Obituary MR A. H. FISHER

Press, Volume C, Issue 29473, 27 March 1961, Page 16

Obituary MR A. H. FISHER

(NJC. Prut Association) DUNEDIN, March 26. Mr Arthur H. Fisher who died in Dunedin on Thursday, aged 90, was general manager ot the Standard Insurance Company until his retirement in 1947 after 60 years’ service with the firm. In sporting circles, Mr Fisher was best known as a member of the famous cricket combination of Fisher and Downes, probably the greatest pair of bowlers in New Zealand cricket Mr Fisher joined the Carisbrook Cricket Club in 1887 and performed with distinction against touring Australian State teams before the turn of the century. He took six for 33 and three for 44 against New South Wales in 1895. the year in which he first represented New Zealand. In 1896 he took six for 39 and five for 39 against Australia.

In the 1896-97 season he achieved his finest bowling with nine for 50 (Otago v. Queensland at Dunedin) and in the same season took seven for 11 against Canterbury and five for 20 and scored 50 not out for New Zealand against Queensland. He was invited to Melbourne to take part in trials for the Australian team to tour England but his bowling was not so effective in the different a.mosphere there. He toured Australia the next season with a New Zealand team.

Mr Fisher played against Lord Hawke’s English team in 1902. the Australians in 1905, the English team of 1906 (when he captured four for 25 and five for 61 in the second test).

For Otago claimed 253 wiekets st 13.4 runs each, and for New Zealand, 19 wickets at 27.6 runs apiece. For Otago he scored 1444 runs at an average of 14.6, and for New Zealand 148 runs at 13.4.

His first-class career lasted from 1891-1910 during which he took 196 first class wickets for 3228 runs at an average of 16.41.