Willem Glerum's debut (16)

In 1928 an important event took place in Willem Glerum's still early career. The MCC visited our country for the first time since 1905 and had delegated a very strong team for that occasion. The captain was 54-year-old Sir Pelham "Plum" Warner, and in his wake was the special attraction, Greville Stevens who had already seen Wim play at The Oval in 1926. This wonder boy had caused a sensation in 1919 by hitting 466 runs in a school match, an achievement that earned him an invitation to the match between "The Gentlemen" and "The Players" at Lords, an exceptional honour for a schoolboy.

The competition took place on July 26 and 27, 1928 at De Diepput, on the 50th anniversary of HCC. Glerum's start was most unfortunate. The train that brought him and his uncle Top (Rincker) from Amsterdam was running late, so it was a rush to the field. There, Willem "Duke" Eigeman rushed to meet them and asked whether Wim would get ready to open like lightning. Glerum was shocked, because he knew what that meant. He would become cannon fodder for fastbowler Maurice Allom who had left him on zero in Hilversum twice a year before.

Shivering, Willem staggered to the wicket. It was bitter to have to die so young. Jan van den Bosch looked on with a smile at the dead wicket. He would be spared, at least for the time being. Wim had meanwhile been overcome by the resignation of an infantryman who was waiting for the barrage of the opponent in the first line. He only heard the first ball chatter into the hands of wicketkeeper Tattersall, the second destroyed his stumps before he could lift his bat.

Thanks to 4 byes, 1 no ball and 1 wide, it was after one over 3 for 6, after two overs 5 for 8 and after four overs 6 for 18. The Flamingos were treated cruelly that morning. Due to a miraculous recovery, 140 runs were still on the board (39 extras), a total that the MCC answered with 253. It was wise lessons that the English handed out. For example, Errol Holmes gave an exhibition of first-class hooking and the old Warner demonstrated beautiful blows from his legs.

In the evening there was a party. Max Jansen and Willem van den Bosch were completely dusted with flour and posed on stage like marble cricket statues. They had thunderous applause. The English did well with the ladies and especially Pilkington and the young killers Allom and Stevens were sung of loudly.

Wim went to bed early, determined to face the bowling the next day with a demonstration of brilliant batting for hours. It was disappointing. After three runs, he thought he had figured out all of the secrets to Stevens' leg break, topspinner and googly, became nonchalant and hit the ball into his own wicket. The rest soon followed him. The Flamingos scored a mere 53 runs in the second innings.

Most exciting match ever

With diminished self-confidence, they went to Haarlem, where another match against the MCC was scheduled on July 30 and 31. It was a thrilling affair, the most exciting match that Wim, in his own words, ever played. The MCC had to make 98 runs in 57 minutes in the second innings to bring in the win. A breeze for the stars, it seemed. The first 60 arrived promptly in half an hour, but after that it went less smoothly. At the start of the last over, the English were at 95 and victory seemed within reach. The dubious honour of delivering the last six balls fell to Rincker, and he did heroic work. In the first five balls, he allowed only two runs. His very last was a bullet, which just missed the head of injured Tonny de Beus, but one desperate run still delivered the victory to MCC.

Plum Warner was impressed and wrote in The Cricketer of August 11: 'We had been warned that the Dutch, on their matting wickets, were not to be lightly regarded, and though we won our three matches, the general standard of cricket, with its promise for the future, and the enthusiasm shown, surprised us.'

One of those promising players was Willem Glerum, although he was certainly not satisfied with his 0 and 22 in the last match. Warner saw something in him and wrote, "W. Glerum - only sixteen years of age - is a promising batsman and a good slip fieldsman." This was no small praise from the seasoned veteran.