Twenty five kilometres north of the SCG, the world’s oldest living Test cricketer is sitting in his La-Z-Boy armchair and watching the Test. Neil Harvey was once the youngest of Bradman’s Invincibles; now he’s 97, his old cricketing buddies gone. His body is a little worn around the edges, but mentally he’s astute.
Harvey was Australia’s sweetheart, the second youngest of six brothers, a dashing left-hander, who stalked the covers and a hunted at slip. During a 15-year Test career, he cut and shimmied to more than 6,000 runs at an average of 48, making his mark with 153 in his second Test. He was a regular at the SCG, attending every Test from 1949 up until four years ago, when, in the words of his son Bruce he “gave up public appearances” and he has very fond memories of the place.
“I had such a good time here,” he says over the phone. “Probably the most satisfying moment was 92 not out against Frank Tyson in 1954. We would have won that game, but no one else could stay in with me. [Australia needed 223 to win, no one else made more than 16]. Tyson was as quick as you’ll get, he and Wes Hall were the two fastest bowlers I ever played against. They didn’t let up on you.”
The Christmas tree has been packed away, but Harvey is surrounded by other sparkling souvenirs from a life well lived: a crystal cabinet containing napkin rings from Sir Donald Bradman and drinking glasses from Lindsay Hassett, his MBE and OAM. On the walls, a handsome young fellow in his black and white prime smiles back, alongside an award celebrating his membership of the Australian Test team of the 20th century.
He still loves Test cricket, but, despite the attacking nature of his own batting, isn’t crazy about Bazball. “I’ve been disappointed in England. I think the way they approach the batting side of things, they get too reckless, nobody seems to want to build an innings, like a Cowdrey or a Boycott.
“It might work against ordinary teams but when you get a class side like Australia it’s a different ballgame. I used to score runs relatively quickly, and everyone gets a lot of enjoyment out of it, but when you try to play this Bazball thing it takes the odds away from winning an important Test. I’d like to see them pull their hooves in.”
He loves to watch Kane Williamson and Joe Root – “They’ve been the best batsmen for quite some time, I guess it’s time someone else took a bit of responsibility and challenged them for that” – and thinks Mitchell Starc is a marvel. “He’s got everything, pace and bounce and swinging the ball, he can do anything with it, that’s why he’s up there with one of the greats now.”
The future of the Test game, though, concerns him. “Ashes cricket is holding the game together out here, there are so many poor cricket teams playing international cricket, I only wish I’d have played against them. I think these bats they use today are unfair, you don’t have to hit it any more, all you have to do is flex your wrist and hold your bat there, the ball flies off and goes for four. If you have two even teams playing against each other, the stronger batting side will win.”
It was nearly 78 years ago that Harvey came to England with Bradman’s great side. He was 21 years younger than his captain, who described him as having the brilliance and daring of youth.
“I had a great bunch of fellas to go away with, we went by ship and all got to know each other on the way over. It was just a learning curve for me which I never forgot. I learned so much about life in general from those blokes, they were instrumental for putting me on the right track. They allowed me to have a very nice cricket career, I played the game with great fellas and against some great fellas like Alec Bedser and Freddie Trueman, Peter May and Colin Cowdrey.”
“I’ve got lots of memories but suppose the obvious one was I my very first Test match against England. I was 19, I never thoughts I’d get into the side, it was so strong, but through an injury I got a game at the Leeds Test and managed to scrape together a century, it was most satisfying.”
Arriving in war-damaged London from Australia was a huge culture shock. “England was very damaged, I can still see St Paul’s cathedral, all the buildings around it were flattened – there must be a message there somewhere. I did four tours over your way, and I’ve actually seen the marvellous city of London just about rebuilt. I’ve always said that it’s the best city I’ve ever been to.”
No cricket life passes without disappointments, and Harvey’s was the Australian captaincy. “I thought I had it actually, I thought I was next in line to take over, but the selectors decided that Ian Craig was the man for the job, which hurt me a bit, a 21-year-old taking over the captaincy.
“I only captained Australia once, at Lord’s in 61 [he won], but it couldn’t have happened at a nicer or more beautiful place than Lord’s, my favourite in world cricket. I love what it stands for, I’ve always been a strong follower of history and if you go back to ’48 I met Jack Hobbs there.”
Zak Crawley and Jacob Bethell have followed Ben Duckett back into the pavilion during our conversation. Shortly afterwards, Harvey will switch over to the horse racing, another passion, alongside the odd glass of Barossa Shiraz. He also, says Bruce, knows exactly what is going on in world affairs. “In other words,” Harvey chuckles, “I’m not quite dead yet.”