John Thomas Ward (11 March 1937 – 12 January 2021) was a New Zealand cricketer who played as a wicket-keeper in eight Test matches between 1964 and 1968. Ward's Test captain John Reid said that he was "easily the best wicketkeeper in New Zealand in his time, but was plagued by injury."[1]
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.
Ward 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] He represented South Canterbury in the Hawke Cup from 1960 to 1976.[8]
His son Barry kept wicket for Canterbury in the 1986–87 season.[9] Ward died in Timaru on 12 January 2021 after a short illness, aged 83.[10]
References
^Joseph Romanos, John Reid: A Cricketing Life, Hodder Moa Beckett, Auckland, 2000, p. 216.
^"North Island v South Island 1957-58". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
^Piddington, Stu (11 February 2016). "Wicketkeeper Ward first 'South Canterbury Sportsperson of Year' 50 years ago". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
^"New Zealand v South Africa, Wellington 1963-64". CricketArchive. Retrieved 14 January 2017.
john, ward, zealand, cricketer, kent, cricketer, john, ward, kent, cricketer, john, thomas, ward, march, 1937, january, 2021, zealand, cricketer, played, wicket, keeper, eight, test, matches, between, 1964, 1968, ward, test, captain, john, reid, said, that, ea. For the Kent cricketer see John Ward Kent cricketer John Thomas Ward 11 March 1937 12 January 2021 was a New Zealand cricketer who played as a wicket keeper in eight Test matches between 1964 and 1968 Ward s Test captain John Reid said that he was easily the best wicketkeeper in New Zealand in his time but was plagued by injury 1 John WardPersonal informationFull nameJohn Thomas WardBorn 1937 03 11 11 March 1937Timaru New ZealandDied12 January 2021 2021 01 12 aged 83 Timaru New ZealandBattingRight handedRoleWicket keeperRelationsBarry Ward son International informationNational sideNew Zealand 1964 1968 Test debut cap 99 21 February 1964 v South AfricaLast Test7 March 1968 v IndiaCareer statisticsCompetition Test First classMatches 8 95Runs scored 75 1 117Batting average 12 50 12 41100s 50s 0 0 0 1Top score 35 54 Catches stumpings 16 1 227 27Source CricInfo 1 April 2017Cricket career EditWard 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 Ward 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 He represented South Canterbury in the Hawke Cup from 1960 to 1976 8 His son Barry kept wicket for Canterbury in the 1986 87 season 9 Ward died in Timaru on 12 January 2021 after a short illness aged 83 10 References Edit Joseph Romanos John Reid A Cricketing Life Hodder Moa Beckett Auckland 2000 p 216 North Island v South Island 1957 58 CricketArchive Retrieved 14 January 2017 Piddington Stu 11 February 2016 Wicketkeeper Ward first South Canterbury Sportsperson of Year 50 years ago Stuff co nz Retrieved 12 June 2020 New Zealand v South Africa Wellington 1963 64 CricketArchive Retrieved 14 January 2017 India v New Zealand Madras 1964 65 Wisden 1966 p 896 Wellington v Canterbury 1969 70 CricketArchive Retrieved 14 January 2017 Hawke Cup Matches played by John Ward CricketArchive Retrieved 11 May 2022 Barry Ward at Cricket Archive Former New Zealand wicketkeeper John Ward remembered as a sharp gloveman stuff co nz 13 January 2021 Retrieved 14 January 2021 External links EditJohn Ward at ESPNcricinfo Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John Ward New Zealand cricketer amp oldid 1101363947, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
