(The Post News)- Ron Draper, South Africa’s oldest living Test cricketer, has passed away at the age of 98 years and 63 days. His family confirmed his death on Friday, stating that he passed away in a retirement home in Gqeberha on Tuesday.
Draper, a top-order batsman and occasional wicket keeper, represented South Africa in two Test matches against Australia in 1950. His selection followed an impressive innings of 86 for Eastern Province against the touring Australians during the 1949/50 season.
However, he struggled at the international level, managing only 25 runs across three innings. By contrast, Australian batsman Neil Harvey, who was just beginning a decorated Test career, scored centuries in both matches.
With Draper’s passing, Harvey, now 96, becomes the world’s oldest living Test cricketer. Interestingly, South Africa has previously held this distinction, with Norman Gordon living to 103 before passing in 2016, followed by John Watkins, who died at 98 in 2021.
Born on 24 December 1926, Draper made an immediate impact in first-class cricket, scoring a century on his debut for Eastern Province against Orange Free State—on his 19th birthday. He enjoyed a solid domestic career, playing until the 1959/60 season and maintaining a respectable first-class average of 41.64.
Among his career highlights was an extraordinary feat in the 1952/53 Currie Cup season. Draper notched up a century before lunch in each of his first two matches, and in a clash against Border, he became the first player to score twin centuries in a single Currie Cup match.
Draper’s legacy as a determined and talented cricketer remains etched in South African cricket history.
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