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Leg spinner
Jackie du Preez, who played in the last two tests for South Africa in 1966/67
local series win over Australia, has died in his home country of Zimbabwe,
77 years old.
His passing
Wednesday – after the illness was confirmed to Sport24 by
KwaZulu-Natal-based cousin Russell Kay, who said Du Preez had been close
friend of Rhodesia and Zimbabwe, ATV Duncan Fletcher, former coach
from England, India and Western Province.
John born
Harcourt du Preez at Salisbury (now Harare) on November 14, 1942, and educated
at Prince Edward School, he was a stalwart of an often forceful Rhodesian team
at the former Currie Cup national competition in South Africa, also featuring
names like Brian Davison, Goofy Lawrence, John Traicos and Colin Bland.
A tobacco
Farmer by profession, Du Preez was best known for his broken legs (he bagged 296
First-class wickets averaging 31.07, with a best-of-eight entry for
92) although it was also a batting factor, notching 4,063 runs to 23.76 with
a century
Made its
debut for the then Springboks in the fourth round of that 1966/67 series against
Bobby Simpson’s Australians, a draw in St. George’s Park, and also
selected for the fifth and final matchup in Johannesburg which South Africa won
by seven wickets to seal the loot of the series at 3-1.
Although his
Bowling opportunities were relatively limited, he got three wickets in his
pair of appearances on an average of 17.
Illustrious
SA teammates at the time included Graeme Pollock, Eddie Barlow, Ali Bacher and
Mike Procter, while Ian Chappell and Bill Lawry were part of the blows
line up.
Du Preez too
served as Zimbabwe’s national coach.
*Follow
our main writer on Twitter: @RobHouwing
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