Frank Cameron
Encyclopedia
Francis James Cameron MBE
(born 1 June 1932, Dunedin
, Otago
) is a former New Zealand
cricket
er who played 19 Test
s for New Zealand
as a fast bowler
.
He took three five-wicket-hauls in an innings during his Test career for New Zealand, two of them during his first tour against South Africa
in 1961–62, where New Zealand drew 2–2 in the 5–Test series. During that series, he was dismissed once in nine innings, and finished with a batting average of 17. In 30 Test innings, he ended up not out
in two thirds of them, which might have contributed to his career batting average of 11.6 - he only made it into double figures three times with the bat.
along with five other New Zealanders, and he took six wickets in that first match, more than any other New Zealand bowler bar Jack Alabaster
. However, though his bowling helped to keep the winning target down to 197, New Zealand lost the match by 30 runs after Peter Pollock
took six for 38 in reply. In the second Test, Cameron celebrated his first five-wicket-haul, which included a brace of wickets of South Africa's number four and five. Cameron also dismissed South Africa's number three and six on his way to five for 83, but South Africa took a lead of 99 on first innings of the four-day match. After thirteen wicketless overs in the second innings, Cameron was not required to bat as New Zealand batted out 68 overs for the draw. Cameron got a five-wicket-haul in the next match as well, taking five for 48 as South Africa were bowled out for 190, 195 behind New Zealand's first innings total. Cameron was then part of an unbeaten 49-run tenth-wicket partnership with wicket-keeper
Artie Dick
, before New Zealand declared, setting a target of 408 for South Africa to chase in a little over a day of the four-day match. After Alabaster had taken the first three wickets, South Africa were 315 for 5 before Cameron got his first wicket of the innings - dismissing Kim Elgie for 12. Still, he bowled economically, conceding 42 from his 26 overs, with only captain John Reid
having a lower economy rate, and with the help of Reid's two wickets at the end South Africa were bowled out for 335, giving New Zealand their first Test win away from home.
With the series tied at 1–1 with two matches to go, New Zealand had a shout at gaining their first series win. That was quickly quenched – Cameron bowled 30 wicketless overs in the fourth Test at the Wanderers
, and New Zealand's batting yielded twice as South Africa registered a win by an innings and 51 runs. Still, New Zealand drew the series, after Cameron took the final wicket. His match bowling figures then read 28.5–7–94–2, but with the final ball of the over he had South Africa's number 11 Harry Bromsfield caught. Bromsfield had been batting for the past half hour without scoring a run, though he had been in a partnership of 14 with 55 runs required for the win or 21 minutes required for the draw. Thus, Cameron finished his maiden Test series with 20 wickets at a bowling average
of 24.65.
Cameron's next series was against England
at home in 1962–63, but it was not as successful, as the team suffered two innings defeats and a seven-wicket loss as they were whitewashed 0–3. Cameron got eight wickets in the series, including four for 118 in the first Test, where he was the only New Zealand bowler to take more than one wicket. South Africa came to tour New Zealand the next summer, but in three drawn Tests Cameron failed to take more than three wickets in any innings, and ended with nine wickets at the average of 35.22. Another 0–0 series followed the next summer, against Pakistan
, though Cameron registered his best match figures of nine for 70 in the second Test. Chasing 220 to win in four hours, however, New Zealand were set back by Pervez Sajjad
, who took four wickets for no runs in ten balls to set New Zealand back from 102 for 2 to 102 for 6, and they closed on 166 for 7. In the third Test, New Zealand were set 314 in 83 overs, and batted out to the drawn series.
New Zealand played seven Tests on the subcontinent that summer, four in India and three in Pakistan, but Cameron only played one of the India games - the final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla
. After three drawn Tests had opened the series, Cameron took one for 86 as India took a 203-run lead on first innings, and though Cameron made a career-best 27 not out
in a 51-run ninth-wicket stand with Richard Collinge
, India were set a target of 70. Cameron was taken for 29 in four overs, and though he dismissed M. L. Jaisimha hit wicket
, India won by seven wickets. The tour of Pakistan saw New Zealand lose the first Test by an innings and 64 runs after falling to 79 in their second innings, and Cameron was brought into the team in place of Bryan Yuile
. He took six wickets for 105 in the match, but Pakistan still drew the game - before winning the third Test after chasing down 202 to win. Cameron failed to take a wicket in the chase, though his 108-minute last-wicket stand of 63 with Bev Congdon was a New Zealand tenth-wicket record.
and played two of the three Tests there. However, after taking two wickets in the first two matches, and after bowling figures of 32–5–122–0 in a tour match against Warwickshire
, Cameron was left out of the team to play the third Test. He did play the last three tour matches against Scotland
, Ireland
and Netherlands
, taking 19 wickets, but was never selected again for Test cricket, and retired after the 1966–67 season. Later, he became chairman of New Zealand's selectors, and served as match referee in three Tests and five One Day Internationals.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 1 June 1932, Dunedin
Dunedin
Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until...
