Syd Ward

Syd Ward

Syd Ward in December 1933
Personal information
Full name	Sydney William Ward
Born	5 August 1907 Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Died	31 December 2010 (aged 103) Featherston, New Zealand
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right-arm medium
Domestic team information
Years	Team
1929/30–1937/38	Wellington
Career statistics
Competition First-class Matches 10 Runs scored 282 Batting average 14.84 100s/50s  –/1 Top score 61 Balls bowled 36 Wickets  – Bowling average  – 5 wickets in innings  – 10 wickets in match  – Best bowling  – Catches/stumpings 9/-
Source: Cricinfo, 9 July 2010

Sydney William "Syd" Ward (5 August 1907 – 31 December 2010) was an Australian-born New Zealand cricketer. Ward was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium pace. He was born in Sydney, New South Wales, and, from the death of Frank Shipston on 6 July 2005 until his death, was considered the oldest living first-class cricketer and the second oldest ever, behind Jim Hutchinson.^[1] Following his death, Cyril Perkins became the oldest living first-class cricketer.^[2]

Ward was born in Australia, but moved to New Zealand at some point prior to playing first-class cricket for Wellington. His first-class debut for Wellington came in the 1929/30 Plunket Shield against Otago.^[3] From 1929/30 to 1937/38, he represented Wellington in 10 first-class matches, with his final first-class match coming against Canterbury.^[4] In his 20 first-class innings, he scored 282 runs at a batting average of 14.84, with a single half century high score of 61, which came against Auckland in the 1934/35 season.^[5]

Outside of cricket, there is an indication that Ward played football for Waterside, who won the 1940 Chatham Cup, with Ward scoring a goal in the final against Mosgiel as Waterside ran out 6-2 winners. This was the team's third straight title.

Ward worked as a jeweller and watchmaker in Wellington until 1982, then retired to the Wairarapa farming village of Kaiwaiwai, between Featherston and Martinborough.

References

1. Jim Hutchinson
2. Bolton, Paul (4 June 2011). "Rare cricketing century for Cyril Perkins". The Wisden Cricketer. www.thecricketer.com. Retrieved 12 June 2011.
3. Otago v Wellington, 1929/30
4. First-Class Matches played by Syd Ward
5. Auckland v Wellington, 1934/35

External links

• Player profile: Syd Ward from ESPNcricinfo
• Player profile: Syd Ward from CricketArchive
• Syd Ward at Find a Grave
• "Syd Ward 1907-2010" by Carey Clements
• http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/37616/Still-on-the-ball-at-100