Mr W. Merritt dead

Press, 10 June 1977, Page 4

Mr W. Merritt dead

I By

R. T. BRITTENDEN

One of New Zealand’s best-known and most successful cricketers, Mr W. E. Merritt, died in Christchurch yesterday. He was 68. After only one first-class match in New Zealand, he was chosen as a leg-spinner for New Zealand’s first tour of England in 1927, and although only 18 years old, he was an outstanding success, taking 107 wickets on the tour, after playing in all but one of the first-class matches. “Wisden” commented that for a youth, his skill and stamina were equally remarkable.

Bill Merritt, who always, invited the batsman to at-| tack with his full flight, had many successes in New Zealand cricket, and in his 24 matches for Canterbury took 154 wickets at 23.1 runs each. In all New Zealand first-class cricket, he had 385 wickets, the record fori many years. One of his greatest triumphs was at Lord’s during New Zealand’s second tour of England in 1931. After two rain-ruined days, New Zealand, batting first, had made 302 for nine wick-i ets. declared. The M.C.C. on! the third day was bowled, out twice. First Merritt’s!

‘ colleague lan Cromb, — later his business partner —■ took six wickets as the home: team was dismissed for 132. Less than three hours remained when the M.C.C. followed on. * I That genius of a captain, : Tom Lowry, tossed Merritt the ball at the start of the k innings, and in his second ! over bowled a googlie to the ’ professional J. W. Hearne. ' The batsman did not play | a shot, and was bowled: I ! after that Merritt was com- ; pletely on top. He finished 1 with seven for 28, and the ! M.C.C., out for 48, lost by 1 an innings and 122. On that tour Merritt took 99 wickets, and a few years H , later, he was a regular mem- i ber of the Northamtonshire i county team, and he bowled; ' with much success just be-jj

|fore the Second World War (and again just after it. He was also highly successful ■ in league cricket for Dudley: his 1940 performance (878 runs, with a record top score of 197, and 80 wickets at 11.5) was unrivalled in league history. : In all, he took 536 wickets in first-class cricket and made more than 3000 runs in a usually free and aggressive style. At Christchurch Boys’! High School, he was a top sprinter, and as a primary (school boy he was a keen I footballer, playing soccer on iSaturday mornings, rugby in; ■ the afternoons. He went on (with his rugby to become a (fleet and able wing, and to: 'win a place in the top Canterbury team. He had many spectacular, successes in club cricket and! his performance in the 1928-j 29 season, when he took 98( wickets, remains a Christ-! church senior championship ! record. Bill Merritt was in busi-j ness in England for some( time after the war, but came! back to New Zealand about 10 years ago. He retained his enthusiasm for cricket, becoming a leader in the Canterbury Supporters’ Club, (and doing good service with I coaching of young players. Tie was also a very keen! (and able member of the! Christchurch Golf Club. i ' He is survived by his wife, (and a daughter. |