Cricketer Ron Draper Died: The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 has a sudden wave of mourning in the cricket world, as the former South African cricketer has died at the age of 98.
Cricketer Ron Draper Died: The cricket world is immersed in mourning between the Champions Trophy 2025 being played in Pakistan and Dubai. On 1 February, news came that former South African batsman Ron Draper died at the age of 98. Draper breathed his last in Gekbarha. Draper was the world’s oldest living Test cricketer, he played two Test matches against Australia in 1950. His career did not last long, although he performed well in domestic cricket.
After Draper’s death, now 96 years Neil Harvey has become the oldest living Test cricketer. Draper also faced Harvey during his career. Earlier, Norman Gordon and John Watkins of South Africa were also the oldest Test cricketers.
A century was scored in debut, 11 centuries
Draper scored a century in 1945 on his 19th birthday for Eastern Province, making a century in first class cricket. He also played a role as a wicketkeeper in 1946–47. The batsman played a total of 48 first class matches in his career, scoring 3290 runs in 85 innings scoring 11 centuries and 11 half-centuries, with 177 runs, with 177 runs. He caught 32 catches and also stumping 10.
How was Ron Draper’s Test Career?
During the tour of Australia in 1949–50, Draper played the role of wicketkeeper of South African XI. After this, he got an opportunity to open for Eastern Province against Australia, in which he hit 86 runs. On that tour, South Africa lost the first 3 Tests against Australia and Ron Draper got a chance in the fourth match. This was his debut match. In which Draper scored 15 runs, this match was drawing. In the fifth Test, he scored 7 and 3 runs and South Africa lost by an innings.