Alan Burgess (cricketer)

Alan Burgess's father Thomas was a cricket umpire who stood in a Test match in Christchurch in 1933.[2]

Burgess became an apprentice upholsterer after leaving school.[3] In his first first-class match in December 1940 Burgess played as a bowler,[4] taking 6 for 52 and 3 for 51 with his left-arm spin against Otago.[5] Later that season he batted as high as number seven, scoring 61 not out against Wellington.[6]

He joined the New Zealand Army when he turned 21 in 1941, and was soon posted overseas.[3] He served in Egypt and Italy as a tank driver in the 20th Armoured Regiment.[7] He fought in the Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944.[8][2] After the war ended in Europe he toured England with the New Zealand Services team from July to September 1945, playing as a batsman. He made another score of 61 not out in the only first-class match.[9]

In nine matches for Canterbury between 1945–46 and 1951–52, his top score was 42 against Auckland in 1950–51, when he put on 105 for the first wicket with Ray Emery.[10]

He ran his own upholstery business in Christchurch. He was married twice, and had three children. He lived in Rangiora.[2] He became New Zealand's oldest living first-class cricketer when Tom Pritchard died in August 2017.[11]

Burgess celebrated his 100th birthday in May 2020.[12] On 13 June 2020, following the death of Vasant Raiji, Burgess became the oldest living first-class cricketer.[13][14] He died in Rangiora in January 2021 at the age of 100.[15] Following Burgess' death, India's Raghunath Chandorkar became the oldest living first-class cricketer,[16] and Iain Gallaway became New Zealand's oldest living first-class cricketer.[17]

• Lists of oldest cricketers
• List of centenarians (sportspeople)

• Alan Burgess at ESPNcricinfo