by Arunabha Sengupta
Melbourne 1952-53. Keith Miller drives Hugh Tayfield hard and high, and onward it sails, destined for the crowds. At long on, Russel Endean sprints along the fence, times his leap perfectly, and clutches the ball in his extended right hand. “Good God! He’s caught the bloody thing!” exclaims Miller. Prime Minister Robert Menzies compares Endean’s catch with that of “Uncle” Dave Nourse to dismiss Bill Whitty off Aubrey Faulkner.
In the second innings Endean adds 162 serene runs alongside his fantastic feat of fielding. In only the third Test of his career, he bats over seven and a half hours with virtually no back-lift. Just nine boundaries—one hook, four sweeps, and four cuts—all horizontal bat strokes. There are 69 singles, many of them dabbed to third man with his wide, well-taped bat. Playing on his name, RS Whitington describes his innings as Endless. No wonder Endean considers Bruce Mitchell as his model. South Africa draw level in the series.
When they return to Melbourne for the final Test, they pull off another win to draw the series 2-2. An incredible result. And Endean scores a crucial 70 in the final innings.
South African journalist Charles Fortune is quite confident that Endean and Tayfield can walk into any World XI. Well, not that they are not deserving—at least Tayfield definitely is. But the world, as seen by Fortune, is quite monochrome. South Africa is like that.
Back home, Endean, the chartered accountant who still lives with his parents, is considered the most eligible bachelor of South Africa. The Springboks win the series 4-0 against visiting New Zealanders. In the final Test at Port Elizabeth, they need to make 212 in 225 minutes. They fall behind the clock and find themselves on 81 for 3. Endean sheds his ‘Endless’ tag. With Watkins, he adds 107 in 70 minutes. His 87 is studded with 14 boundaries. South Africa get there with 40 minutes to spare.
The 1955 England tour is memorable, but not for runs. When the fascinating series ends, there is a party at The Oval for the two teams to celebrate the contest. Two young women somehow manage to make their way from the stands into the festivities. One of them is the strikingly beautiful 27-year-old Muriel Tredwell. A year later she saves up enough to travel to South Africa.
In 1957, after another fascinating series against England which ends 2-2, she becomes Mrs Russell Endean. John Waite kisses the stunning bride on the cheek, a smiling Neil Adcock looks on. Hugh Tayfield, to be married five times, looks dapper as ever and serious, and gives Endean what is perhaps a cautionary handshake.
The Afrikaans newspaper Die Vaderland reports Endean Eindelik Geboul (Endean finally bowled). The honeymoon is spent in Britain, after a flight from Johannesburg in luxury as honoured guests of Pan Am.
It is not an easy country to settle down in. The next time South Africans travel to England it is amidst the smouldering flames of the aftermath of Sharpeville. There is a strict ‘no wives’ rule. Russell Endean stays behind, unwilling to leave his wife alone in a country to which she is still unaccustomed. He plays for Transvaal that summer.
The following year South Africa leaves the Commonwealth and becomes a Republic. Endean gets departure permits. He sends his bat ahead with the luggage before taking the flight to England and settling there with his wife. He makes an unbeaten 106 for MCC against Oxford University, adding 148 with Denis Compton at Lord’s in 1963. But he does not play competitive cricket again.
29 Tests, 1630 runs at 33.95, a splendid fielder anywhere. He was the designated wicketkeeper in one Test match and put on the big gloves after an injury to Waite in the crucial fifth Test of 1956-57, stepping around the batsman like a butler with a tray and catching Compton in his final Test innings off Tayfield.
Endean also played hockey for Transvaal. And he also became the first batsman to be out handled the ball in Test cricket, swatting away a Laker delivery that popped vertically from the pad and was about to drop on the stumps. “I thought of heading it away, but it seemed too theatrical.”
One of the pillars of the South African side of the 1950s. Russell Endean was born on 31 May 1924.