Career ended at the age of 31, had a heart attack on the field, now this Australian player has left the world
Image Credit source: AFP
Former Australian cricketer John Rutherford passed away, made his Test debut against India in 1956. Rutherford was the first Western Australian player to receive a Test cap.
Australia Former Test Cricketer John Rutherford (John Rutherford) He was 92 years old. John Rutherford was the first Western Australian player to get a chance to play a Test match for Australia. Rutherford played only one test match in his career and that too against India. Rutherford received the Test cap on India’s 1956 tour and wore Australia’s baggy green at the Brabourne Stadium. rutherford (John Rutherford Death) He was a right-handed opener and scored 30 runs in his first Test innings, besides getting a wicket. rutherford (John Rutherford Career) had dismissed Vijay Manjrekar and the match ended in a draw.
Rutherford is 243 kms from Perth. A small place away lived in Bruce Rock. This veteran player of Western Australia played 67 first-class matches in which 3367 runs were scored at an average of 31.76 with his bat. Rutherford scored 6 centuries and 15 half-centuries in his career. Rutherford is considered to have a big hand in furthering Western Australia cricket. Before him, no player from Western Australia got a place in the Australian Test team. Ernie Brumley was definitely born in Western Australia but he had settled in Victoria before coming to the Australian team. Brumley made his debut for Australia in 1933–34.
Rutherford’s career ends at the age of 31
Let us tell you that John Rutherford’s career ended at the age of 31. While captaining Western Australia, Rutherford suffered a heart attack during the match. Rutherford was captaining the team in a tour match against the West Indies in 1960. This veteran player of Western Australia may not get many opportunities at the Test level, but in the coming days, he has awarded many great players to Australian cricket.
WA Cricket wishes to pay tribute to John Rutherford and sends its deepest sympathies to his family after his passing late last week. The 92yo became the first WA cricketer to earn a Baggy Green when he was called up to face India in Bombay in 1956 https://t.co/GV5MORCDJm pic.twitter.com/jsK6CDrbSd
— WACA (@WACA_Cricket) April 25, 2022
Rutherford gave players like Dennis Lillee to Australia
Rutherford worked for the betterment of Western Australia cricket. Great players like Graham McKenzie, Dennis Lillee, Rod Marsh emerged from Western Australia. These players performed well for two decades. After Rutherford’s death, Western Australia Cricket Chief Executive Christina Mathews paid tribute to Rutherford. While issuing a statement, Western Australia said, ‘John Rutherford had played a big role in giving place to Western Australia in the cricket map. At that time, players from the eastern regions dominated the Australian team, but Rutherford showed his strength.
