ICC Umpires and Referees Manager Vince van der Bijl shares his personal memories of Norman Gordon, who will become the first Test Match player to reach his 100th birthday on Saturday. Norman's energy, generosity, humility and strength of character are his hallmarks, culminating in him being the first ever Test cricketer to reach the real century on Saturday.He and my father, Pieter, played in the South Africa-England 1938/9 Test series which finished with the drawn Timeless Test in Durban. These were the only Tests Norman and Dad played - after the war, Norman was considered a little old and Dad had been injured and could not play competitive cricket again. Norman shared with me the stories of that great series and with humour always related his 1 for 256 bowling performance in the Timeless Test whenever we met. I initially had to look up the scorecards to realize that he had taken 19 wickets in the previous four Tests, (that he never mentioned) which included two five wicket hauls - no mean feat in your first international outing. He was a fine bowler and the highest wicket taker in that series from either team with 20 wickets.He shared with me the joy of his two five-wicket hauls in his first two TestsHe was tireless in that series, and the conversation invariably went to the Time less Test A milestone for my father who scored 125 and 97He spoke about the endless bowling and that he was very relieved on the 8th day when rain washed out play, so that he could gather strength and have a day off!. However he was concerned as the wicket, which had at last had started to deteriorate with cracks appearing, was then rolled with the heavy roller to good effect and became as flat as a road! Batting became easier and the England side started to take control He played a crucial role in the "final" day when England needing 200 runs to win, and had to catch the train to Cape Town, so they would not miss the mail ship, need to be curtailed. In the first session he crucially kept the runs down and bowled yet again without luck. Rain at tea in the afternoon produced a drawn match I treasure my conversations with Norman as he would share stories of my father and their relationship in that series, in my Dad's heyday, long before I was born. Those memories are indelibly printed within me a special gift that Norman has given me.Bless you Norman and thank you. Have a glorious day
