Donald Murdoch (cricketer)
Personal information | |
---|---|
Full name | Donald Howden Murdoch |
Born | Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand | 27 March 1923
Died | 28 February 2014 Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | (aged 90)
Batting | Left-handed |
Bowling | Right-arm legbreak |
Relations | Geoff Murdoch (son) |
Domestic team information | |
Years | Team |
1943/44–1944/45 | Otago |
Source: Cricinfo, 18 May 2016 |
Donald Howden Murdoch (27 March 1923 – 28 February 2014) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played three first-class matches for Otago in the 1943–44 and 1944–45 seasons.[1][2]
Murdoch was born at Lawrence in Otago in 1923 and was educated at Kings High School in Dunedin.[3] He graduated from the University of Otago in 1944 with a science degree.[4] He made his representative debut for Otago in a Christmas Day fixture against Canterbury in 1943, opening the batting and making scores of 28 and 22 in a match Otago lost by an innings. His other two top-level appearances came the following season in matches against Canterbury and Wellington. He scored a total of 78 runs, with the 28 he scored on debut his highest first-class score.[2]
As well as cricket, Murdoch played rugby as a first five-eighth. He was described as "outstanding" as a school's player and considered as promising as his older brother Ian.[5] [6] He played representative rugby for Otago after World War II―a 1947 newspaper report describing his display against Wairarapa as "brilliant", including a "spectacular break" which led to a try.[7]
Murdoch worked as an industrial chemist and was the general manager of the Southland Co-operative Phosphate Company in the 1980s.[8][9] He died at Dunedin in 2014 aged 90.[1] His son, Geoff Murdoch, also played for Otago, making five first-class appearances for the side in the 1974–75 season.[10]
References
- ^ a b "Donald Murdoch". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ a b "Donald Murdoch". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
- ^ McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 97. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2
- ^ University of Otago, Otago Daily Times, issue 25534, 13 May 1944, p. 6. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ School rugby, Evening Star, issue 23620, 5 July 1940, p. 9. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19400705.2.94 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ Player of great promise, Evening Star, issue 23645, 3 August 1940, p. 2 (supplement). (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ Otago Beats Wairarapa In Rugby Match, Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1947, p. 6. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ Armed Forces: Appeals against service, Otago Daily Times, issue 25716, 12 December 1944, p. 3 (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ National council for agricultural co-ops, The Press, 24 December 1982, p. 13. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
- ^ Geoff Murdoch, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 June 2023. (subscription required)