Ed Cowan’s dream of playing Test match cricket has finally, after a decade of slogging it out in state cricket, come true. But it will be bittersweet – like a wedding at which the favorite grandparent could not attend.
The death of Peter Roebuck affected Eddie Cowan probably more than any other player in Australia. Cowan’s career was not made on the back of the nine first-class centuries he has made in the last 12 months but in the pristine nets at his high school Cranbrook in Sydney’s East – the same school at which Peter Roebuck had previously been an English teacher and coach of the first XI.
By the time Cowan was old enough to be picked for the firsts, Roebuck was a full-time journalist and his involvement with the school was as a specialist batting coach to the school’s elite batsmen.
But one stood head and shoulders above all others. At the time, Cowan would have been 16 but he looked 12. Apart from his superior batting technique – what set Cowan apart was his appetite for hard work and pursuit of perfection in his batting.
When the official team training would end Cowan would spend intense “throw down” sessions where he and Roebuck – the two perfectionists – would not go home until every crease in the technique had been ironed out. Roebuck had this unusual manner of communicating his message where he would hold you by the neck and speak just a matter of inches from your face, to ensure that his carefully chosen words has no chance of missing the mark.
There was no chance with Cowan. Cricket and batting was his life. There is another set of nets in Rose Bay near Cranbrook where you could drive by at any hour on a Sunday from sunrise to sundown, and little Eddie would be smashing balls thrown by his father or Roebuck.
His selection is a good thing for Australian cricket. He continues the tradition of stodgy left handed opening batsman that the likes of Lawry and Taylor have passed down. The opener is the most specialised of all positions in the order because its purpose is two-fold.
Of course, the primary objective is to score runs but just as important is survival against the new ball. An opening partnership that included any combination of Watson, Warner and Hughes – lacked a traditional defensively minded opener. As we have seen this summer when there is a bit of life in the pitch surviving to lunch on the first morning can be tough.
Cowan fills the void left by another stubborn left-hander: Simon Katich. For me the top of our order looks more balanced with a Katich/Cowan style of batsman in there especially when the run rate will be healthy no matter what, with Warner at the other end.
Cowan declined to keep the baggy green that he got when he was called out of the crowd and on to the field in Sydney (due to an injury) many summers ago. The young man with a strong work ethic – thought he had not earned it.
There can be no doubt that after a long apprenticeship in state cricket he has earned the one that will be presented to him on Monday.
The only regret will be that his friend and mentor will not be there to see it.
GG
Guest
Great article. Loved seeing a proper opener nut it out while the other end three the blade. Ponting deserves to be in the team. He brings more to it than just runs, which will come.
Nachos Supreme
Guest
Johnno you might ask "Who"of Beer but as a state school attendee, the alternative to that of our latest opener, who I might add can leave a ball, which is a refreshing change for the Aussie top order Would it be rude of me to ask you to you read your post before you, well, post. Background means not a jot. Runs on the other hand mean quite a bit. Especially if you've been picked to score some.
Harry
Guest
I liked his style in the 1st session - ultra cautious. Just what Australia needs.
Johnno
Guest
Geoff it can be taken sounding like a clown, but all australian athletes in all sports there background comes up. Dave Warner, Ricky Ponting, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon(we all found out Nathan was simply a humble curator who rose to the top, micheal "Who" Beer, and now Ed Cowan. So I think it quite okay to bring up players backgrounds with Ed Cowan wheher he went to a private school or anything else , that is what the media is there for to inform. We do it with all other players backgrounds, why not Edward Cowan.
Geoff Lemon
Expert
Johnno, an Australian is an Australian. Ed Cowan has been in the Shield system for a decade, and if you're not in fact pulling our legs, then these comments make you sound like a clown.
Johnno
Guest
So Andy in the name of being pompous and recognition of the old English school private schools, and the all there links to the English aristocracy, we should not be calling Ed cowman , Edward old chap Andrew R.
Al from ctown
Guest
I have to agree andy, I feel a little more "simple" by even reading that johnno... And the point, if you can call it that, is ridiculous to even fathom.. You realize there are private schools in lower class areas too? Doesn't make a lick of difference to the individuals personality come home time, nor out on the pitch. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Andy R
Guest
Johnno, you blabber a lot pal yet say very little at all. Get the chip off your shoulder about private schools and enjoy the cricket. One's schooling says nothing about their religious beliefs or how hard they work. You'd be very surprised. Trust me. I want to see a big opening partnership from Warner and Cowan tomorrow - big!
