Robert Armitage (cricketer)

Robert Lawrence Sugden Armitage (9 July 1955 – 9 December 2000) was a South African first-class cricketer.

Armitage was born in Grahamstown in July 1955 and later studied at Rhodes University.[1] He made his debut in first-class cricket for Eastern Province against Transvaal at The Wanderers in the 1973-74 Currie Cup. He made 109 appearances in first-class cricket until 1987–88 Castle Bowl, making ninety appearances for Eastern Province, nine appearances for Eastern Province B, six appearances for Northern Transvaal, and four appearances for South African Universities.[2] Playing as an all-rounder, he scored 3,923 runs in first-class cricket, 3,376 of which came for Eastern Province at an average of 24.11 and a high score of 171 not out.[3] Making four centuries and thirteen half centuries, his highest first-class score came against Northern Transvaal in the 1981–82 season.[4] With his right-arm off break bowling, he took 205 wickets, 143 of which came for Eastern Province at a bowling average of 35.84 and best figures of 7 for 97.[5] He took seven five wicket hauls, with his best figures coming against Transvaal in the 1975–76 season.[6]

He made his debut in List A one-day cricket for Eastern Province against Border in the 1974-75 Gillette Cup. He played List A cricket until November 1987, making 55 appearances. These included 51 matches for Eastern Province, in addition to one match for Northern Transvaal and three matches for South Africa,[7] at a time when South Africa was suspended from international cricket as a result of apartheid. He scored 969 runs at an average of 25.50 in his 55 List A matches, with a high score of 73. With the ball, he took 35 wickets at an average of 27.20, with best figures of 4 for 18. He was a South African cricketer of the year in 1982.[8]

In addition to playing first-class and List A cricket, he also played minor counties cricket in England for Cambridgeshire in 1980, making eight appearances in the Minor Counties Championship.[9] He died in Grahamstown in December 2000, following a long struggle with cancer.[1]