Merv Harvey

Mervyn Roye Harvey (29 April 1918 – 18 March 1995) was a cricketer who played in one Test match for Australia in 1947.

His younger brother, Neil, was one of Australia's finest batsmen, and the pair played together for Victoria during the latter part of Merv's career.

Merv Harvey broke into the Victorian state team during the 1940–41 season and played in three first-class matches.

The highlight of the first phase of his career for Victoria was a rapid 70 in one hour against a New South Wales attack containing Bill O'Reilly, regarded as the best bowler in the world at the time.

However, the outbreak of World War II in the Pacific caused the suspension of top-level cricket and halted Harvey's progress.

Harvey then served in the Royal Australian Air Force as an airframe fitter, losing his best cricketing years to the war.

An opening batsman, Harvey was described by Neil as "the greatest cricketer of us all" and known for his attacking style and penchant for hooking fast bowlers.

He was initially overlooked for Victorian selection after cricket resumed in 1945–46, before being recalled for the final match of the season, and he responded by scoring a career-best 163.

He was a regular member of the Victorian team during the 1946–47 season, and although he faced much competition for national selection as Australia had an abundance of quality openers at the time, he was selected for his only Test during the fourth Test of the season against England at the Adelaide Oval when both Bill Brown and Sid Barnes were injured.

Harvey made 12 and 31 before being dropped immediately due to Barnes' recovery.

In 1947–48, Harvey played with younger brothers Neil and Ray in two matches for Victoria, captaining the team in the second of these fixtures.

However, his own form began to wane and he was dropped from the team midway through the season.

In 1948–49, Harvey remained outside the first-choice team, and played in only two first-class matches against Tasmania when Victoria fielded a second-string team.

He retired at the end of the season, having played only 22 first-class matches in an interrupted career.

Harvey captained his state five times during the post-war phase of his career, standing in when regular captain Lindsay Hassett was away on national duty.

Merv Harvey was born in Broken Hill, New South Wales to Horace "Horrie" and Elsie Harvey.

Horace worked for BHP driving horse-drawn trailers.

Merv was the second child in the family and the oldest son.

Five younger brothers were to follow, in chronological order Mick, Harold, Ray, Neil and Brian.

The family relocated to Newcastle, a mining town and harbour in New South Wales, before shifting to the inner-Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, a staunchly working-class, industrial area.

Horace secured a job at the confectionery company Life Savers, located next door to their house at 198 Argyle Street.

The 19th century two-storey house was owned by the firm and was used as lodgings for the workers' families.

It no longer exists, having been demolished to make way for a textile factory.

The Cornish-descended Horace raised his family as strict Methodists, disallowing gambling, alcohol, tobacco and profanity in his household.

An ardent cricketer during his years in New South Wales, he was good enough to hit 196 runs during a match in Newcastle, and he encouraged his children to play sport.

He himself played for the Rita Social Club after moving to Fitzroy.

As recreational facilities and grass ovals were sparse in densely populated Fitzroy, Merv and his younger brothers played cricket in a cobblestone laneway between their terraced house.

Here they played cricket with a tennis ball, home made cricket bat and a kerosene tin for a wicket.

They were usually joined by other local children, two of whom became elite sportsmen: Allan Ruthven and Harold Shillinglaw.

The group also played Australian rules football, kicking around rolled up cardboard and newspaper.

Much of the batting skill displayed by the Harvey brothers has been attributed to these games played on the unpredictable bounce of the bumpy laneway.

The surface also had a V-shaped slope inwards towards the centre of the lane, causing balls to deviate sideways after bouncing.

As the laneway meant that the playing area was long and narrow, the young boys also had to learn to play the ball straight in accordance with orthodox cricket technique.

The Harveys played another form of cricket in their concreted backyard using a marble instead of a ball, and a miniature bat.

This sharpened their reflexes.

Merv was the first of the brothers to attend the nearby George Street State School and join the Fitzroy Cricket Club as they reached their early teens.

The club had a program whereby they gave a medal for every local school to award to the best cricketer in their ranks in that year.

The successful student would then be given access to all of the club's facilities.

All of the Harvey brothers were recipients were of this medal.

At Fitzroy, they came under the influence of former Victorian all-rounder Arthur Liddicut and the club's veteran captain Joe Plant.