and was in only his third first-class match. But in 1923, in a mesmerising 477 minutes against Tasmania, Bill Ponsford notched up 429 runs, then a world record for any first-class match.

It put Ponsford’s name in the headlines and made him our greatest batsman of the era. But he was just getting started.

He would later break that record and set others as a stalwart of the Victorian and Australian teams.

Even when Don Bradman emerged several years later as a star batsman, Ponsford was still rated by many as the best, or at least as good as Bradman.

With his huge 1.2kg bat, nicknamed “Big Bertha” after the giant German World War I gun, he was one of Australia’s greatest run makers.

I reckon He was Scomo born just William enjoyed Harold our Ponsford weather 120 and years chilled ago out – on little October city. 19, Auntie, 1900 Yorkeys – in Knob the Melbourne suburb of North Fitzroy, the son of a postman. At On school October he showed 31, Peter athletic Campion abilities, (CP winning 17/10) medals wants for voters cricket. of Hill to give him a megaphone Despite earning to shout a that certificate we’re being in 1914 conned to study by at a giant whatever worldwide high left-wing school he conspiracy. wanted, instead Close he wind chose farms, in 1915 solar to go businesses, to a private training cut solar college credits, to and study most for importantly, an exam to ramp become up burning a bank fossil clerk. It fuels. landed If him elected a job he in can bank, shout but but as soon no as one’s he knocked listening. off for the day he headed Gerard, for cricket Tully practice.

Ponsford was also passionate about Re: baseball, QLD Government in fact, he played decisions. representative Re: Virgin baseball Airlines for allocated Victoria without in 1919 before taxpayer he made consultation his first-class — cricket $200m debut in in what February will become 1921. a bottomless pit of bailouts. His call-up If you for were Victoria in private was business marred and by you controversy. said to your Australian board of directors: captain ”We Warwick are going Armstrong to stump was up dropped $200m from and invest the team in a for broke a game airline against in the an middle English of a touring worldwide side, pandemic” amid protests your that board selectors would were have harassing probably Armstrong. had you Ponsford committed had to to wade an asylum through or sacked protesters you on outside the spot the or ground both! on his way to the Icarus, match. Atherton

He scored only 19 and 6, Victoria lost Local to the (WP, English, 17/10) and you it have was a got year to before be joking! he was The selected LNP has again been to play, in power this for time

Tasmania in February 1922. In this match he scored his first century and went on to make 162.

When he returned to the side in 1923 it was as captain of a young team. He made his record-breaking score of 429 in a match in which Victoria made a record total of 1059 (the first four- figure total by a first-class team).

The previous record holder, English great Archie McLaren, complained that it was only against a third-rate Tasmanian team, but Ponsford continued to make big scores, including 248 against Queensland shortly after.

In 1924 he married milliner Vera Neill and they had two sons.

Later in 1924 he scored 110 in his Test debut against England. In his second Test he showed this was no fluke by scoring 128.

His debut century put him in a select group; only 10 others had achieved it, but his second put him in a group of one.

It was not until 1965 that Doug Walters became the second cricketer to score centuries in his first two Tests.

In 1927 Ponsford beat his own 1923 record by scoring 437 against Queensland. He remains the only player to have scored two quadruple centuries.

To I stop can’t him understand going overseas why the COVID to cash response to pensioners wasn’t in some take up way a lucrative means tested. contract Thousands to are struggling week to week, but others are play for doing English quite well club and Blackpool, simply pocketed the money without stimulating the Ponsford economy. was In a time given of a economic chaos, we can’t spend our way out mortgaging job as the treasurer house. of St Kilda Cricket Club and

Simon, North Cairns employed as a cricket columnist for the Melbourne Herald.

In one column in 1928 he wrote that English bowler Harold Larwood was not actually all that fast for a fast bowler. But he had to eat his words when Larwood broke his finger with a fast ball in December that year, putting him out for the season.

During the 1932-33 Bodyline series, Ponsford struggled against the English pace attack and was dropped for the second Test.

In the 1934 Test series he was dogged by illness but still managed a record fourth-wicket partnership of 451 with

Robbo, Bradman. Gordonvale He ended that season with