Frank Cameron
Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Full name | Francis James Cameron | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Dunedin, Otago, New Zealand | 1 June 1932|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 2 January 2023 Christchurch, New Zealand | (aged 90)|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Batting | Right-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowling | Right-arm fast medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
National side |
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Test debut (cap 90) | 8 December 1961 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Test | 22 June 1965 v England | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1952/53–1966/67 | Otago | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017 |
Francis James Cameron
Cameron took three five-wicket-hauls in an innings during his Test career for New Zealand, two of them during his first tour against
Early life and family
Cameron was born in
International career
Cameron made his Test debut at
After thirteen wicketless overs in the second innings, Cameron was not required to bat as New Zealand batted out 68 overs for the draw. Cameron got a five-wicket-haul in the next match as well, taking five for 48 as South Africa were bowled out for 190, 195 behind New Zealand's first innings total. Cameron was then part of an unbeaten 49-run tenth-wicket partnership with wicket-keeper Artie Dick, before New Zealand declared, setting a target of 408 for South Africa to chase in a little over a day of the four-day match. After Alabaster had taken the first three wickets, South Africa were 315 for 5 before Cameron got his first wicket of the innings – dismissing Kim Elgie for 12. Still, he bowled economically, conceding 42 from his 26 overs, with only captain John Reid having a lower economy rate, and with the help of Reid's two wickets at the end South Africa were bowled out for 335, giving New Zealand their first Test win away from home.
With the series tied at 1–1 with two matches to go, New Zealand had a shout at gaining their first series win. That was quickly quenched – Cameron bowled 30 wicketless overs in the fourth Test at the Wanderers, and New Zealand's batting yielded twice as South Africa registered a win by an innings and 51 runs. Still, New Zealand drew the series, after Cameron took the final wicket. His match bowling figures then read 28.5–7–94–2, but with the final ball of the over he had South Africa's number 11 Harry Bromfield caught. Bromfield had been batting for the past half hour without scoring a run, though he had been in a partnership of 14 with 55 runs required for the win or 21 minutes required for the draw. Thus, Cameron finished his maiden Test series with 20 wickets at a bowling average of 24.65.
Cameron's next series was against
South Africa came to tour New Zealand the next summer, but in three drawn Tests Cameron failed to take more than three wickets in any innings, and ended with nine wickets at the average of 35.22. Another 0–0 series followed the next summer, against
New Zealand played seven Tests on the subcontinent that summer, four in India and three in Pakistan, but Cameron only played one of the India games – the final Test at the
The tour of Pakistan saw New Zealand lose the first Test by an innings and 64 runs after falling to 79 in their second innings, and Cameron was brought into the team in place of
Cameron went on one last tour – aged 33, he went to England in the
Post-playing career
Cameron served as a New Zealand selector from 1968 to 1986, and as chairman of the selection panel from 1975 to 1986.[2] He also served as match referee in three Tests and five One Day Internationals.
A schoolteacher, Cameron rose to become deputy principal of Otago Boys' High School.[1] In 1983, he married Linley Rose Waters.[1]
In the 1987 New Year Honours, Cameron was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to cricket.[3]
Cameron died in Christchurch on 2 January 2023, aged 90.[4][5]
References
- ^ ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
- Cricketer, November 1986, p. 69.
- ^ "No. 50766". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 31 December 1986. p. 34.
- ^ "Ex-New Zealand cricketer and chairman of selectors Frank Cameron dies, aged 90". Stuff. 4 January 2023. Retrieved 4 January 2023.
- ^ "Francis Cameron obituary". The Press. 5 January 2023. Retrieved 5 January 2023.