I attended St Peter’s College starting from 1939 to 1948. I was never a brilliant student, perhaps because I loved my sports too much. I got to play in the Intercoll Cricket match against PAC in 1948 when Saints won by 1 innings and 60 runs.
After leaving school, I played district cricket for Glenelg. Things must have gone right because I made the South Australian Sheffield Shield side in the 1952-3 season. I was in and out of that side for several years until suddenly things went right for me, sufficiently for me to make the Australian Team that toured India & Pakistan in 1959-60. I was not blessed with success on that tour although my old mate Neil Harvey to this day tells me I was nearly the most famous person to play Test Cricket. Unfortunately, this was not related to my performance, which was very ordinary. He was referring to the fact that I was nearly the first Test player from any country to die on tour. I developed hepatitis in Madras. Thank God I missed out on the title!
I go down as the player that never played again, which was right, but it was not because of my health. On my particular tour we were paid 750 pounds for 4 months away, which in fact meant I actually lost money playing for Australia. A bit different from today!
One title I have earned is I am the oldest living South Australian to play Test Cricket. My advice to your young cricketers – Don’t give up trying for bigger things. Anybody can get to play for Australia. I know because I proved it!
Gavin Stevens (WDK 1948)
1948 Intercollegiate Cricket Team
Don Bradman giving Barry Jarman, Les Favell and myself advice at a function held in a hotel just before we went away on tour.