James Bernard Clark (25 September 1910 – 21 January 2003), known as Bernie Clark, was a New Zealand cricketer. He played three first-class matches for Otago between the 1933–34 and 1934–35 seasons.[1]

Bernie Clark
Personal information
Full name
James Bernard Clark
Born(1910-09-25)25 September 1910
Dunedin, New Zealand
Died21 January 2003(2003-01-21) (aged 92)
Auckland, New Zealand
BattingLeft-handed
RoleWicket-keeper
RelationsJames Clark Baker (father)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1933/34–1934/35Otago
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 7 May 2016

Clark was born at Dunedin in 1910 and educated at Otago Boys' High School.[2] His father, James Clark Baker, played 41 first-class matches for Otago from 1889–90 to 1906–07.[3]

Clark played as a wicket-keeper in club cricket for the Old Boys side, making his First Grade club debut during the 1932–33 season. He was described as being "amongst the best wicket-keepers in Dunedin" who kept "soundly" and showed "great promise".[4] Clark's batting was considered a strength[5] and he made his debut for Otago against Wellington in the side's final Plunket Shield match of the 1933–34 season. Playing as the side's wicket-keeper, he scored 25 runs in the first innings of the match, his highest first-class score, and retained his place for the first two matches of the following season before losing his place to Francis Toomey for the final match of the 1934–35 season.[6] He scored a total of 63 runs and took five catches in his three first-class matches.[7]

Professionally, Clark worked as an accountant. He died at Auckland in 2003 aged 92; following his death obituaries were published in the New Zealand Cricket Almanack and by Wisden.[2]

References

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  1. ^ "James Clark". ESPNCricinfo. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
  2. ^ a b McCarron A (2010) New Zealand Cricketers 1863/64–2010, p. 33. Cardiff: The Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians. ISBN 978 1 905138 98 2
  3. ^ James Baker, CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2021. (subscription required)
  4. ^ Cricket, Evening Star, issue 21559, 3 November 1933, p. 4. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 17 June 2023.)
  5. ^ Plunket Shield Cricket, Evening Star, issue 21896, 6 December 1934, p. 13. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 17 June 2023.)
  6. ^ Plunket Shield, Evening Star, issue 21956, 16 February 1935, p. 8. (Available online at Papers Past. Retrieved 17 June 2023.)
  7. ^ Bernie Clark, CricketArchive. Retrieved 1 January 2021. (subscription required)
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