Ron Draper, the oldest living Test cricketer, has died at the age of 98 in a retirement home in Gqeberha, his family confirmed on Friday.
A top-order batsman and occasional wicketkeeper, Draper represented South Africa in two Test matches against Australia in 1950. His passing makes former Australian cricketer Neil Harvey, 96, the new oldest living Test player.
Born on December 24, 1926, Draper made a memorable start to his cricketing career, scoring a century on his first-class debut for Eastern Province on his 19th birthday. Although his Test career was brief, he left his mark in domestic cricket, becoming the first player to score two centuries in a single match in South Africa’s Currie Cup competition.
Draper continued playing first-class cricket until the 1959/60 season, finishing with an impressive batting average of 41.64. His death follows those of Norman Gordon, who lived to 103, and John Watkins, who passed away at 98—both previously the oldest living Test cricketers.