With more regular selection on the field, Halcombe was considered a leading contender to become his state's first ever representative for Australia in Test cricket due to his express pace, but his career was derailed after he was no-balled for throwing in two consecutive matches in early 1930.
Some solid performances in the early 1930s led to rumours that he would be brought into the Australian team in order to retaliate against England's Bodyline tactics during the 1932–33 Ashes series.
[4] During the 1927–28 season, Halcombe was selected in only one match, taking 1/119 as South Australia were defeated by Victoria by an innings and 310 runs.
During his time in South Australia, Halcombe had played in matches officiated by Test umpire George Hele without his action being called into question.
[6] During the second innings of the match against England, Halcombe struck George Geary in the head with a bouncer, forcing him to be carried from the field.
[1] In his first match of the season against the Marylebone Cricket Club, Halcombe took 3/35 and 2/30, including noted batsman Frank Woolley,[6] but was unable to prevent a seven-wicket defeat.
After the first two no-ball decisions, the Western Australian captain Richard Bryant conferred with Barlow, but when Halcombe resumed, the umpire continued to call him for throwing.
It was believed that although there was pressure for Halcombe to be omitted, the Western Australian leadership wanted other umpires in other states to analyse his action in a match situation.
The match at Hobart's TCA ground had seen Western Australia bat first and compile 248 before being dismissed late on the first day,[2] with Halcombe scoring three.
During the ten consecutive no-balls, Lonergan had remained firm despite continuous heckling from a section of the crowd who showed their support of the bowler.
The opening batsmen Rushforth and Atkinson played Halcombe in a diplomatic manner, making little effort to attack his bowling in the midst of the throwing calls.
[4] Much anticipation surrounded his return to his home town of Adelaide the following week for a match against South Australia, with one of the umpires being Hele.
Halcombe again passed Hele's scrutiny unscathed, but his bowling failed to worry the South Australians, who plundered 100 runs from 13 overs for the loss of only one wicket.
[10] To make things worse, Halcombe made a pair as his team crashed to defeat by an innings and 234 runs.
[4] Debate over the legality of his action continued during the season, with former umpire Bob Crockett supporting his no-balling while former Test captain Joe Darling disagreed.
[11] In the final match of the season, Halcombe represented Western Australia against the 1930 Australian team, who were warming up for the 1930 tour of England.
In the following season, he was only selected for one match, against the touring South Africans, taking 3/114 as the tourists won by an innings and 242 runs.
[4] During the 1932–33 season that saw England tour Australia under Douglas Jardine with their Bodyline tactics, which involved bowling high speed deliveries at the batsmen's body, rumours circulated that Halcombe could be selected for the Tests.
He took 3/48 and 1/38 in a drawn match, including the Bodyline mastermind and captain Douglas Jardine, Bob Wyatt, Les Ames and the Nawab of Pataudi.
[4][5] After that, first-class cricket was interrupted until 1945–46 by World War II,[4] during which Halcombe served in the Australian Army from 26 June 1942 to 27 August 1944, at the time of his discharge he was a lieutenant in the 11th Battalion.
Halcombe won a strong personal following for his flamboyant description of cricket and Australian rules football matches.
Halcombe travelled widely throughout the state to interview notable sports personalities and presented his broadcasts in a distinctive humorous style.
He was particularly remembered for his commentary partnerships with Johnnie Moyes and Englishman Arthur Gilligan during English tours to Australia.