Ian Snook

Ian Snook
Personal information
Full name
Ian Robert Snook
Born (1950-05-07) 7 May 1950 (age 74)
Dunedin, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-spin
RoleBatsman
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1971/72–1987/88Central Districts
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A
Matches 40 22
Runs scored 1,344 452
Batting average 21.00 22.60
100s/50s 1/5 0/4
Top score 100* 65
Balls bowled 132 2
Wickets 1 0
Bowling average 107.00
5 wickets in innings 0
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 1/8
Catches/stumpings 23/– 8/–
Source: Cricinfo, 6 September 2024

Ian Robert Snook (born 7 May 1950) is a former New Zealand cricketer who played for Central Districts between 1972 and 1988.[1]

Snook was born in Dunedin. He scored his maiden first-class century in his last first-class match in 1987–88, when he captained Central Districts.[2] He captained the New Zealand Under-23 cricket team in their annual first-class match in February 1972.[3] He also played for Taranaki and Wairarapa in the Hawke Cup between 1968 and 1989.[4] In October 2024 he was awarded life membership of the Taranaki Cricket Association for his contribution to the game in the Taranaki region as player, coach and administrator.[5]

Snook holds the unusual record for the most runs conceded by a bowler in a one-over spell in first-class cricket. Playing for Central Districts against the touring England team at Palmerston North during the 1983–84 season, Snook's only over cost 32 runs, courtesy of some big hitting by Ian Botham.[6][7]

Snook was also a talented rugby player, representing Taranaki at first five, and then Wairarapa Bush, in the late 1970s. He has coached Clifton's Senior A side in the Taranaki club rugby competition and now coaches Francis Douglas Memorial College's 1st XV along with former Taranaki hooker Shane MacDonald. Snook wrote a weekly sports column in the Taranaki Daily News until December 2017.[8]

  1. ^ "Ian Snook". CricketArchive. Retrieved 28 February 2010.
  2. ^ "Central Districts v Northern Districts 1987-88". Cricinfo. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Otago v New Zealand Under-23s 1971-72". CricketArchive. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  4. ^ "Hawke Cup Matches played by Ian Snook". CricketArchive. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Cricket: Life membership for centurion". Sports News Taranaki. 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.
  6. ^ Brodribb, Gerald, "Next Man In", Souvenir Press, London, 1995
  7. ^ "Central Districts v England XI 1983-84". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  8. ^ Snook, Ian (6 December 2017). "Snook signs off with his best cricketers". Taranaki Daily News. Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 25 June 2023.