SA cricket legend Barry Jarman dies
An Australian cricketing giant - and namesake of one of SA’s best known retail chains - has died after illness.
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Australia’s 33rd Test captain and South Australian cricket legend Barry Jarman has died in Adelaide, aged 84.
Described as one of SA’s greatest wicketkeepers, leaders and characters, Jarman played 19 Test matches for Australia and stood in as captain for one Test during the 1968 Ashes series in England.
During 13 first-class seasons from 1955-69, the stocky Jarman played 191 matches and recorded 560 dismissals, including 129 stumpings, illustrating his standout glovework.
“He was one of the greats of SA cricket,’’ said former SA and Australian teammate Eric Freeman.
“He was not only a wonderful cricketer – his glovework was so outstanding he would keep up to the quick bowlers if he knew someone was batting out of their crease – but a great teammate and guy who I don’t think had an enemy in the world.
“As a teammate, he was always very encouraging and a natural leader, along with Les Favell and Neil Dansie.
“BJ had a great influence on his teammates and would go out of his way to help the younger fellas coming through and made sure the team gelled not only on the field but also off it.
“He didn’t allow any divisions to be in teams and would always arrange for the SA Shield side to have a social event at the trots, no matter what State we played in.
“He is responsible for giving many players their nicknames, including ‘Rowdy’ to Ashley Mallett (former SA and Australian offspinner).’’
Jarman, who passed away after illness, was such a fine leader that legendary SA and Australian skipper Ian Chappell recalled how he was Favell’s go-to guy on the field.
“I remember Les Favell, as SA captain, said to me ‘son, you might be vice-captain of Australia and you might be vice-captain of South Australia but if I need any advice I will be going to Jarmo, not to you’,” Chappell said.
Jarman – mentored by his predecessor Gil Langley – made his Test debut at age 23 against India at Kanpur in 1959 and in 19 Tests, took 50 catches and scored 400 runs.
He had the talent and character to play many more Tests but was early in his career stuck behind Queensland wicketkeeper Wally Grout in the national team, spending many tours as Australia’s back-up keeper.
On the 1968 Ashes tour, Jarman captained Australia in place of the injured Bill Lawry during the Headingley Test.
Mallett described Jarman’s influence as “enormous’’.
Of his nickname, Mallett said: “I’d been 12th man for my first game (for SA) and at the end of the day I just poured the drinks and then would go and sit by myself, wouldn’t talk to anyone.
“On the third day, when I hadn’t said a word, ‘BJ’ walked up and down like a caged lion in front of me and turned around and yelled, ‘shut up you rowdy bugger’, and that’s how I got my nickname.
“He was not only a tremendous keeper but a tremendous team man.’’
At the time of his retirement, only Grout and Bert Oldfield had claimed more Australian first-class dismissals than Jarman.
After retiring as a player, Jarman used his extensive knowledge as one of the International Cricket Council’s first match referees, presiding over 25 Tests and 28 One-Day Internationals between 1995 and 2001.
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He oversaw the infamous Centurion Test between South Africa and England in 2000, where after several days of rain, Proteas captain Hansie Cronje engineered a fourth innings for the visitors after two innings were declared closed at 0 for 0.
England won and Cronje later confirmed that he had been influenced to open the match up by illegal bookmakers.
Jarman also ran the Rowe and Jarman Sports Store in Adelaide with business partner David Rowe and in 1962 famously employed Barry “Nugget” Rees as an assistant.
He nurtured Rees’ love of cricket, taking him to Adelaide Oval to visit the SA dressing room, beginning an association that continues to this day.
Jarman nicknamed Rees “Nugget” after Rees’s cricketing hero, Keith “Nugget” Miller, and inspired him to become one Australian cricket’s most loveable characters.
In the mid 1960s, Jarman took Rees on an interstate tour and he has become a regular in the Australian dressing room in Adelaide ever since.
He always stands with the captain for the National Anthem and delivers a motivational speech to the team.
A long-time star for the Woodville District Cricket Club, Jarman has a grandstand, the Barry Jarman Stand, named after him at Woodville Oval.
The SACA’s most improved men’s player trophy each season is awarded the Barry Jarman Trophy.
“Barry was one of SA’s internationally known names. He was a great competitor and gentleman, who appreciated the way the game should be played and he always had a terrific sense of humour,’’ said SACA president Andrew Sinclair.
Jarman is survived by wife Gaynor and children Kristen, Gavin, Jason and Erin.