Ron Draper, South Africa’s Oldest Test Cricketer, Dies at 98

Ron Draper, the oldest living Test cricketer, has passed away at the age of 98 in Gqeberha, his family confirmed on Friday.

Draper, a top-order batsman and occasional wicketkeeper, represented South Africa in two Test matches against Australia in 1950. Although his international career was brief, he remained a respected figure in the country’s cricketing history.

With his passing, former Australian cricketer Neil Harvey, aged 96, now holds the title of the oldest living Test player. Draper follows in the footsteps of previous South African record-holders Norman Gordon, who lived to 103, and John Watkins, who was 98 when he passed away in 2021.

Born on December 24, 1926, Draper made an immediate impact in first-class cricket, scoring a century on debut for Eastern Province against Orange Free State on his 19th birthday.

His performance against the touring Australians in the 1949/50 season, where he scored 86 for Eastern Province, earned him a call-up for the final two Tests of the series. However, he managed only 25 runs across three innings. Meanwhile, a young Neil Harvey, at just 21, made centuries in both matches, showcasing the start of a legendary career.

Draper continued playing first-class cricket until the 1959/60 season, finishing with a strong batting average of 41.64. In the 1952/53 season, he made history by scoring a century before lunch in his first two matches. In the second of those games, against Border, he added another century in the second innings, becoming the first player to score two centuries in a single match in South Africa’s long-running Currie Cup competition.

Draper passed away in a retirement home in Gqeberha on Tuesday. His death was confirmed by his son-in-law, Neil Thomson, on Friday.

His legacy as a talented batsman and part of South Africa’s cricketing history will be remembered.

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