Record-holding Cricketer Matt Appleby – 10/05/02
The ball used to create a record that has never been matched The most treasured relic remaining from the 125-year history of Canterbury cricket returned home recently for the first time in three decades. The ball with which Albert Moss took all ten wickets in an innings on his Canterbury debut in 1889, creating a record that has never been matched, was lost to the Canterbury Cricket Association in the early 1970s.
Ball on display On March 10 it was displayed at Addington Raceway in Christchurch as part of a function celebrating the jubilee of the CCA.
Moss was a 26-year fast bowler on his Canterbury debut when he took 10/28 against Wellington at Hagley Park in December 1889, the only time in first-class cricket when a bowler has taken all ten in his first match.
The ball he used was mounted and decorated with a commemorative plaque. It became Moss’s most valued possession.
Moss’s career and marriage cut short by alcoholism Yet Moss played just three further games for Canterbury and a drink problem led to his wife leaving him and taking Moss’s valued memento with her. Moss fled Christchurch in shame to South America. From there, still an alcoholic, he travelled to South Africa, still looking for deliverance.
The Salvation Army to the rescue The fast-bowling clerk’s decision to join the Salvation Army turned his life around and Moss became a respected figure in Pretoria for his good works for the Army.
Re-marriage to his ex-wife His wife, Mary, back in New Zealand, chanced upon a copy of War Cry, the Sallies magazine, which mentioned Moss’s rehabilitation. She sent him the ball and then remarried the reformed Moss after following him to South Africa.
The fate of the ball After Moss’s death in 1945 his famous ball was sent to Lancaster Park, as was his wish. In the early 1970s the Salvation Army rediscovered the story and recovered the ball for use as a prop when telling the salutary tale.
Only recently was the ball refound by the CCA and seen for the first time in 30 years by the cricket fraternity. This led to radio’s Malcolm Ellis inviting the author of this article to speak on Newstalk ZB during Nathan Astle’s memorable innings of 222 at Jade Stadium.
However, the ball was returned to Major Rodney Knight of the Salvation Army after it was exhibited at Addington Raceway and spoken about on radio. Back in the seventies the CCA did not realise the full value of the ball and there was some dispute when it tried to recover the heirloom in the late 1980s. Only now has an agreement been finalised to allow the ball to be exhibited by the CCA on special occasions like the March 10 celebration, when the amazing tale of Albert Moss was revived once more.