Chris Duckworth Cricketer

Christopher Anthony Russell Duckworth is a former amateur South African cricketer who played in two Tests in 1957. He also played hockey for Rhodesia, rugby for Natal U19 and league tennis in Johannesburg. Both Tests were won by South Africa, the 4th at the Wanderers and the 5th at St. Georges Park, Port Elizabeth. Captain Clive van Ryneveld presenting him with a commemorative stump at the conclusion of each contest. In first-class cricket, Duckworth played two seasons from 1952-53 for Natal, this while at University in Pietermaritzburg, scoring a century in his second match. In 1954-55 he returned to Rhodesia and in the mid-summer of 1963 was asked by the Rhodesian Selectors to spearhead the National side, an honour he declined as he and his family were shortly due to emigrate to South Africa, where, in Johannesburg, at John Waite's invitation, he played for his Wanderers side in the '65-'66 season. He was reserve wicketkeeper on two overseas tours, both to England, in 1955 and 1960, but was not picked for any of the Tests on either tour. He hit his highest first-class score, 158, against Northamptonshire on the 1955 tour. Jack Cheetham, captain of the 1955 tourists in his book I Declare wrote: "Duckworth played some beautiful innings, the one at Northampton possibly the most correct of the tour". In the 33 of the 77 first-class games he was selected for South Africa, he was on the winning side on 31 occasions, both defeats occurring on the 1960 Tour. Once at Northampton after scoring 51 not out in a second innings total of 101 for 7 before an adventurous declaration by McGlew. The other on a ghastly wicket at Bristol.