By TREVOR MACKAY news@wanganuichronicle.co.nz
The humour of great fast bowler Fred Trueman was recalled yesterday by New Zealand Cricket president John Reid.
The Yorkshireman known as "Fiery Fred" died last week aged 75.
Reid described Trueman as one of the great fast bowlers and one of the great characters of world cricket.
He recalled
that Rev David Sheppard had dropped a catch in the gully off Trueman.
Trueman had observed: "The only time he gets his hands together is when he is in church."
Trueman had been the first bowler to take 300 test wickets and had never played against Bangladesh or Zimbabwe, Reid said.
Trueman's strike rate had been interesting. Malcolm Marshall had taken a wicket every 42 balls and Denis Lillee one every 52 balls. Trueman had taken one every 48 balls. "He used to move it around," Reid said.
"He bowled big outswingers and was not short all the time. He gave the ball time to move in the air."
Trueman had been much maligned, but his comments had not been nasty.
"He might bowl an outswinger and say, 'Ee that was too good for thee.' He was a good character. He was never personal. And he would have a drink with you after play. None do that today."
Reid played against Trueman on New Zealand tours of England in 1949 and 1958 and also encountered him when the MCC toured New Zealand. He last saw Trueman two years ago at Leeds.
"He had put on a lot of weight."
