Donald Alexander Noel McRae (25 December 1914 – 10 August 1986) was a double international sportsman, representing New Zealand in cricket and in soccer. His last first-class cricket match was in New Zealand's first Test match against Australia in 1946.
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| Full name | Donald Alexander Noel McRae | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 25 December 1914 Christchurch, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 10 August 1986 (aged 71) Christchurch, New Zealand | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Left-handed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Left-arm medium | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| National side |
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| Test debut (cap 37) | 29 March 1946 v Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Years | Team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1937/38–1945/46 | Canterbury | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: Cricinfo, 1 April 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cricket career
editMcRae played first-class cricket for Canterbury from 1937–38 to 1945–46 as a tall, economical left-arm medium-pace bowler and useful lower-order batsman. In his first match, against Otago, he top-scored in the second innings with 43, which remained his highest first-class score. In 1943–44, playing for a New Zealand XI against a New Zealand Services XI, he opened the bowling and took 5 for 20 off 17 overs in the first innings. In his four inter-provincial matches in 1944-45 he took 17 wickets at 13.29, and was considered one of the best bowlers in New Zealand.[1]
When the Plunket Shield resumed in 1945–46, McRae took 13 wickets in the three matches at 23.69. He took only one wicket when the Australians defeated Canterbury by an innings,[2] but still made the Test side three weeks later. He opened the bowling and took 0 for 44 and made 0 and 8 in another innings defeat,[3] and never played first-class cricket again.
Football career
editMcRae made a single appearance as goalkeeper for New Zealand in association football against Australia on 4 July 1936, conceding 7 goals in the 1–7 loss.[4] His domestic club at the time was Nomads United.
Personal life
editMcRae served with the New Zealand Army in World War II as a lance-corporal.[5] He and his wife Dorothy, who died in 1974, had one daughter.[6] He died at his home in Christchurch in August 1986.[7]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Norman Preston, "Norman Preston's Diary", The Cricketer, Winter Annual 1945, p. 65.
- ^ "Canterbury v Australians 1945-46". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "New Zealand v Australia 1945-46". CricketArchive. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
- ^ "A-International Appearances – Overall". The Ultimate New Zealand Soccer Website. Archived from the original on 7 October 2008. Retrieved 25 July 2008.
- ^ "Donald Alexander Noel McRae". Online Cenotaph. Retrieved 19 May 2023.
- ^ "Deaths". Press: 23. 25 July 1974.
- ^ "Deaths". Press: 71. 13 August 1986.