Watkins had played three Tests and taken three wickets.) Melle took seven expensive wickets in the five matches leading up to the First Test, but then at Brisbane, bowling 46.5 eight-ball overs in the Test, he took 6 for 71 and 3 for 95, he and his opening partner Watkins "maintain[ing] an admirable consistency of length and hostility" in a match that Australia won narrowly. However, he took only five wickets for 365 in the next three Tests and lost his place, despite a remarkable performance against Tasmania in Launceston: 3 for 34 in the first innings and, bowling unchanged in the second innings, 9 for 22. After two matches in the 1953–54 season he played no more first-class cricket. He was only 23 when he played his last match, hitting his highest first-class score of 59 and taking 2 for 56 and 3 for 28 to help Western Province to victory against Natal at the end of December 1953. His father Basil played for Western Province, Oxford University, Hampshire and Transvaal between 1909 and 1923. See also List of South Africa cricketers who have taken five-wicket hauls on Test debut References External links 1930 births 2003 deaths South Africa Test cricketers South African cricketers Gauteng cricketers Western Province cricketers Cricketers who have taken five wickets on Test debut Alumni of Hilton College (South Africa)