Published: Sep 06, 2014, 11:15 AM (IST)
Edited: Sep 06, 2014, 11:16 AM (IST)
Sep 6, 2014
Former South African bowler Lindsay Tuckett is now the world’s oldest living cricketer at the age of 95, according to Ewie Cronje, father of deceased former South African captain Hansie Cronje.
The news comes in days after fellow South African cricketer Norman Gordon passed away following a prolonged illness at the age of 103. Speaking to the Daily Post from his Bloemfontein residence, Cronje was quoted as saying,”Tuckett today still drives his own car. Yes, at 95, he drives his own car. Amazing. He is fit enough to bat for another five years.”
According to records, Tuckett was born in February 6, 1919 in Durban. His father happened to be Len Tuckett who represented South Africa in a solitary Test. Tuckett served in the second World War following which he was picked for the South African squad that toured England in1947, where he finished with 15 wickets in five Tests, despite sustaining a strained muscle. He retired from Tests in March 1949, finishing with a career tally of 19 wickets from nine Tests.
Cronje was full of praise for Tuckett. “He is a very humble man, has three sons and does not like to be in the limelight. I know him well for over 60 years. He was known as Mr. Cricket in the Free State in the 1950’s-1970s.”
