New Zealand cricket team in South Africa in 1953–54
The New Zealand national cricket team toured South Africa from October 1953 to February 1954 and played a five match Test series against the South Africa national cricket team. South Africa won the Test series 4–0. South Africa were captained by Jack Cheetham and New Zealand by Geoff Rabone.[1]
Team
- Geoff Rabone (captain)
- Bert Sutcliffe (vice-captain)
- John Beck
- Bill Bell
- Bob Blair
- Murray Chapple
- Eric Dempster
- Ian Leggat
- Tony MacGibbon
- Lawrie Miller
- Frank Mooney
- Guy Overton
- Matt Poore
- John Reid
The manager was the former Test batsman Jack Kerr. The four players who had not yet played Test cricket – Beck, Bell, Leggat and Overton – all played their first Tests on the tour.
The average age of the team was 25. With the aim of establishing a high standard of fielding, some older or slower players were overlooked, including the spinners Tom Burtt and Alex Moir, and the opening batsman Gordon Leggat.[2] Leggat later joined the team for the Australian leg of the tour, replacing the injured Rabone.
Test series summary
- 1st Test at Sahara Stadium Kingsmead, Durban – South Africa won by an innings and 58 runs[3]
- 2nd Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 132 runs[4]
- 3rd Test at Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town – match drawn[5]
- 4th Test at Ellis Park Stadium, Johannesburg – South Africa won by 9 wickets[6]
- 5th Test at Sahara Oval St George's, Port Elizabeth – South Africa won by 5 wickets[7]
References
- ↑ "New Zealand in South Africa 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ↑ Don Neely & Richard Payne, Men in White: The History of New Zealand International Cricket, 1894–1985, Moa, Auckland, 1986, p. 216.
- ↑ "South Africa v New Zealand, First Test 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ↑ "South Africa v New Zealand, Second Test 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ↑ "South Africa v New Zealand, Third Test 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ↑ "South Africa v New Zealand, Fourth Test 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
- ↑ "South Africa v New Zealand, Fifth Test 1953–54". CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
External links
- New Zealand in Australia and South Africa 1953-54 at Cricket Archive
- Martin Williamson, "Beyond the call of duty" at Cricinfo
Further reading
- Dick Brittenden, Silver Fern on the Veld, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1954
- Richard Boock, The Last Everyday Hero: The Bert Sutcliffe Story, Longacre, Auckland, 2010, pp. 18–26, 101–108
- John Reid, Sword of Willow, A.H. & A.W. Reed, Wellington, 1962, pp. 69–89
- Don Neely & Richard Payne, Men in White: The History of New Zealand International Cricket, 1894–1985, Moa, Auckland, 1986, pp. 216–234
- "New Zealanders in South Africa, 1953-54", Wisden, Sporting Handbooks, London, 1955, pp. 786–811