, Otago
Otago
Otago is a region of New Zealand in the south of the South Island. The region covers an area of approximately making it the country's second largest region. The population of Otago is...
) is a former New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
cricket
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...
er who played 19 Test
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
s for New Zealand
New Zealand cricket team
The New Zealand cricket team, nicknamed the Black Caps, are the national cricket team representing New Zealand. They played their first in 1930 against England in Christchurch, New Zealand, becoming the fifth country to play Test cricket. It took the team until 1955–56 to win a Test, against the...
as a fast bowler
Fast bowling
Fast bowling, sometimes known as pace bowling, is one of the two main approaches to bowling in the sport of cricket. The other is spin bowling...
.
He took three five-wicket-hauls in an innings during his Test career for New Zealand, two of them during his first tour against South Africa
South African cricket team
The South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
in 1961–62, where New Zealand drew 2–2 in the 5–Test series. During that series, he was dismissed once in nine innings, and finished with a batting average of 17. In 30 Test innings, he ended up not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
in two thirds of them, which might have contributed to his career batting average of 11.6 - he only made it into double figures three times with the bat.
Career
He made his Test debut at Kingsmead in DurbanDurban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
along with five other New Zealanders, and he took six wickets in that first match, more than any other New Zealand bowler bar Jack Alabaster
Jack Alabaster
John Chaloner "Jack" Alabaster in Invercargill. He played 21 Tests for New Zealand from 1955-72. A spin bowler, he was often partnered at the crease for his provincial side Otago by his brother Gren....
. However, though his bowling helped to keep the winning target down to 197, New Zealand lost the match by 30 runs after Peter Pollock
Peter Pollock
Peter Maclean Pollock, has played a continuing role in the South Africa cricket team as a player, selector, and father of a future captain. He was voted a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1966...
took six for 38 in reply. In the second Test, Cameron celebrated his first five-wicket-haul, which included a brace of wickets of South Africa's number four and five. Cameron also dismissed South Africa's number three and six on his way to five for 83, but South Africa took a lead of 99 on first innings of the four-day match. After thirteen wicketless overs in the second innings, Cameron was not required to bat as New Zealand batted out 68 overs for the draw. Cameron got a five-wicket-haul in the next match as well, taking five for 48 as South Africa were bowled out for 190, 195 behind New Zealand's first innings total. Cameron was then part of an unbeaten 49-run tenth-wicket partnership with wicket-keeper
Wicket-keeper
The wicket-keeper in the sport of cricket is the player on the fielding side who stands behind the wicket or stumps being guarded by the batsman currently on strike...
Artie Dick
Artie Dick
Arthur Edward Dick played 17 Tests for New Zealand....
, before New Zealand declared, setting a target of 408 for South Africa to chase in a little over a day of the four-day match. After Alabaster had taken the first three wickets, South Africa were 315 for 5 before Cameron got his first wicket of the innings - dismissing Kim Elgie for 12. Still, he bowled economically, conceding 42 from his 26 overs, with only captain John Reid
John Fulton Reid
John Fulton Reid is a former New Zealand cricketer. He was born in Auckland.Reid played in 19 Tests and 25 One Day Internationals between 1979 and 1986. His Test average was 46.28 and included six Test centuries...
having a lower economy rate, and with the help of Reid's two wickets at the end South Africa were bowled out for 335, giving New Zealand their first Test win away from home.
With the series tied at 1–1 with two matches to go, New Zealand had a shout at gaining their first series win. That was quickly quenched – Cameron bowled 30 wicketless overs in the fourth Test at the Wanderers
Wanderers Stadium
BIDVest Wanderers Stadium is a stadium situated just south of Sandton in Illovo, Johannesburg in Gauteng Province, South Africa. Test, One Day and First class cricket matches are played here. It is also the home ground for the Highveld Lions, formerly known as Gauteng .The stadium has a seating...
, and New Zealand's batting yielded twice as South Africa registered a win by an innings and 51 runs. Still, New Zealand drew the series, after Cameron took the final wicket. His match bowling figures then read 28.5–7–94–2, but with the final ball of the over he had South Africa's number 11 Harry Bromsfield caught. Bromsfield had been batting for the past half hour without scoring a run, though he had been in a partnership of 14 with 55 runs required for the win or 21 minutes required for the draw. Thus, Cameron finished his maiden Test series with 20 wickets at a bowling average
Bowling average
Bowling average is a statistic measuring the performance of bowlers in the sport of cricket.A bowler's bowling average is defined as the total number of runs conceded by the bowlers divided by the number of wickets taken by the bowler, so the lower the average the better. It is similar to earned...
of 24.65.
