Bill Carson (sportsman)
Encyclopedia
William Nicol Carson was a sportsman who represented New Zealand at both cricket
and rugby union
.
in the Plunket Shield. In just his second innings of first-class cricket and second match, Carson scored 290 against Otage at Carisbrook
, as part of a 445 run partnership with Paul Whitelaw
. The pair created a world record for the third wicket in first-class cricket. In his very next match, against Wellington at Eden Park
, Carson made 194, giving him an aggregate of 496 runs and an average of 165.33 after three innings.
His performances with Auckland earned him a call up to the national side for their tour of England in 1937
. Although he played 24 matches, all but four of them first-class fixtures, Carson wasn't able to break into the Test side which took on England. He had started the tour well, with 85 runs against Surrey and 86 versus Northamptonshire
but he failed to contribute substantial scores in most matches. Carson finished the summer with 627 runs at 19.00.
with the 5th Field Regiment of the NZ Artillery, as a Major, Carson was severely wounded in battle. He was evacuated but died aboard a boat from Bari
, Italy to Egypt
. A distinguished soldier, Carson had won a Military Cross during the World War II conflict.
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
.
Cricket
Carson, an aggressive left-handed batsman and useful fast-medium bowler, started his cricketing career with a couple of large scores for AucklandAuckland Aces
The Auckland domestic cricket team represent the Auckland region and are one of six New Zealand domestic first class cricket teams. Governed by the Auckland Cricket Association they are the most successful side having won 26 Plunket Shield titles, eight Domestic One Day Championships and the HRV...
in the Plunket Shield. In just his second innings of first-class cricket and second match, Carson scored 290 against Otage at Carisbrook
Carisbrook
Carisbrook was a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. The city's main domestic and international rugby union venue, it has also been used for other sports such as cricket, football, rugby league and motocross. Carisbrook has also hosted a Joe Cocker concert and frequently hosted pre-game...
, as part of a 445 run partnership with Paul Whitelaw
Paul Whitelaw
Paul Erskine Whitelaw, born on 10 February 1910 and died at Auckland on 28 August 1988, was a cricketer who played for Auckland and New Zealand....
. The pair created a world record for the third wicket in first-class cricket. In his very next match, against Wellington at Eden Park
Eden Park
Eden Park is the biggest stadium in Auckland, New Zealand. It is used primarily for rugby union in winter and cricket in summer . The ground also occasionally hostts rugby league matches. To accommodate all three sports, the cricket pitch is removable...
, Carson made 194, giving him an aggregate of 496 runs and an average of 165.33 after three innings.
His performances with Auckland earned him a call up to the national side for their tour of England in 1937
New Zealand cricket team in England in 1937
The New Zealand cricket team toured England in the 1937 season. The team was the third from New Zealand to tour England, following those of 1927 and 1931 and the second to play Test matches. Three Tests were arranged: England won the second match at Manchester, and the games at Lord's and The Oval...
. Although he played 24 matches, all but four of them first-class fixtures, Carson wasn't able to break into the Test side which took on England. He had started the tour well, with 85 runs against Surrey and 86 versus Northamptonshire
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club
Northamptonshire County Cricket Club is one of the 18 major county clubs which make up the English and Welsh domestic cricket structure, representing the historic county of Northamptonshire. Its limited overs team is called the Northants Steelbacks. The traditional club colour is Maroon. During the...
but he failed to contribute substantial scores in most matches. Carson finished the summer with 627 runs at 19.00.
Rugby
When Carson returned to New Zealand he focused on rugby, playing provincially with Auckland and for the North Island representative team as a flanker. Like with his cricket career, he represented his country at rugby without appearing at Test level. He made his All Blacks debut on the 20 July 1938 for a game against the Combined Western Districts. Carson then joined the New Zealand camp for a tour of Australia and played matches against Newcastle and the ACT.World War II
Carson embarked on war duty in 1940 and went on to participate in the Crete, North African and Italian campaigns. While serving in ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with the 5th Field Regiment of the NZ Artillery, as a Major, Carson was severely wounded in battle. He was evacuated but died aboard a boat from Bari
Bari
Bari is the capital city of the province of Bari and of the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, in Italy. It is the second most important economic centre of mainland Southern Italy after Naples, and is well known as a port and university city, as well as the city of Saint Nicholas...
, Italy to Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. A distinguished soldier, Carson had won a Military Cross during the World War II conflict.