Free State Cricket (FSCU) mourns the passing of legendary Free State Cricketer, Lindsay Tuckett, at the age of 97. He passed away in Bloemfontein the early hours of 5 September 2016.
A former South African fast bowler, he was the world’s oldest living Test cricketer and an honorary life member of Free State Cricket.
He made his debut for Orange Free State less than two months after his 16th birthday, and was only 20 when World War II broke out. By the time cricket resumed he was one of South Africa’s leading bowlers and was picked for the tour of England in 1947, where he made his debut in the first Test at Trent Bridge, Nottingham. In his full international career he took 19 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls.
Tuckett took 225 wickets in 61 first-class matches between the 1934-1935 and 1954-1955 seasons. This included a haul of 32 wickets in the 1951-1952 season at an average of 17.59.
Tuckett’s father, Len, was also a former South African Test cricketer Len Tuckett, as was his uncle, Joe Cox.
“Mr Tuckett was a very humble man who never liked to be in the limelight. However his contributions to cricket in the Free State gave him the honour of being one of the best cricketers and legends in the Free State. He was also selected as one of the best 11 players that have played cricket for Free State over the last 100 years.
“Our sincere condolences go to his family. We have lost a sincere friend and fellow cricket lover,” commented Free State Cricket CEO, Johan van Heerden.
