Eric Dempster
 Eric Dempster in 1953 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Eric William Dempster | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 January 1925 Wellington, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 15 August 2011 (aged 86) Dunedin, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Slow left-arm orthodox | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 62) | 13 March 1953 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Test | 5 February 1954 v South Africa | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1947/48–1960/61 | Wellington | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Umpiring information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ODIs umpired | 3 (1974–1976) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Eric William Dempster MBE (25 January 1925 – 15 August 2011) was a New Zealand cricketer who played in five Test matches in 1953 and 1954, before becoming an international umpire.
Cricket career
[edit]A left-arm spinner and useful lower-order batsman, Dempster played first-class cricket for Wellington from 1947–48 to 1960–61. His best first-class bowling figures of 5 wickets for 46 runs came in the match against Orange Free State at Bloemfontein in 1953–54.[1] He scored his only century, 105, for Wellington against Canterbury at Wellington in the 1956–57 Plunket Shield.[2]
He made his Test debut in the Second Test against South Africa in Auckland in 1952–53,[3] and toured South Africa the following season, playing in four of the five Tests.[1] His best performance in Tests was in the Fourth Test in 1953–54 in Johannesburg: he made 21 not out batting at number eight in the first innings then, when New Zealand followed on, he opened and top-scored with 47 in the second innings.[4]
After cricket
[edit]Dempster became an umpire and officiated in several of Otago's home first-class and one-day matches from 1971–72 to 1979–80. He also umpired three One Day International matches in Dunedin and Christchurch between 1973–74 and 1975–76.[5]
Dempster worked in Dunedin as the manager of the artificial limb service which was attached to Dunedin Hospital.[1] In the 1986 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to the disabled and cricket.[6] He died in Dunedin on 15 August 2011.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Wisden 2012, p. 190.
- ^ "Wellington v Canterbury 1956-57". CricketArchive. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "2nd Test, Auckland, March 13-17, 1953". Cricinfo. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "South Africa vs New Zealand, 4th Test at Johannesburg, Jan 29 1954". Cricinfo. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
- ^ "Lists of matches and detailed statistics for Eric Dempster". CricketArchive. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ "No. 50553". The London Gazette (3rd supplement). 14 June 1986. p. 32.