Johnno
Guest
Many of these exclusive private schools had a very traditional and conservative opinions on many things, another difficulty I see in some one like Ed Cowan relating to his fellow Australian team mates. Many fo these exclusive private schools were very staunch Monarchists in there beliefs, and when dinners were held they would toast the queen, or even sing God save the queen. Think of schools like Eton in England and Harrow, these exclusive private schools in Sydney play sports against schools like these in the past for cricket and rugby tours. I just wonder who the other Australian team mates will respond to Ed Cowan and how Ed Cowan will respond to his team mates, as many of the up bringing, socio-ecomonic backgrounds and political beliefs , could not be any more different form the establishments that Ed Cowan attended in High School , and any of these Asutralian men playing in the Australian team tomorrow. Think "Ricky Punter" Ponting form working class Mowbray Tasmania, and Dave Warner form working class Matraville. They could not be in anyway remotely similar to some one who has grown up in the traditional exclusive private schools , where theses schools are steeped in tradition of rowing, rugby, and also at times close bonds to traiditonal beliefs about religion, monarchy , and the the united kingdom. In other words God , Queen and Country were strong beliefs of these exclusive private schools. In 2011 can these cultural differences be smoothed over in 2011 so to speak, in my opinion it is debatable but i hope team harmony prevails.
jamesb
Guest
i really don't care what background Cowan has been brought up with, other than as a cricketer, he deserves to open the batting for Australia tomorrow. Thats because of sheer weight of runs in recent times, not his background. I do like the opening combo of Australia now. One is aggressive, the other stioc. It has the potential to be a good opening pair for Australia for the next 4 to 5 years. Also who would've thought that the opening pair for Australia on boxing day it will be Warner and Cowan. I don't think too many would've picked it.
Disco
Roar Guru
Cowan could've just stayed in the exclusive Eastern Suburbs if he wanted a pampered life. Working-class background or not, we now have to put up with Ponting clinging to his million-dollar lifestyle with everything he's got.
Behold
Guest
If his elite and exclusive background helped him get into the team then it would be an issue but come on it didn't even help him get selected for NSW. He has done his time, moved states trying to get a spot in a first class team. If anyone has a privilege existence in the Australian team it's Warner. 5 FC games. Wasn't even playing that well in t20 when he got picked for his first international. That game lead to him being picked for an ODI even though his State one day cricket form didn't warrant it. Being a media darling is much better than having a lot of money. Have you seen Ponting bat lately? He doesn't fight for everything he just bats badly and gets out mean while Khawaja who obviously fights for his wicket is thrown out of the team because he isn't scoring runs fast enough.
cicero
Guest
who cares what his background is. this is australia mate, where if you're good enough, your'e good enough. good luck to him.
Another Martin!
Guest
All this 'elite' and 'exclusive' is so over-used. He's a cricketer about to play for his country. Don't fall into the trap of so many journalists and newsreaders who persistently use these terms. Well done, Ed. You deserve your chance after years of hard work, particularly after you challenged yourself by moving to Hobart.
Johnno
Guest
I wonder how Ed Cowan's parent's home being burgled in Sydney's in the exclusive suburb Darling Point will impact him. I even thought Ed Cowan would pull out of the boxing day test in his test debut becoz, i thought the burglary would impact his focus so much, and understandably so too. But they did catch the alleged offender which must be welcoming news to all concerned. The private school thing is an issue, for me, Ed Cowan being from Sydney's exclusive Cranbrook School in SYdney exclusive eastern suburbs in bellvue Hill, where many former students have been privileged, including James Packer son of the late Kerry packer the found of World series cricket, and at one point in time Australia's richest man. Very few Aussie cricketers form the elite private schools of sydney have played test cricket . Matt Nicholson being educated at Sydney's exclusive Knox Grammar was the last in 1998 Ashes Boxing day test. Ed Cowan himself said there was a perception that he was as soft as butter becoz he went to a private school. Hnger and motivation is also an issue to often from athletes in any sport of privileged backgrounds. Very few top boxers who became World champions were from privileged socio-economic backgrounds. And we look at 2 players in the aussie team tomorrow aggressive fighter style batsman, Ricky Ponting and young Dave Warner both form working class backrgorund, who really fight hard and preserve the wicket very hard. I hope someone form more socio economic and privileged background like Ed Cowan preserves his wicket as hard as the players form less privileged backgrounds who have had to fight tooth and nail for every opportunity in life.