Australia's Oldest Cricketer Harold Stapleton Dies at 100
Harold Stapleton played one first-class match for New South Wales in 1941 before his career was cut short by the World War II. He celebrated his 100th birthday on January 7, during India-Australia Test in Sydney.
Australia's oldest cricketer Harold Stapleton, who represented New South Wales (NSW), died aged 100 on Thursday. (Read more cricket stories here)
An all-rounder, who played only one first-class match for NSW in 1941 before his career was cut short by the second World War, celebrated his 100th birthday during the Sydney Test against India in January, cricket.com.au said in a statement on Thursday.
Stapleton marked the occasion with friends and family in Wollongong while the milestone was acknowledged on the scoreboard at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), a match Stapleton watched on television with his nephew Kevin. He was given a gift of a signed Australian Test shirt by Cricket Australia (CA).
Stapleton served with the Australian Army in Papua New Guinea during the war.
"Harold Stapleton was one of the finest sportsmen the North Coast has produced. He played many sports to a high standard but excelled at cricket, playing for Northern NSW against Gubby Allen's English touring team," Cricket NSW CEO Andrew Jones said.