Ron Murray (cricketer)

Ronald McKenzie Murray (15 June 1927 – 8 April 1951) was a New Zealand cricketer who played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1947 to 1951.

Ron Murray
Personal information
Full name
Ronald McKenzie Murray
Born(1927-06-15)15 June 1927
Wellington, New Zealand
Died8 April 1951(1951-04-08) (aged 23)
Christchurch, New Zealand
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-pace
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1946-47 to 1950-51Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 17
Runs scored 399
Batting average 17.34
100s/50s 0/1
Top score 52*
Balls bowled 3364
Wickets 59
Bowling average 23.93
5 wickets in innings 1
10 wickets in match 0
Best bowling 5/85
Catches/stumpings 10/0
Source: Cricinfo, 24 May 2018

Ron Murray was a right-arm medium-pace bowler and useful lower-order batsman.[1] He first played for Wellington in February 1947 at the age of 19, and the following month he opened the bowling and took 3 for 43 and 5 for 85 for Wellington against the touring MCC. His victims in the second innings were Laurie Fishlock, Bill Edrich, Denis Compton, Wally Hammond and Godfrey Evans.[2]

He was the second-most successful bowler in the Plunket Shield in 1947-48, taking 13 wickets at an average of 28.00.[3] He was less successful in 1948-49, and although he took part in the trial matches, he failed to win a place in the New Zealand team for England in 1949.[4]

Murray returned to form in 1949-50 and was again the second-most successful bowler in the Plunket Shield, taking 13 wickets at an average of 14.61, and helping Wellington win the championship for the first time since 1935-36.[5] In the first match he took a hat-trick to reduce Otago's first innings from 116 for 2 to 116 for 5; Wellington won by seven wickets.[6]

Murray was a journalist for the Evening Post in Wellington.[4] He was considered a likely Test player, but he died aged 23 on 8 April 1951 from injuries he received when he fell while visiting a sick friend at Hanmer Springs in Canterbury.[4]

Beginning with the 1951-52 season the Ron Murray Cup has been awarded annually to the leading wicket-taker in Wellington senior club cricket.[7][8]

References

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  1. ^ "Ron Murray". Cricinfo. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  2. ^ "Wellington v MCC 1946-47". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Bowling in Plunket Shield 1947-48". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Wisden 1952, p. 959.
  5. ^ "Bowling in Plunket Shield 1949-50". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  6. ^ "Wellington v Otago 1949-50". CricketArchive. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  7. ^ "Award and Trophies". Yumpu. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
  8. ^ "Club Awards Recognise Season's Best". Cricket Wellington. Retrieved 24 May 2018.
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