Were I to pick a team of the 11 most popular Irish cricketers of the past two decades, during which period I have being closely involved with all of the international teams, John Elder would figure very high in my batting order. In fact, he might even be asked to open my innings.

This reference to batting — and his elevation to so lofty a position in the line-up will no doubt, greatly amuse Elder, for when once I wrote in the Irish Times that the Bangor pace bowler was 'blissfully useless with the bat' he accepted that comment with such calm and grace and good-humoured resignation ('that idiot Pender is at it again,' sort of thing) that I almost wished I had not made it in the first place and that he would go out right away and prove me wrong by hitting a decent score for Ireland.

Elder has that sort of effect on people. They tend to look on him as a rather quiet and unassuming person. Which again is probably misleading — just like that statement concerning his batting — for he is more than capable of looking after himself in all sorts of situations.

Bowling against Wales in 1982

Well, John did get that decent score for Ireland, a near-immaculate 28 against Wales at Wrexham in 1979, and in a severe crisis he nail bitingly held out against the final five deliveries from Surrey's Roger Knight at Rathmines in 1978 to save the day after the visitors had been forced — yes, forced — to follow on.

Elder's dexterity in keeping Knight at bay proved a source of wonderment for most. In 13 previous international knocks he had aggregated only 23 runs, surviving in all only 36 balls mostly against bowlers not quite measuring up to Knight's reputation as a taker of wickets. Indeed, for a long time on the international team he had to put up with playful ribbing from his colleagues that his tally of catches was greater than his total of runs.

Whatever justifiable argument there may be concerning his prowess with the bat, that Elder was hugely popular with everyone in the sport is beyond dispute. A great team man, he contributed in no small way to keeping spirits high both on and off the field, being top of the league, along with Dermott Monteith, at organising quizzes on coach trips and in hotel get-togethers.

Making up for what may have been lacking in guile and panache by the wholeheartedness of his endeavours, Elder developed into a redoubtable partner for Simon Corlett as the spearhead of the Irish attack. His chief merits, along with his unwavering commitment, were an aggressiveness that could turn a match in a couple of overs, the considerable height from which he delivered the ball (he stands six feet five inches) and a bumping pace that even on placid pitches always needed to be guarded against.

After capturing five wickets for 41 runs in Ulster Country's seven-wicket win over North Leinster at Inverary Avenue in 1973, Elder was called upon for his first cap against Wales at Rathmines. An auspicious debut followed. Ireland won in two days and in a 40-overs contest arranged to fill in for the remaining day. Ireland again came out on top, Elder claiming six for 15 in seven overs as Wales were routed for 102. The stumps were struck five times and Elder completed a caught and bowled for his other wicket. Deservedly, he played in all four fixtures that summer and made the party for the end-of-season tour of North America as well.

In matches against Wales he has generally been more successful than against other opposition. At Swansea in 1977 he had first innings figures of three for 17 in 23 overs, 13 of which were maidens, as Wales were restricted to 165. In the following year's joust at the Mardyke he toppled five second innings wickets for 41 in 21 overs as the visitors succumbed this time by 135 runs. THen in 1979 at Marchwiel he conceded just 19 runs in 19 overs, taking two wickets in the process.

But, of course, there were other noteworthy performances, not least that against MCC at Ormeau in 1980 when in the second innings he tore the heart out of the MCC batting with six for 43, striking the stumps three times. In one eventful 43-ball spell, he accounted for five batsmen while conceding only seven runs. Dismissed for 93, MCC were beaten by 175 runs.

Another six-wicket feat (for 29 runs this time) came against Denmark at Rathmines in 1978 when he put his name on the first five wickets to fall. But for me his best bowling was reserved for that excitingly drawn match against Surrey the same year.

Bowling against Australia at Downpatrick in 1985

After Corlett and Monteith had skittled the county side for 111 in their first innings, forcing them to follow on, Elder chipped in with a second innings five for 81, test batsmen Geoff Howarth, Younis Ahmed and Graham Roope being among his victims. Despite this, Surrey, helped by missed catches, reached 254 for six declared and would have won had not Elder, at 64 for nine, turned batsman to stave off defeat.

Unlike Corlett, Elder did not enjoy an uninterrupted stay in the international side. Troubled in the latter part of his career in particular by a chronic injury caused by the stress of his bowling action — he used a lot of shoulder in the delivery — he missed out on some matches he would have been chosen for had he been fully fit. Even when in peak condition he was not always selected and — in 1975 — was even omitted by Ulster Country.

Still, these setbacks never unduly worried Elder. He carried on as best he could, even one season when he could not bowl turning out for the Bangor second team as a batsman, until two years ago a serious eye condition forced him into retirement, just 12 months after Corlett had departed the international arena.

If Elder, always competitive, sometimes fiery, just failed to cross the line that divides the very good from the great, he was still a formidable bowler of pace. Corlett was Ireland's number one, but once Roy Torrens took early retirement Elder was easily the best of the rest. In all, he played 37 times for Ireland, finishing up with 70 wickets at a cost of 1,727 runs.

Extremely efficient as an organiser, John Elder has orchestrated successful tours of South Africa, Zimbabwe (twice), New Zealand and elsewhere for the Ulster Grasshoppers in recent years. He has also been very energetically involved in mainstream administration of the Irish Cricket Union, as chairman of the cricket committee, and this season has joined the international selectors.

So while he may no longer be clicking on the field of play (a distinctive click could sometimes be heard all over the ground as he delivered the ball), he is still making a very audible sound as he works away behind the scenes for the overall good of Irish cricket.