Jack Francis Lee Laver (9 March 1917 – 3 October 2017)[1] was a Tasmanian cricketer who played 13 matches of first class cricket for Tasmania between 1946 and 1952.

Laver was an off-spin bowler and lower-order batsman. He made his highest first-class score of 93 on his debut, playing against Victoria in 1946–47.[2] His innings took only 94 minutes. Two weeks later he took his best bowling figures of 5 for 26 (off only 34 balls) against the touring MCC team, including the wickets of Denis Compton and Bill Edrich.[3][4] He captained Tasmania against Victoria in the 1950–51 season, but Tasmania lost the match by nine wickets.[5]

He served in World War II as a lieutenant in the 6th Australian Division Provost Company.[6]

In March 2017 he became only the third Australian first-class cricketer, after Ted Martin and Harold Stapleton, to reach 100 years of age.[7] He died on 3 October 2017; his wife Nancy predeceased him.[1] Test cricketer Frank Laver was his uncle, and tennis star Rod Laver was a second cousin.[7]

References

  1. ^ a b "John Francis Lee LAVER". legacy.com. Retrieved 15 October 2017.
  2. ^ "Tasmania v Victoria 1946-47". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  3. ^ "Laver takes 5/26 in drawn game against England". The Mercury: 20. 14 January 1947. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
  4. ^ "Tasmania Combined XI v MCC 1946-47". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  5. ^ Tasmania v Victoria 1950-51
  6. ^ "Laver, John Francis Lee". World War Two Nominal Roll. Archived from the original on 22 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  7. ^ a b Coverdale, Brydon (10 March 2017). "It takes a rare cricketer to reach a century, not just make one". Cricinfo.
Preceded by Tasmanian First-class cricket captains
1950/51
Succeeded by


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