Jackie du Preez
| Jackie du Preez | |
|---|---|
| Born | John Hancourt du Preez November 14, 1942 Salisbury, Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe) |
| Died | April 8, 2020 (aged 77) Harare, Zimbabwe |
| Cause of death | Heart condition |
| Occupation | Cricketer |
Jackie du Preez was a Rhodesian (now Zimbabwe) cricketer who played in two Tests for South Africa against Australia in 1967.
Background
Born in pre-independence Zimbabwe, then known as Rhodesia, in 1942 in Salisbury, the present-day Harare, the wrist-spinning du Preez played two Test matches for South Africa, during Australia’s 1966/67 tour of the country.[1] A tobacco farmer by profession.
Education
He was educated at Prince Edward School.
Career
A leg-spinner and useful lower-order batsman first played for Rhodesia aged 18 against New Zealand in Bulawayo in October, 1961. He represented Rhodesia a record 112 times before retiring in 1979. The leg-spinner played for South Africa in Zimbabwe's pre-independence days. Du Preez played two Tests against Australia in 1967, during which he picked up three wickets at just 17 runs each in a series that his side won 3-1.
Du Preez didn't represent South Africa thereafter but enjoyed a long and successful first-class career. In 120 first-class matches, he picked up 296 wickets at 31.07. He also enjoyed enough success with the bat so as to be labelled an all-rounder, scoring 4,063 runs in first-class cricket at an average of 23.76, including one century and 19 fifties.[2]
He was a stalwart of an often forceful Rhodesia team in the former Currie Cup domestic competition in South Africa, also featuring such names as Brian Davison, Goofy Lawrence, John Traicos and Colin Bland.[3]
He later spent a period as a member of Zimbabwe Cricket's selection panel.
Death
Jackie du Preez, who played two Tests for South Africa in 1967, passed away on Thursday, 9 April 2020 in Harare, succumbing to a long-standing heart condition.[2]
