The former New Zealand leg spinner Jack Alabaster died at the age of 93 in Cromwell on April 09, Tuesday, one week before the New Zealand tour of Pakistan 2024 which starts on April 18.
New Zealand Cricketer Jack Alabaster dies at 93
Former New Zealand cricketer Jack Alabaster passed away at the age of 93. He was one of the finest spinners to have played for the Blackcaps. After making his test debut in the first test of the New Zealand tour of Pakistan in 1955 where the hosts won the match by an innings and 1 run. Since then, he played 21 tests for the national side.
He picked up 49 wickets between 1955 and 1972. He was part of the New Zealand’s first tour Test wins. He was on tours to India and Pakistan in 1955-56, England in 1958, South Africa in 1961-62 and West Indies in 1971-72.
He took 22 wickets in five Tests in the series in South Africa and helped the side to draw the first series against Proteas men. He took seven wickets in the first match of the series where New Zealand lost by 30 runs.
Representing Otago in domestic cricket, in all 143 first-class games and bagged 500 wickets.
Alabaster toured West Indies in 1971-72 where he was 41 years old. It was his last series in which he bagged only one wicket in two tests and it was of the legendary Gary Sobers.
His Achilles tendon injury ended his tour prematurely and he decided to retire a few days later. After drawing curtains on his cricketing career, Alabaster served as the principal of Kingswell High School in Invercargill. He became a Rectore of Southland Boys High School in Invercargill in 1981.
