Norman Crookes

Norman Samuel Crookes (born 15 November 1935) is a former cricketer who played first-class cricket in South Africa from 1962 to 1970.

Norman Crookes
Personal information
Full nameNorman Samuel Crookes
Born (1935-11-15) 15 November 1935
Renishaw, Natal, South Africa
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm off-spin
RelationsDerek Crookes (son)
Dennis Crookes (brother)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
1962-63 to 1969-70Natal
Career statistics
Competition First-class
Matches 50
Runs scored 1123
Batting average 19.03
100s/50s 0/5
Top score 68
Balls bowled 10,349
Wickets 153
Bowling average 29.33
5 wickets in innings 6
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 8/47
Catches/stumpings 51/0
Source: Cricinfo, 22 March 2018

Norman Crookes was an off-spinner and useful lower-order batsman for Natal. On his first-class debut, in the Currie Cup in 1962-63, he took 5 for 62 and 2 for 48 in Natal's victory over Western Province.[1] He was a steady performer over the next three seasons. His most significant performance was for a South African Colts XI against the touring MCC early in the 1964-65 season, when in difficult circumstances caused by illness to several of the team he scored 60 and 25 and took 2 for 66 and 5 for 102 and almost brought off a surprise victory.[2]

He was selected as one of the three spin bowlers for the tour of England in 1965. Despite taking more wickets in the matches outside the Tests than any other bowler, he did not play in the three Tests.[3] He took 2 for 94 and 8 for 47 in the victory over Middlesex and 5 for 54 and 3 for 47 in the victory over Lancashire, and finished the tour with 47 wickets in 10 matches at an average of 19.44.[3]

He continued to play for Natal until the end of the 1969-70 season. His son Derek Crookes played 32 one-day matches for South Africa from 1994 to 2000.

References
  1. "Western Province v Natal 1962-63". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
  2. Wisden 1966, pp. 799–800.
  3. Norman Preston, "South Africans in England, 1965", Wisden 1966, pp. 298–323.
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