Berry John Versfeld (born 26 September 1943) was a first-class South African cricketer who played for Natal and South African Universities and was nominated Cricketer of the Year by the South African Cricket Annual in 1966.[1][2]
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Berry John Versfeld | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 26 September 1943 Ladybrand, South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right arm leg break | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1961–1970 | Natal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1961–1965 | South African Universities | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: CricketArchive, 2 January 2011 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Versfeld was educated at Estcourt High School and at the University of Natal.
Versfeld's first class debut was for Natal against the touring New Zealand team in November 1961, aged 18. He represented both Natal and South African Universities that season, scoring 206 runs at an average of 25.75.[3] The 1962/3 season was a lean season for Versfeld and in the next three seasons he was selected to represent the South African Universities XI each year. He also made one appearance for Natal during this period. In December 1965, with his university studies behind him, he became a regular player for Natal until the end of the 1969/70 season, taking over the captaincy of the team from Jackie McGlew during the 1967/8 season. He retained the captaincy until the start of the 1969/70 season.
Versfeld also played baseball and in 1966 was offered a spot on a Pittsburgh Pirates minor league farm team, but he turned the opportunity down in order to concentrate on cricket in South Africa.[4][5] After he completed his first class cricket career, he continued his education at Harvard, graduating with an MBA and he settled in the United States.[5]
References
edit- ^ "South African Cricket Annual Cricketers of the Year". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 20 October 2009.
- ^ Chettle, GA - The South African Cricket Annual, South African Cricket Association, 1966
- ^ "Lists of matches and detailed statistics for Berry Versfeld". Cricket Archive. Retrieved 22 December 2010.
- ^ Mike Morgan (2006). "Somebox - pollution-fueled commentry - issue 42". Archived from the original on 31 March 2012. Retrieved 29 August 2011.
- ^ a b "Bio - Berry Versfeld". Travelong of Summit. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2010.