Cameron's next series was against England
English cricket team
The England and Wales cricket team is a cricket team which represents England and Wales. Until 1992 it also represented Scotland. Since 1 January 1997 it has been governed by the England and Wales Cricket Board , having been previously governed by Marylebone Cricket Club from 1903 until the end...
at home in 1962–63, but it was not as successful, as the team suffered two innings defeats and a seven-wicket loss as they were whitewashed 0–3. Cameron got eight wickets in the series, including four for 118 in the first Test, where he was the only New Zealand bowler to take more than one wicket. South Africa came to tour New Zealand the next summer, but in three drawn Tests Cameron failed to take more than three wickets in any innings, and ended with nine wickets at the average of 35.22. Another 0–0 series followed the next summer, against Pakistan
Pakistani cricket team
The Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
, though Cameron registered his best match figures of nine for 70 in the second Test. Chasing 220 to win in four hours, however, New Zealand were set back by Pervez Sajjad
Pervez Sajjad
Pervez Sajjad Hasan is a former Pakistani cricketer who played in nineteen Tests from 1964 to 1973....
, who took four wickets for no runs in ten balls to set New Zealand back from 102 for 2 to 102 for 6, and they closed on 166 for 7. In the third Test, New Zealand were set 314 in 83 overs, and batted out to the drawn series.
New Zealand played seven Tests on the subcontinent that summer, four in India and three in Pakistan, but Cameron only played one of the India games - the final Test at the Feroz Shah Kotla
Feroz Shah Kotla
The Feroz Shah Kotla or Kotla was originally a fortress built by Sultan Ferozshah Tughlaq to house his version of Delhi city called Ferozabad. A pristine polished sandstone pillar from the 3rd century B.C...
. After three drawn Tests had opened the series, Cameron took one for 86 as India took a 203-run lead on first innings, and though Cameron made a career-best 27 not out
Not out
In cricket, a batsman will be not out if he comes out to bat in an innings and has not been dismissed by the end of the innings. One may similarly describe a batsman as not out while the innings is still in progress...
in a 51-run ninth-wicket stand with Richard Collinge
Richard Collinge
Richard Owen Collinge was a New Zealand cricketer.-Career:Collinge bowled left arm fast medium, ending his long run with both arms stretching upwards and swinging the ball. He was New Zealand Cricket Almanack Player of the Year in 1971.He pitched the ball up and relied on late movement...
, India were set a target of 70. Cameron was taken for 29 in four overs, and though he dismissed M. L. Jaisimha hit wicket
Hit wicket
Hit wicket is a method of dismissal in the sport of cricket. This method of dismissal is governed by Law 35 of the laws of cricket. The striker is out "hit wicket" if, after the bowler has entered his delivery stride and while the ball is in play, his wicket is put down by his bat or his person...
, India won by seven wickets. The tour of Pakistan saw New Zealand lose the first Test by an innings and 64 runs after falling to 79 in their second innings, and Cameron was brought into the team in place of Bryan Yuile
Bryan Yuile
Bryan William Yuile is a cricketer. He played 17 Test Matches for the New Zealand national team in the 1960s....
. He took six wickets for 105 in the match, but Pakistan still drew the game - before winning the third Test after chasing down 202 to win. Cameron failed to take a wicket in the chase, though his 108-minute last-wicket stand of 63 with Bev Congdon was a New Zealand tenth-wicket record.
Post Playing Days
Cameron went on one last tour – aged 33, he went to England in the 1965 season1965 English cricket season
The 1965 English cricket season was the first season since the 1912 Triangular Tournament in which England played Test series against two touring sides. In the first half of a damp summer, New Zealand were the tourists, and England won all three matches...
and played two of the three Tests there. However, after taking two wickets in the first two matches, and after bowling figures of 32–5–122–0 in a tour match against Warwickshire
Warwickshire County Cricket Club
Warwickshire 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 Warwickshire. Its limited overs team is called the Warwickshire Bears. Their kit colours are black and gold and the shirt sponsor...
, Cameron was left out of the team to play the third Test. He did play the last three tour matches against Scotland
Scottish cricket team
The Scotland national cricket team represents Scotland in the game of cricket. They compete in the Clydesdale Bank 40 as the Scottish Saltires...
, Ireland
Irish cricket team
The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. Because of political difficulties, the Irish Cricket Union was not elected to the International Cricket Council until 1993, and qualified for the World Cup for the first time in 2007. The Irish Cricket Union is the...
and Netherlands
Dutch cricket team
The Dutch cricket team is a national cricket team representing the Netherlands. It is administered by the Koninklijke Nederlandse Cricket Bond which is based in Nieuwegein in the centre of the country and is older than many renowned cricket clubs in the West Indies, Australia, and New...
, taking 19 wickets, but was never selected again for Test cricket, and retired after the 1966–67 season. Later, he became chairman of New Zealand's selectors, and served as match referee in three Tests and five One Day Internationals.