Donald Murdoch (cricketer)

Donald Murdoch
Personal information
Full name
Donald Howden Murdoch
Born(1923-03-27)27 March 1923
Lawrence, Otago, New Zealand
Died28 February 2014(2014-02-28) (aged 90)
Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand
BattingLeft-handed
BowlingRight-arm legbreak
RelationsGeoff Murdoch (son)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1943/44–1944/45Otago
Source: Cricinfo, 18 May 2016

Donald Howden Murdoch (27 March 1923 – 28 February 2014) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played three first-class matches for Otago in the 1943–44 and 1944–45 seasons.[1][2]

Murdoch was born at Lawrence in Otago in 1923 and was educated at Kings High School in Dunedin.[3] He graduated from the University of Otago in 1944 with a science degree.[4] He made his representative debut for Otago in a Christmas Day fixture against Canterbury in 1943, opening the batting and making scores of 28 and 22 in a match Otago lost by an innings. His other two top-level appearances came the following season in matches against Canterbury and Wellington. He scored a total of 78 runs, with the 28 he scored on debut his highest first-class score.[2]

As well as cricket, Murdoch played rugby as a first five-eighth. He was described as "outstanding" as a school's player and considered as promising as his older brother Ian.[5] [6] He played representative rugby for Otago after World War II―a 1947 newspaper report describing his display against Wairarapa as "brilliant", including a "spectacular break" which led to a try.[7]

Murdoch worked as an industrial chemist and was the general manager of the Southland Co-operative Phosphate Company in the 1980s.[8][9] He died at Dunedin in 2014 aged 90.[1] His son, Geoff Murdoch, also played for Otago, making five first-class appearances for the side in the 1974–75 season.[10]

  1. ^ a b "Donald Murdoch". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b "Donald Murdoch". CricketArchive. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  3. ^ McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 97. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2
  4. ^ University of Otago, Otago Daily Times, issue 25534, 13 May 1944, p. 6. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  5. ^ School rugby, Evening Star, issue 23620, 5 July 1940, p. 9. ([https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/ESD19400705.2.94 Available online] at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  6. ^ Player of great promise, Evening Star, issue 23645, 3 August 1940, p. 2 (supplement). (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  7. ^ Otago Beats Wairarapa In Rugby Match, Wanganui Chronicle, 4 September 1947, p. 6. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  8. ^ Armed Forces: Appeals against service, Otago Daily Times, issue 25716, 12 December 1944, p. 3 (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  9. ^ National council for agricultural co-ops, The Press, 24 December 1982, p. 13. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 2 June 2023.)
  10. ^ Geoff Murdoch, CricketArchive. Retrieved 2 June 2023. (subscription required)