TJ(Tommy)Andrews1890-1970

• BorninNewtownin1890• PlayedforPetershamCricketClubfromage19untilhewas54• Powerfulright-handbatsmanandbrilliantfieldsman(like

Ponting)• Played16TestsforAustraliaandbaseballforNSWThomasJamesEdwinAndrewswasbornatNewtownon26August1890andplayedhisfirstgameforPetershamCricketClubin1909aged19andhislastin1944aged54.Heretiredin1936butmadeacomebackin1941attherequestoftheclub.Hewasapowerfulrighthandbatsmanandlegbreakbowlerwhoexcelledasaclose-to-thewicketfieldsman.TommyAndrewsfirstplayedforNSWin1912-13andmadehisTestMatchdebutforAustraliaonthe1921AshestourofEngland.HetouredSouthAfricain1922andEnglandagainin1926.Heplayedin16TestMatchesscoring592runswithahighestscoreof94.Inhisfirstclasscricketcareerhescored8,095runsin151matchesatanaverageof39.49with18centuriesandahighestscoreof247againstVictoria.Healsotook95wicketsatanaverageof32.10.Hisfirstclasscareerspanned17yearsbetween1912and1929.Hewassuchafieldsmanthatcricketbookswhichrefertohisplayingcareeralwaysmakementionofhowgoodafielderhewas.ItseemshewasintheRickyPontingmouldintermsofhisabilitytothrowdownthewicketachievingmanyrun-outsintheprocess.ItissaidthatevenEnglishlegendsJackHobbsandHerbertSutcliffethoughttwiceaboutrunningiftheballwasspeedingtowardsAndrews.Nodoubthisabilityasaninterstatebaseballerwasofvaluetohimasacricketfieldsman.TommyAndrewsscored11,699runsin1stGradewith28centuries.Withhislegbreaks,hetook504wicketsatanaverageof20.76with8-72hisbest.Threetimes(1913-14;1915-16;1918-19)hescored400runsandtook40wicketsinaseason—arareoccurrence.Hisfinestall-roundeffortwasagainstSydneyUniversityin1923-24whenhehit271with42foursandjustonesixin230minutes(whichwasandremainedaclubrecord)andtook5-33.TheRefereenewspapercommentingonhisbattingsaid“Hishitsthroughthecoversspunsmartlytothefenceandthepullwasmadewithcharmingease.Nostrokewasomitted.”Inthe1925-26seasonhehit102and110inthesamematchagainstCumberlandatParramattaOval,afeatonlyachievedbyoneother—VictorTrumperin1909-10.In1929-30atage40,hecreatedaSydneyGradeCricketrecordwhenhescored1,150runsatanaverageof88.46whichincludedsixcenturies,whichisnowtheequalsecondhighest(withSidBarnes)in1stGradecrickethistory.GeoffBoycotthitsevenin1976-77.Tommy’scenturieswereagainstND’s(102);Gordon(148*);StGeorge(123);Waverley(119);Glebe(121)andNorthSydney(118).TheTJEAndrewsMemorialScoreboardwillensurethatTommyAndrewswhopassedawayatCroydonon28January1970aged79willnotbeforgotten.

LyallGardner,RandwickPetershamCricketHistorian