Harold Stapleton

Australian cricketer

Harold Stapleton

Personal information

Full name|

Harold Vincent Stapleton

Born| (1915-01-07)7 January 1915
Kyogle, New South Wales, Australia
Died| 24 September 2015(2015-09-24) (aged 100)
Batting| Left-handed
Bowling| Left-arm medium
Domestic team information
Years| Team
1941| New South Wales
Career statistics
| Competition | FC

|

Matches | 1
Runs scored | 1
Batting average | 1.00
100s/50s | 0/0
Top score | 1
Balls bowled | 80
Wickets | 0
Bowling average | n/a
5 wickets in innings | 0
10 wickets in match | 0
Best bowling | 0/9
Catches/stumpings | 2/-

Source: CricketArchive, 7 December 2012

Harold Vincent Stapleton (7 January 1915 – 24 September 2015) was an Australian cricketer who played a single first-class match for New South Wales in 1941.[1] He was one of only three Australian first-class cricketers to live past the age of 100, the others being Ted Martin and Jack Laver.

Born in Kyogle, New South Wales, Stapleton played in a number of minor matches during the 1930s, including for Lismore, Northern New South Wales, and the New South Wales colts and second XI teams.[2] He played his single first-class match for New South Wales against South Australia in February 1941, the final match of the war-interrupted 1940–41 season. He scored one run in New South Wales' only innings, and failed to take a wicket from ten eight-ball overs, opening the bowling with Vic Jackson.[3] Stapleton enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in April of the same year, serving as a corporal in the Australian Army.[4]

Having served in New Guinea, Stapleton was discharged from service in January 1946, and took up employment with an oil company based in Wollongong. He continued to play cricket with St George in the Sydney grade cricket competition, and finished his career with 2,242 runs at an average of 32.49 and 93 wickets at an average of 17.56.[5] On the death of Ernie Crossan in August 2009, Stapleton became the oldest living Australian first-class cricketer.[6] Stapleton died at the age of 100 on 24 September 2015.[1] He was the oldest lived New South Wales cricketer, surpassing George Moore's record.[7]

## See also

[edit]

* List of centenarians (sportspeople)
* List of New South Wales representative cricketers

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Australia's Oldest Cricketer Harold Stapleton Dies at 100". NDTV. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015. Retrieved 24 September 2015.
2. ^ Miscellaneous Matches played by Harold Stapleton (7) – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
3. ^ South Australia v New South Wales, First-Class matches in Australia 1940/41 – CricketArchive. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
4. ^ STAPLETON, HAROLD VINCENT Archived 19 December 2014 at the Wayback Machine – WW2 Nominal Roll. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
5. ^ ST GEORGE CRICKETER HAROLD STAPLETON BECOMES OLDEST LIVING NSW CRICKETER Archived 3 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine – St George District Cricket Club. Published 28 June 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.
6. ^ "Oldest New South Wales player Crossan dies". CricInfo. 11 August 2009. Retrieved 4 November 2009.
7. ^ Harold Stapleton becomes longest-living New South Wales cricketer – Bradman Foundation. Published 21 July 2011. Retrieved 7 December 2012.