John Ward (New Zealand cricketer)

John Thomas Ward (born 11 March 1937 in Timaru, Canterbury) is a former New Zealand cricketer who played as a wicket-keeper in 8 Tests from 1964 to 1968. Ward's Test captain John Reid said, "He was easily the best wicketkeeper in New Zealand in his time, but was plagued by injury."[1]

For the Kent cricketer, see John Ward (Kent cricketer).

John Ward
Personal information
Full nameJohn Thomas Ward
Born (1937-03-11) 11 March 1937
Timaru, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 99)21 February 1964 v South Africa
Last Test7 March 1968 v India
Career statistics
Competition Test First-class
Matches 8 95
Runs scored 75 1,117
Batting average 12.50 12.41
100s/50s 0/0 0/1
Top score 35* 54*
Balls bowled - -
Wickets - -
Bowling average - -
5 wickets in innings - -
10 wickets in match - -
Best bowling - -
Catches/stumpings 16/1 227/27
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 1 April 2017

Cricket career

Ward made his first-class debut for South Island against North Island in a trial match for the 1958 tour of England.[2] He took five catches in the first innings, and was selected as Eric Petrie's deputy on the tour. He made his Plunket Shield debut for Canterbury in 1959-60, and was selected to tour South Africa in 1961-62, where he served as deputy to Artie Dick.[3]

He finally made his Test debut in 1963-64 in the First Test against the South African touring team,[4] but then lost his place to Dick, who was a superior batsman. He replaced Dick for the Third Test against Pakistan in New Zealand in 1964-65, and went on the tour of India and Pakistan in 1965 as the sole wicket-keeper. He made his highest Test score of 35 not out in the First Test against India, when he and Richard Collinge put on 61 for the last wicket,[5] but injury forced him out after the Indian leg of the tour, and Dick again replaced him.[6] Later that year, in England, Ward returned to the side, replacing Dick for the Third Test. His last Test was the Fourth Test against India in 1967-68.

He continued to play for Canterbury until the end of the 1970-71 season. He scored his only first-class fifty against Wellington in 1969-70 when, batting at number five, he made 54 not out.[7]

His son Barry kept wicket for Canterbury in the 1986-87 season.[8]

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References
  1. Joseph Romanos, John Reid: A Cricketing Life, Hodder Moa Beckett, Auckland, 2000, p. 216.
  2. "North Island v South Island 1957-58". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  3. Piddington, Stu (11 February 2016). "Wicketkeeper Ward first 'South Canterbury Sportsperson of Year' 50 years ago". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  4. "New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington 1963-64". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  5. India v New Zealand, Madras 1964-65
  6. Wisden 1966, p. 896.
  7. "Wellington v Canterbury 1969-70". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  8. Barry Ward at Cricket Archive
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