'Old fossil' touched by Allott's cricket tribute (9 June 1999)

9 June 1999

'Old fossil' touched by Allott's cricket tribute

Rod Dew

Long-standing Christchurch Boys' High School teacher Graeme Ash was yesterday still coming to terms with his new-found status as a cricket celebrity, and in his own inimitable way enjoying every minute.

"I can't say I am not pleased at getting recognised after 36 years. This will keep me going at school for the rest of the year." New Zealand fast bowler Geoff Allott paid special tribute to his old school cricket coach after claiming his World Cup record-equalling 18th wicket against Zimbabwe.

Ash was a "legend" to all the guys who knew him, Allott said.

It was Ash who was instrumental in Allott switching from spin to fast bowling, but the animated and fast-talking school master with a passion for cricket refuses to take all the credit.

"I did little. I stimulated his interest. I wouldn't like to claim I made him a fast bowler, but I got him interested."

Ash, for many years a capable medium-fast bowler at Saturday afternoon grade level for Burnside-West, coached Allott in the school third XI. When the future Black Cap asked if he could talk to him about becoming a fast bowler he offered unrestrained encouragement.

"I saw him as a potentially promising fast bowler," Ash recalled.

"He was tall, he had a lovely high arm action, was strong, had a quick wrist, and quick reactions. I thought that perhaps he was wasted as a spin bowler."

Ash, 60, is the head of history and classical studies at Christchurch Boys' High School, and is also in charge of the archives.

He is considering retiring at the end of the year, but expects to continue looking after the archives and will probably coach a cricket team.

He delights in cultivating his "character" image.

"I happen to be a nut case. I get passionate about everything I do."

And he has no problems with advancing years. "I quite like being an old fossil."

Ash is passionate about teaching, about "helping young people to develop", and cricket. His well defined sense of humour takes control momentarily as he describes his time at Christchurch BHS as "five years as an inmate and 36 as a warden". He immediately has second thoughts. "No, I shouldn't say that. I love it here."

Ash never coached the school first XI, largely because of his own club cricket commitments, but he was master in charge of cricket for 14 years and many of the school's 29 New Zealand representatives were influenced by him. He can reel off names -- Robert Anderson, Dayle Hadlee Sir Richard Hadlee, Chris Cairns, Blair Hartland, and Lee Germon. And he has special memories of nurturing former New Zealand fast bowler Stu Roberts in the second XI when he was considered too unorthodox for the first XI.

"He was my sort of bowler -- totally vicious. A thoroughly nice guy off the field but put 5oz of leather in his hand and he became a demon."

Allott did not have quite the same killer instinct, but came in wanting to do everything well. He was a scholar and a gentleman, and he was very, very determined.

Ash now has one ambition, to persuade Allott to be the guest speaker at the school leavers' dinner later this year, and to bring the World Cup with him.

He believes New Zealand can win. "If the batsmen can match the bowlers I cannot see why they cannot go all the way."

And his advice for the Black Caps?

"Believe you can do it. Have confidence in yourselves."

Source :: The Christchurch Press