Today is the 100th birthday of Jack Laver, who played 13 first-class matches for Tasmania between 1946 and 1952.
Australia’s most senior, Jack is the second oldest living first-class cricketer in the world, after Hampshire’s John Manners, who is 102.
Born John Francis Lee Laver on March 9, 1917, in Malvern, Melbourne, Jack’s uncle, Frank Laver, had been a prominent Test cricketer and Australian Test team manager.
Jack attended Melbourne High School, where he was coached by former Australian Test captain Bill Woodfull. He represented Victoria as a schoolboy, but after breaking his arm he took up baseball, playing nine years of first grade in Melbourne.
Primarily a batsman at school, Jack played in the Victorian Junior Cricket association for South Suburban Churches in intra-association games, where he had huge success, taking an incredible 128 wickets and scoring 870 at an average of 80 in just his second year.
Jack first went to Tasmania in 1940-41, where he played for South Launceston and had the highest batting average (42) in the North Tasmanian Cricket Association, leading to his selection to play for North against South as a batsman, and also at tennis.
He joined the armed forces for the next five years and became a lieutenant in the sixth Australian Division Provost Company of the Royal Australian Army.
Returning from the war, Jack captained the West Launceston club, before making his first class debut, against Victoria in December 1946. He made 93 in just 92 minutes and followed this with an impressive performance with his off breaks against the touring MCC team in his next first class match, taking 5-26 and dismissing Denis Compton, Bill Edrich and captain Norman Yardley.
Laver captained Tasmania once against Victoria, and ended his first-class career with 343 runs at an average of 14.91, having also taken 20 wickets at an average of 42.80.
It would be a pity to allow today to pass without recognising the life and achievements of Jack Laver.
davSA
Guest
I so agree that this is an important story and a good news one at that. I see that the New Zealander Tom Pritchard also reached the 100 yr. mark this week . Its a huge achievement . One that cannot be obtained unless you live your life absolutely right. They played the game when it truly was the gentleman's game and I for one would love to know their thoughts on people like Kholi threatening to break arms on the field , players ignoring umpires , captains cheating , players accepting bribes to lose matches and red cards now being introduced to control petulant overpaid so called professional's I would also love to tell them both that there are currently many top cricketers out there who still respect those values that they played by and respected ....., so yes young fellows like twodogs , later today I'm going to raise a glass to you both.
Pope Paul VII
Guest
Well done young fella
twodogs
Guest
Hi Pat. Thanks. Good to have these stories. This is the important stuff many people miss or don't give a damn about. So Jack, best wishes and hope you had a cold one for reaching your century. I'm having one now thinking about your life and the challenges you dealt with.