Murray Chapple Explained

Murray Chapple
Fullname:Murray Ernest Chapple
Birth Date:25 July 1930
Birth Place:Christchurch, New Zealand
Death Place:Hamilton, New Zealand
International:true
Internationalspan:1953–1966
Country:New Zealand
Testdebutagainst:South Africa
Testdebutdate:13 March
Testdebutyear:1953
Testcap:61
Lasttestdate:25 February
Lasttestagainst:England
Lasttestyear:1966
Batting:Right-handed
Bowling:Left-arm medium
Slow left-arm orthodox
Columns:2
Column1:Test
Matches1:14
Runs1:497
Bat Avg1:19.11
100S/50S1:0/3
Top Score1:76
Deliveries1:248
Wickets1:1
Bowl Avg1:84.00
Fivefor1:0
Tenfor1:0
Best Bowling1:1/24
Catches/Stumpings1:10/–
Column2:First-class
Matches2:119
Runs2:5,344
Bat Avg2:28.88
100S/50S2:4/31
Top Score2:165
Deliveries2:11,064
Wickets2:142
Bowl Avg2:25.06
Fivefor2:4
Tenfor2:0
Best Bowling2:5/24
Catches/Stumpings2:67/–
Date:1 April
Year:2017
Source:https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/murray-chapple-36602 Cricinfo

Murray Ernest Chapple (25 July 1930 – 31 July 1985) was a New Zealand cricketer. He played 14 Test matches over 13 years, scoring three fifties with a highest score of 76. He captained New Zealand in one Test in 1966.

Playing career

Chapple was a right-handed middle-order batsman and left-arm medium-pace bowler who bowled left-arm spin later in his career.[1] In a first-class career that began when he was 19 and ended when he was 41, Chapple played for Canterbury (1949–50, 1952–53 to 1960–61) and Central Districts (1950–51 to 1951–52, 1962–63 to 1965–66), toured South Africa with the New Zealand teams in 1953–54 and 1961–62, and captained New Zealand in the First Test against England in 1965–66.[2]

Chapple came to national prominence in 1952–53 when, after four Plunket Shield seasons in which his highest score was 79, he scored 165 and 88 opening the batting for Canterbury against the touring South Africans.[3] He was selected for the Second Test against South Africa, and the tour of South Africa the following season. His best bowling figures were 5 for 24 for Canterbury against Auckland in 1955–56.[4]

After a leg injury forced him out of the Second Test in 1965–66, he retired.[5]

Administrative career

While managing the New Zealand team that toured West Indies in 1971–72, Chapple played in the match against Windward Islands when injuries reduced the side to ten fit players, but the match was ruined by rain and he did not bat, bowl or field. His management of the tour was praised by Henry Blofeld in Wisden: "He did a lot to relieve his players of the many different pressures which were upon them and was always a wise counsellor. He must share the credit for the success of the tour."[6]

Chapple also managed the New Zealand side that toured India and Pakistan in 1976–77. He was appointed to manage the team to England in 1986, but died before the tour began.[7]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Murray Chapple . Cricinfo . 12 July 2024.
  2. Web site: New Zealand vs England, 1st Test at Christchurch, Feb 25 1966 . Cricinfo . 12 July 2024.
  3. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/20/20540.html Canterbury v South Africans 1952–53
  4. https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/21/21837.html Canterbury v Auckland 1955–56
  5. Brittenden . R. T. . Dick Brittenden. Murray Chapple served cricket in many roles . Press . 7 August 1985 . 31 .
  6. [Henry Blofeld]
  7. Wisden 1986, p. 1209.