Graeme Watson (cricketer)

Graeme Donald Watson (8 March 1945 – 24 April 2020[1]) was an Australian cricketer who played in five Test matches and two One Day Internationals (ODIs) between 1966 and 1972.

Graeme Watson
Personal information
Full name
Graeme Donald Watson
Born(1945-03-08)8 March 1945
Kew, Victoria, Australia
Died24 April 2020(2020-04-24) (aged 75)
Burradoo, New South Wales, Australia
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium
RoleBowler
International information
National side
Test debut (cap 241)31 December 1966 v South Africa
Last Test10 August 1972 v England
ODI debut (cap 16)24 August 1972 v England
Last ODI26 August 1972 v England
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1964/65–1970/71Victoria
1971/72–1974/75Western Australia
1975/76–1976/77New South Wales
Career statistics
Competition Test ODI FC LA
Matches 5 2 107 18
Runs scored 97 11 4,674 315
Batting average 10.77 11.00 32.68 22.50
100s/50s 0/1 0/0 5/27 0/2
Top score 50 11* 176 99
Balls bowled 552 48 11,605 784
Wickets 6 2 186 27
Bowling average 42.33 14.00 25.31 20.29
5 wickets in innings 0 0 8 1
10 wickets in match 0 0 0 0
Best bowling 2/67 2/28 6/61 5/20
Catches/stumpings 1/– 0/– 73/– 7/–
Source: Cricinfo, 3 September 2015

Cricket career

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Watson made his first-class cricket debut for Victoria in 1964–65 before moving to Western Australia from 1971–72 to 1974–75, and then to New South Wales in 1976–77, when he became the first man to play Sheffield Shield cricket for three states.[2] He played minor matches in World Series Cricket in 1977–78 and 1978–79.

Watson's highest first-class score came for the Australians against Hampshire County Cricket Club during Australia's tour of England in 1972. He and Keith Stackpole put on 301 for the first wicket, Watson scoring 176 in 234 minutes with 26 fours and five sixes, and taking the Australians to victory by nine wickets.[3]

In all first-class cricket he scored 4674 runs at 32.68, with seven centuries, and took 186 wickets at 25.31, with five wickets or more in an innings eight times and best figures of 6 for 61 against South Australia in Melbourne in 1965–66.[4]

Football career

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He also played 18 games of Australian rules football for Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1964 and 1965.[5]

Personal life

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Watson was a qualified architect and worked in sports stadium management, including the Sydney Olympic precinct. He had four marriages.[1]

He died on 24 April 2020 from cancer.[6]

References

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  1. ^ a b Chappell, Ian. "Former Aussie cricketer passes away after cancer battle". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 25 April 2020.
  2. ^ Cashman, p. 566.
  3. ^ Wisden 1973, p. 308.
  4. ^ "Victoria v South Australia in 1965/66". CricketArchive.
  5. ^ The Encyclopedia of AFL 2005, p. 759.
  6. ^ "Former Australia allrounder Graeme Watson dies at 75". ESPNcricinfo. 25 April 2020. Retrieved 25 April 2020.

Sources

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  • Cashman, R. (ed.) (1996) The Oxford Companion to Australian Cricket, Oxford: Melbourne. ISBN 0195535758.
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